City of Alachua

Wastewater from homes, commercial businesses and industrials customers travel to the City of Alachua's wastewater treatment facility via the wastewater collection system, which is are underground pipes that are located in City streets. The wastewater collection system is constructed to utilize gravity for conveying sewage from higher elevations within the system to the wastewater treatment plant in pipes known as gravity mains. The City of Alachua maintains approximately 40 miles of gravity mains. In some areas of the City, wastewater must be pumped up using sewage pumping stations, or lift stations. Pipes that convey pumped wastewater are known as force mains. The City of Alachua maintains 20 wastewater pumping stations and approximately 10 miles of force mains.