February 3, 2023 – The City of Midland has announced a rebranding of its wastewater treatment operations to more accurately reflect its essential role in environmental stewardship. The plant’s new name, Water Reclamation Facility, focuses on the importance of these operations in reclaiming water used throughout the community. The City’s former Wastewater department will also be renamed the Water Reclamation department.
“When it comes to water, we’re not wasting anything,” said Water Reclamation Director Jared Driscoll. “Our system collects, conveys, treats, and then responsibly discharges back into the environment the water used by citizens, visitors, and businesses daily.
The City’s Water Reclamation department reclaims locally used water, recovers nutrient resources contained in that water, and generates heat and electricity from the byproducts of the treatment process. Midland’s reclaimed water discharges into the Tittabawassee River, and eventually making its way to Lake Huron and into the source of Midland’s drinking water supply through Whitefish Point in Tawas.
“Everything goes full circle,” said Driscoll, “and we are an important part of making that happen safely.”
Names and titles associated with treatment facilities have also changed over time to more accurately reflect the work performed by these essential utilities. What began as the Midland Sewage Plant in 1939 became the Wastewater Treatment Plant in 1962. In 2012, the Water Environment Federation (WEF) began using the term Water Resource Recovery Facility (WRRF) in place of Wastewater Treatment Plant, another significant factor considered in the City’s recent rebrand.
For questions or further information, please contact Water Reclamation Director Jared Driscoll at (989) 837-3502 or jdriscoll@midland-mi.org.