Southwest Water Reclamation Facility Named Best Large Wastewater Treatment Plant in Florida

The City of Cape Coral’s Southwest Water Reclamation Facility earned first place in the greater than 5 million gallons per day (MGD) category for the prestigious Earle B. Phelps Award, presented by the Florida Water Environment Association. This top honor recognizes Cape Coral as having Florida's best large wastewater treatment plant.

The Earle B. Phelps Award annually honors wastewater treatment facilities that achieve the highest standards in removing major pollution-causing constituents from wastewater before discharge. Awards are issued based on treatment classification and plant size — small, medium, or large — ensuring a fair comparison across facilities.

Cape Coral’s Southwest Water Reclamation Facility, which treats up to 15.1 MGD, took first place in the large plant category for advanced wastewater treatment, setting a statewide benchmark for operational excellence and environmental protection.

The city’s Utilities Water Reclamation Division is responsible for processing wastewater to meet or exceed all Environmental Protection Agency and Florida Department of Environmental Protection standards for river discharge, deep injection, and reclaimed water use in the city’s irrigation system. In addition to the Southwest facility, the Division operates the 13.4 MGD Everest Water Reclamation Facility, 311 wastewater lift stations, and six freshwater canal pump stations that help supplement the irrigation network.