WHERE DOES WASTEWATER GO?
WASTEWATER COLLECTION
| The wastewater collection system is a network of approximately 550 miles of sewer lines, 10 lift stations, and 5,100 manholes.
Sewage flows by gravity, aided when necessary by lift stations, through the collection system into the Buck Creek Pump Station, which has a rated pumping capacity of approximately 24 MGD. An emergency storage basin at this facility has a capacity of approximately 23 million gallons. Sewage is metered at Buck Creek and then pumped five miles to the wastewater treatment plant. A 1987 Wastewater Collection System Analysis analyzed the system, identified inadequacies in existing and future capacities, recommended improvements, estimated costs, and proposed construction schedules. Since that time, many of the recommended rehabilitation and upgrade projects have been completed to improve carrying capacity in the system. |
 |
|---|---|
 |
|
WASTEWATER TREATMENT |
|
 |
When wastewater reaches treatment facilities northwest of town, it undergoes full biological treatment which includes grit removal, sedimentation, aeration to encourage microbial growth which digests pollution, filtration, chlorine disinfection, and disinfectant removal. Very few chemicals are utilized in this activated sludge process.
Wastewater quality is protected against industrial pollution through an Industrial Pre-Treatment program. Industrial users are required to treat wastewater to certain standards before it is released into the municipal sanitary sewer system. Wastewater quality is monitored at all stages of treatment according to state and federal requirements. |
 |
 |