Abstract: A dewatering porocess and apparatus for recovering water from waste drilling fluid for concurrent reutilization in an active drilling operation includes a storage area, an intermixer for introducing treatment chemicals into the waste drilling fluid and a centrifuge. Flocculation is chemically induced in the waste drilling fluid as it passes through the intermixing means for introducing treatment chemicals into the waste drilling fluid. The waste drilling fluid is then transferred to the centrifuge wherein it is separated into solid waste and clear reuseable water. The water is returned to the storagge area and may be chemically adjusted prior to being returned to the drilling rig.