Wastewater in the City of Rio Vista, as in many other cities, refers to the water that has been used and needs to be treated before being returned to the environment or reused. It comes from various sources including households, commercial properties, and industries. It includes water that has been used for various activities such as washing, flushing toilets, and industrial processes.

The process of treating wastewater involves removing solids, bacteria, algae, viruses, fungi, minerals (such as iron and sulfur), and other substances that the water may contain. The treatment process often involves a combination of physical, biological, and chemical processes.

Once treated, the wastewater can be safely discharged back into the environment, usually into a local body of water, or it can be reused for various purposes such as irrigation, industrial cooling, or even further treated for use as drinking water in some cases. The specific practices and regulations for wastewater management can vary from one place to another, and are generally determined by local, regional, and national authorities.

The wastewater rate in the City of Rio Vista is based on the type of consumer (residential, multifamily residential, commercial/industrial/retail) and the size of the service connections and meters. Rates are computed monthly based on consumption as measured by water meters.

Yes, the City of Rio Vista has generally seen an increase in wastewater rates over time. For example, the residential monthly rate went from $25.36 in 2008-2009 to $45.02 in 2012-2013. Similar trends can be observed for other consumer types as well.