A system and method for reducing hydrocarbons in wastewater includes an oil separator and a stripper tower. The tower has a housing that includes a stripper section and a condensation section. The stripper section includes a plurality of trays and steam inlet under the trays. The condensation section includes a plurality of trays and a pan tray having provisions to allow vapors to rise from the stripper section. The method includes having the oil separator remove the soluble oil from the wastewater stream which passes through the stripper section and has steam remove the hydrocarbons. The resulting vapors then contact cold process fluid which results in a heated process fluid stream. A portion of this heated process fluid stream is then mixed with crude so that hydrocarbons can be assimilated into the crude.