What is required to operate a wastewater treatment plant in NY?
New York requires the operation of municipal wastewater treatment plants to be supervised by a certified operator, 6NYCRR Part 650. and certificate renewal. renewal training courses. There are four levels of activated sludge certification (Grades 1A - 4A) and four levels of non-activated sludge certification (Grades 1 - 4).
How does a sewage treatment plant work?
Main sewage pumps then pump wastewater from the screens up to the surface level of the facility. Next, the wastewater enters primary settling tanks where the flow of water slows down. We skim off the lighter solids that float, such as grease and small plastic material from the surface of the tanks.
Where can I find information about the wastewater treatment plant operator certification?
Please visit the NYWEA website for more information about the wastewater treatment plant operator certification program. NYSDEC is responsible for the regulatory aspects of the program and approval of renewal training courses. The New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) regulates drinking water treatment operator certification.
How many wastewater treatment plants are in NYC?
14 WastewaterNew York City's 14 Wastewater Resource Recovery Facilities together treat 1.3 billion gallons of wastewater daily.
How many treatment plants operate in NYC?
fourteen wastewater treatment plantsNew York City's fourteen wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) treat 1.3 billion gallons of wastewater every day. They treat sewage water to remove pollutants and solid debris, then release the sanitized water into local waterways, which can be used to irrigate crops and sustain aquatic life.
What is a CSO NYC?
When this occurs, a mix of stormwater and untreated sewage discharges directly into the City's waterways. These events are called combined sewer overflows (CSOs).
What is the largest wastewater treatment plant in NYC called?
The Newtown Creek Wastewater Treatment PlantThe Newtown Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant is the largest sewage treatment facility operated by the New York City Department of Environmental Protection.
What happens to poop in NYC?
The truth is, while most of your poop goes to a water treatment plant, there's a good chance it'll end up in the ocean. This is due to the city's Combined Sewer Overflow system. Essentially, this means that over 60% of NYC sewers are connected. Usually, this is fine.
What does NYC DEP do?
The New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) protects public health, critical quality of life issues, and the environment by supplying clean drinking water, collecting and treating wastewater, and reducing air, noise, and hazardous materials pollution.
How does a CSO work?
Their sole purpose is to discharge untreated human sewage and waste-water when the sewerage system is overloaded. CSOs act as emergency discharge valves in our sewerage system, discharging untreated sewage and wastewater when the system comes close to bursting, supposedly during periods of intense rainfall.
What are CSO's?
What are Combined Sewer Overflows (CSOs)? Combined sewer systems are sewers that are designed to collect rainwater runoff, domestic sewage, and industrial wastewater in the same pipe.
How many CSO outfalls are in NYC?
314 CSO outfallsThere are 314 CSO outfalls on the shores of these waterways, dumping out 11 billion gallons of polluted stormwater every year.
How many water plants does New York City have?
The Bureau of Wastewater Treatment operates 14 water pollution control plants treating an average of 1.5 billion US gal (5.7 million m3) of wastewater a day; 95 wastewater pump stations; eight dewatering facilities; 490 sewer regulators; and 7,000 miles (11,000 km) of intercepting sewers.
Do sewage treatment plants smell?
A well maintained septic tank or sewage treatment plant should not be giving off any unpleasant odours, despite that fact that it is a receptacle for human waste! Septic tanks and treatment plants are designed to contain the naturally occurring odours that will arise as part of the treatment process.
Where does all the sewage from NYC go?
The overflows aren't trickles, either. Approximately 20 billion gallons of sewage and runoff make it into the Bronx River, East River, Hudson River, Harlem River, Flushing Bay, Flushing Creek, Alley Creek, Westchester Creek, Coney Island Creek, Newtown Creek, Hutchinson River, Gowanus Canal, and Jamaica Bay every year.
What is the New York State Pollutant Discharge Elimination System?
The New York State Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (SPDES) has been approved by the United States Environmental Protection Agency for the control of wastewater and stormwater discharges in accordance with the Clean Water Act. Under New York State law the program is broader in scope than that required by the Clean Water Act in ...
What is a WWTP permit?
Each municipal wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) must operate under an individual SPDES permit that defines the parameters under which it is allowed to discharge ...
How many wastewater treatment plants are there in New York City?
New York City’s 14 Wastewater Treatment Plants together treat 1.3 billion gallons of wastewater daily. Each person can help our wastewater treatment system run better by conserving water, disposing of garbage and household chemicals properly and being concerned about water quality in the New York City’s waterways. To learn more about how you can help protect our sewer system and local waterways, visit Safe Disposal of Harmful Products. To learn more about the types of sewer systems that serve New York City, visit Sewer System.
What is sludge in New York?
Sludge is the solid byproduct of wastewater treatment. Once further processed, its use is regulated by both the federal and state governments. New York City’s sludge is digested, which is a form of processing that microbiologically transforms material and creates biogas. After digestion, the solids are then dewatered.
Preliminary Treatment
Several stories underground, incoming wastewater, called influent, flows into the facility from the sewer system. As wastewater enters the facility, it passes through bar screens to remove leaves, twigs, and litter such as plastic bags, food wrappers, bottles, and sanitary wet wipes.
Primary Treatment
Next, the wastewater enters primary settling tanks where the flow of water slows down. We skim off the lighter solids that float, such as grease and small plastic material from the surface of the tanks. Meanwhile, sludge, or the heavier organic solids (feces, food, and paper fibers), begins to sink.
Secondary Treatment
During secondary treatment, we add air to aeration tanks to foster a healthy environment for oxygen-loving microorganisms that are naturally present in the sewage. These helpful microorganisms consume much of the organic material in the wastewater, which yields heavier particles that can be removed more easily.
Disinfection
We add sodium hypochlorite, the same chemical found in household bleach, to disinfect wastewater and remove any remaining disease-causing microorganisms. We then release the treated wastewater, or effluent, as clean water into local waterways.
Sludge Treatment
We thicken the sludge that we collected during primary and secondary treatment to further separate out water from the solid material. We place the thickened sludge into tanks called digesters, which maintain a low-oxygen environment heated to about 98°F.
Waste-to-Energy
The biogas released during sludge digestion can be used to produce heat and electricity for the wastewater resource recovery facilities. Once purified it can be distributed as renewable natural gas for the community.
How does a combined sewer system work in New York City?
This system uses a single pipe or a “combined sewer” to carry the flow of wastewater and stormwater to the local wastewater treatment plant. Managing stormwater in this system can pose challenges because during heavy rainstorms, combined sewers receive higher than normal amounts of stormwater. When flows surpass twice the design capacity of the wastewater treatment plant, a mix of stormwater and untreated sewage flows directly into local waterways to prevent damage to our wastewater infrastructure. These events are called Combined Sewer Overflows.
How much of New York City has a separate sewer system?
Approximately 40% of New York City uses a separate sewer system. This system is often referred to as a Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4). It uses separate pipes to carry wastewater and stormwater.
How to contact DEP Watershed Lands and Community Planning staff?
For additional information about economic development programs managed by DEP, please contact DEP Watershed Lands and Community Planning staff at 845-340-7700. For additional information regarding the Catskill Fund for the Future, please contact the CWC at 845-586-1400 or visit www.cwconline.org.
When was the Regulatory Upgrade Program completed?
Upgrades of all six City-owned facilities proceeded on a separate track and were completed by 1999. The Regulatory Upgrade Program helps non-City-owned wastewater treatment plants meet the higher treatment and compliance standards of the New York City Watershed Regulations that go beyond federal or State requirements.
How much is the Catskill Fund for the Future?
Catskill Fund for the Future: DEP funded the $60 million Catskill Fund for the Future which is administered by the Catskill Watershed Corporation (CWC) and represents their primary economic development program for business loans and grants.
Is the East of Hudson watershed a storm sewer?
Our East of Hudson ( EOH) Watershed has a Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) regulated by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). As a regulated MS4, the EOH Watershed is required to comply with the Phase II Storm Water Management Plan. The Phase II Stormwater regulations require the EOH Watershed ...
How to become a WWTP operator in New York?
The final step to becoming a New York State Certified WWTP Operator is passing the required certification exam. New York State uses an Association of Boards of Certification (ABC) Exam. The ABC exam is a computer-based exam which consists of 100 multiple choice questions. A passing score is a grade of 70 or higher.
What is WWTP certification in New York?
WWTP Certification in New York State is a mandatory system whereby an individual is determined to be qualified to be a chief operator or assistant/shift operator for the operation of a Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) for the purpose of meeting the requirements of its State Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (SPDES) permit.
How long does it take to renew NYWEA?
DEC allows one year after the expiration date to get a complete renewal application to NYWEA , including all the required training. If you do not renew within one year, you will need to complete the required training and retake the ABC certification exam.
Who regulates water treatment operators?
NYSDEC is responsible for the regulatory aspects of the program and approval of renewal training courses. The New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) regulates drinking water treatment operator certification. Visit the NYSDOH website for more information on that program.
Does New York have reciprocity with other states?
New York State does not have a formal reciprocity agreement with any other state. However, as a member of the Association of Boards of Certification (ABC), New York does accept the result of any ABC or equivalent certification exam. Any non-New York operator must meet the same education, experience and training requirements as resident operators. The Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator Certification Manual outlines the necessary steps to become a NY certified WWTP operator, including how to apply for reciprocity in New York State. Please also see the NYWEA website for information on this process.
Preliminary Treatment
Primary Treatment
- Next, the wastewater enters primary settling tanks where the flow of water slows down. We skim off the lighter solids that float, such as grease and small plastic material from the surface of the tanks. Meanwhile, sludge, or the heavier organic solids (feces, food, and paper fibers), begins to sink. We remove this primary sludge from the bottom of the settling tanks for thickening and dig…
Secondary Treatment
- During secondary treatment, we add air to aeration tanks to foster a healthy environment for oxygen-loving microorganisms that are naturally present in the sewage. These helpful microorganisms consume much of the organic material in the wastewater, which yields heavier particles that can be removed more easily. Aerated wastewater then flows to final settling tanks…
Disinfection
- We add sodium hypochlorite, the same chemical found in household bleach, to disinfect wastewater and remove any remaining disease-causing microorganisms. We then release the treated wastewater, or effluent, as clean water into local waterways.
Sludge Treatment
- We thicken the sludge that we collected during primary and secondary treatment to further separate out water from the solid material. We place the thickened sludge into tanks called digesters, which maintain a low-oxygen environment heated to about 98°F. Microorganisms that thrive in this anaerobic environment digest the sludge and much of the mate...
Waste-To-Energy
- The biogas released during sludge digestion can be used to produce heat and electricity for the wastewater resource recovery facilities. Once purified it can be distributed as renewable natural gas for the community. Recovering and reusing biogas enhances clean air operations and significantly reduces greenhouse gas emissions from our wastewater resource recovery operati…