From Deterioration to Renewal: The Santa Rita WWTP

In the quiet coastal town of Fajardo, Puerto Rico, nestled between mountains and mangroves, a hidden problem was slowly unraveling beneath the surface. For years, the Santa Rita community had endured wastewater overflows, pipe leaks, and an aging treatment plant that was struggling to keep up with its purpose. The situation was more than a nuisance—it was a growing environmental and public health concern.

A Community in Distress
Back in July 2022, our team at ECR Engineering was called upon by the Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority (PRASA) to take on a challenge that was both urgent and complex. A past collaboration had opened the door, and this time, it was clear that Santa Rita needed more than just a temporary fix. After evaluating the conditions of the existing infrastructure, we found a system in severe decline. The treatment unit’s primary clarifiers, biological reactors, and secondary clarifiers were barely functioning. Corrosion, sagging pipelines, lateral connection failures, grease buildup, and missing or unsuitable handrails made maintenance nearly impossible. The result? Overflowing wastewater and frustrated residents.

The Turning Point
The goal was clear: eliminate the current treatment plant and connect the community to a nearby PRASA pump station through a modern and efficient wastewater collection system. But designing a pump station for this kind of scenario wasn’t simple. It had to be compact enough to manage the relatively low flow of 269 families, yet robust enough to allow for future expansion.

Engineering with Precision
With a total investment of $6.0 million, the project required careful coordination across disciplines and strategic decision-making to ensure every dollar translated into long-term reliability and community impact. Led by a multidisciplinary team of civil, hydraulic, electrical, structural, and architectural specialists, ECR developed a sustainable solution centered on a new Municipal Wastewater Pump Station. One of the project’s key technical achievements was the use of directional drilling technology to cross beneath a busy state road without disrupting surface activity—an innovation that allowed the community to continue operating smoothly while construction progressed. From civil and mechanical drafting to architectural design and structural detailing, this project brought together some of our best technical expertise. Electrical and instrumentation coordination ensured seamless integration of all systems, contributing to the plant’s long-term reliability and operational efficiency.

More Than Pipes and Pumps
Although the design phase was completed in April 2023, construction is still ongoing. But even before completion, the community is already looking forward to a better future. The redesigned system promises reliability, environmental protection, and peace of mind—especially for those who lived with the daily fear of wastewater backups. At ECR Engineering, we believe projects like this are about more than fixing infrastructure; they’re about restoring dignity and safety to the people we serve.