Once water leaves a house or business through the toilet, sink, or shower, it is called "wastewater." Poway operates a modern wastewater collection system that is comprised of various types of pipe, manholes, and lift stations to move wastewater through the system. Most of the system flows by gravity, finally exiting Poway into San Diego.
Most of Poway's wastewater is treated by the City of San Diego at their Point Loma Wastewater Treatment Plant.
A portion is treated at San Diego's recycled water facility and returned to Poway for landscape irrigation use in the South Poway Business Park.