Henderson has wrapped up a $100 million, years-in-the-making overhaul of the Kurt R. Segler Water Reclamation Facility, a behind-the-scenes project city officials say should keep toilets flushing and taps flowing as the city keeps growing. The upgraded plant now has expanded biological nutrient treatment, new filtration and stronger pump systems designed to handle those heavy-use days when everyone seems to shower, wash dishes and do laundry at once. The facility treats wastewater that is either reused around town or sent back to Lake Mead, stretching Southern Nevada’s already tight water supply.
The renovation brings in a new 12 million-gallon biological nutrient removal basin, an additional secondary clarifier and sand filters, along with replacements for headworks grit pipes and upgrades to pumps and vacuum systems, according to KSNV. City staff say the whole package is intended to reduce strain on the system during peak flows and tighten up overall treatment performance.
What city crews built
The City of Henderson reports that the project added a 12 million-gallon biological nutrient removal basin, upgraded secondary clarifiers and new sand filtration to polish the already treated effluent. According to the city’s utilities page, the Kurt R. Segler Water Reclamation Facility first came online in 1994, received a previous upgrade in 2008 and now operates with a treatment capacity of 44 million gallons per day following the 2026 improvements. “Every drop that goes down a drain is treated and reused,” the city notes.
Why it matters to Henderson
Sending highly treated wastewater back to Lake Mead earns Southern Nevada valuable return-flow credits, which in turn allow the region to pull additional water from the Colorado River. That setup makes reuse a cornerstone of drought-era water planning, according to the Southern Nevada Water Authority. Cutting nutrient levels and adding tertiary filtration at Henderson’s plant helps curb the potential for algal blooms and other downstream water-quality headaches, while also strengthening the city’s ability to reuse reclaimed water for irrigation and other local demands.
Timeline and cost
Construction kicked off in January 2024, and the city reports the plant reached full facility and process optimization by April 2026, according to KSNV. Officials put the total price tag at about $100 million, describing the investment as a way to boost capacity and reliability so the sewer system can keep up with Henderson’s steady growth.
What residents should know
City staff still have one big favor to ask residents: keep fats, oils, grease and grit, or FOGG, out of household drains. Those kitchen castoffs can clog pipes and strain pumps long before the water ever reaches the treatment plant. For more on how the facility works and how reclaimed water is used around town, the City of Henderson maintains a utilities page with project details and practical tips for homeowners.
