Steps in the Treatment Process

The Wastewater Treatment Process

Influent Pump Station

Wastewater from the entire community flows through a grinder and then into a 10-feet diameter well that contains three variable speed submersible wastewater pumps. The pumps are controlled by the level of water in the wet well. When the level of water in the wet well rises due to an increase in flow, it causes the control system to speed the pump up to "match" the incoming flow. The control system strives to maintain a constant level of water in the wet well.

In addition to the grinder and pumps, there is a building containing the control equipment which facilitates the use of standby electric power in the event of a loss of power.

Headworks Building

Wastewater enters the Treatment Plant and flows through perforated escalator screens and grit channels where sand, gravel, grit, and large objects like rags, sticks, and plastics are removed.

Clarifiers & Aeration Units

Flow is split evenly between the two aeration units. Wastewater enters the aeration tank where the oxygen level is raised. After aeration, flow is directed to the center of the structure or the clarifier where solids settle out and are removed and/or a portion returned to the biological process. Clarified water is directed to the disinfection process. Settled solids can be removed from the bottom of the clarifier and dewatered.

Blower Building

Aptly named, the Blower Building houses four positive displacement blowers. These blowers furnish low pressure air to the aeration tanks and the aerobic digesters. The Blower Building also contains primary and secondary electrical equipment for the facility as well as standby electrical generation and switching capabilities.

Solids Processing & Ultraviolet (UV) Building

Wastewater from the clarifiers flows through two banks of ultraviolet light emitting bulbs. The UV light is a specified wavelength that provides disinfection of the wastewater. The disinfected wastewater can then be discharged through a re-aeration structure to Prairie Dog Creek or diverted and used as irrigation water for the ballfields.

Solids removed from the clarifiers can be dewatered in the rotary drum thickener. This equipment typically reduces the water content of the removed settled solids or "sludge" so the volume of sludge required to be hauled and spread on farm ground is greatly reduced.

Aerobic Digesters & Sludge Holding Tank

Sludge removed from the treatment process is eventually pumped to the aerobic digesters. Here the sludge is stored until it can be dewatered. Once dewatered, it is held in the digester tanks and aerated. Aeration aids in further digestion of solids. The sludge is required to be stored for destruction of pathogens before it is incorporated on local farm ground.

Lab & Maintenance

The laboratory was constructed to facilitate testing of samples of wastewater and sludge samples throughout the process. The information from these tests allows the operator to make informed decisions on how to operate the facility at its optimal level.

A maintenance bay is also included in this building for maintenance and repair of process equipment.