How does the post Point wastewater treatment plant work?
The Post Point Wastewater Treatment Plant achieves 95% removal of organics and solids in the treated effluent. Effluent discharged to Bellingham Bay has a biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) concentration of 9 parts per million (ppm) and a total suspended solids (TSS) concentration of seven ppm.
What is the post point resource recovery plant?
The Post Point Resource Recovery Plant began providing primary treatment for up to a peak flow of 55 million gallons per day (mgd) for the areas served by sewer. In addition, the City’s wastewater flows into the plant from over 250 miles of sewer collection mains located in Bellingham and the surrounding community.
Where is a wastewater treatment plant located?
So wastewater-treatment plants are located on low ground, often near a river into which treated water can be released. If the plant is built above the ground level, the wastewater has to be pumped up to the aeration tanks (item 3).
How does rainwater end up in a wastewater treatment facility?
Rainwater and runoff, along with various pollutants, go down street gutters and eventually end up at a wastewater treatment facility. Wastewater can also come from agricultural and industrial sources.
Where does water go after treatment plant?
What happens to the treated water when it leaves the wastewater treatment plant? The treated wastewater is released into local waterways where it's used again for any number of purposes, such as supplying drinking water, irrigating crops, and sustaining aquatic life.
Where is water released when it is finished being treated?
Where is water released when it is finished being treated? Water is released into bodies of water such as lakes, rivers or oceans after being treated.
Where does the drain water go?
In a city, household drains connect to a larger pipe that carries wastewater into the city's underground collection system of sanitary sewers. As wastewater from homes, businesses and industries collects, sanitary sewer pipes get bigger and bigger as they near the wastewater plant.
Does sewer water go to the ocean?
If you live near the coast your treated sewage probably goes into the ocean. The treated sewage is cleaned to make sure that it does not cause environmental problems. This means that it should not harm the plants and fish that live in the river or ocean where it is released.
What is the Post Point Resource Recovery Project?
The Post Point Resource Recovery project is a defining opportunity for Bellingham to implement its 2018 Climate Action Plan and reduce sewer utility carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by 60-80%.
How long has Post Point been in operation?
The Post Point facility has been in operation for nearly 45 years and carries out two essential and related treatment processes: liquids and solids. In 2009, the City identified in the Comprehensive Sewer Plan a need for additional wastewater capacity at the Post Point Plant.
What is incineration equipment?
Incineration uses equipment installed in the 1970s that is very expensive to maintain and repair, extremely difficult to permit, and burns rather than recovers resources. In 2017, planning work was resumed to determine the best way to update the solids treatment process.
How is wastewater drained to the WWTP?
1. Firstly, wastewater is drained to the WWTP by gravity through the main sewer system of the size of a car. Having such size, objects you could hardly imagine reach the WWTPs, ranging from mattresses, fridges, tree branches to wallets disposed of by thieves in order to get rid of the evidence. 2.
What is the first stage of wastewater treatment?
The first mechanical stage is called preliminary treatment or rather pre-treatment. Water flows through gravel chamber for settling out the grit from water. Afterwards, gravel is disposed of at the dump. Water further reaches the bar screens used to remove large objects from the wastewater.
How long does it take for sludge to dry out?
9. Sludge, digested and dewatered to the optimal degree, is finally disposed of at the dump. In about a month, sludge is adequately dried out and ripe. If it complies with agricultural standards, it can be reused for fertilisation of industrial crops.
What is wastewater water?
Wastewater can be divided into two major groups: Sewage water is all wastewater used in domestic dwellings (e. g. originating from toilets, showers or sinks). Industrial wastewater originates from production, industrial and commercial activities, and has a different chemical composition to sewage water.
What is wastewater in agriculture?
What is wastewater? It is used water originating from domestic, industrial, agricultural, and medical or transport activities. Used water becomes wastewater upon the change of its quality, composition and/or temperature. However, wastewater does not include water released from ponds or reservoirs for fish farming.
What is the purpose of bar screens in wastewater treatment?
Water further reaches the bar screens used to remove large objects from the wastewater. At first come the coarse screens and then the fine screens which remove smaller objects such as matches, cigarette butts or undigested foods. 3. After the removal of large objects, grit is to be removed from the wastewater.
What is secondary treatment?
The secondary treatment, also called biological stage, is based on natural processes. WWTPs use bacteria which consume the contaminants, in particular biodegradable organics, carbon and phosphorus. Dead bacteria and organic residues subsequently transform into sludge. 6.
What is surface water treatment?
Typical surface water treatment incorporates chemical coagulation, sedimentation, filtration, and disinfection to ensure the water is safe for consumption. After treatment and sufficient disinfection, the water is discharged via a pressurized system of lifts and pipes to the areas in the city where it is needed.
How is water treated?
Once here, water is treated by removing solid waste and using bacteria to eliminate the harmful organic matter.
Why do we need disinfectant residual?
A disinfectant residual must be maintained throughout all parts of the system to ensure no waterborne pathogens enter the system and contaminate the water. Storage. Once the water has left the plant for distribution, it either makes its way to where it is needed or is stored in water towers.
Why do water towers use gravity?
Water towers use gravity to regulate water pressure and make sure we get water when and where we need it in case of an emergency. Here is where we see it all come to fruition. Water has made its way from rivers, lakes, and reservoirs all the way to your tap, shower, dishwasher, and toilet.
Why do we depend on municipal water?
Most Americans depend on their municipalities to deliver clean water. The municipal water cycle is something that has been reinvented countless times over the course of history. Every civilization has tried to reinvent the way they get their water.
Where did the aqueduct originate?
It originated with the Assyrian’s invention of the aqueduct (still in use today) and has evolved into a complete industrial chain of pipes and pumps that traverse states, delivering water to everyone. As you can imagine, a lot of resources go into making consumable water so attainable. This Is How We Get Our Water.
Is water a finite resource?
However, the biggest struggle we have yet to master is sustainability. Water is a finite resource in this world and only 0.3% of it is actually usable.
1. Pre-treatment Phase
The pre-treatment phase that occurs at a wastewater treatment plant is designed to get rid of the larger and easier to remove items from the water. These items can include everything from tree branches and cans to plastic bottles and rags.
2. Primary Treatment Phase
Once the pre-treatment phase concludes, the primary treatment phase can begin. The wastewater will be collected in sedimentation tanks and large basins at this point, which is done to allow contaminants to sink to the bottom of the water.
3. Secondary Treatment Phase
This is a very important phase of the wastewater treatment process that involves the agitation and aeration of the water within secondary basins. It’s at this point in the process that microorganisms are added to the water in order to break down any organic matter into sludge that can be more readily discarded.
4. Sludge Treatment Phase
The final phase of the wastewater treatment process is referred to as the sludge treatment phase. During the secondary treatment phase, the solids and organic matter that remain in the water are converted into sludge that can be treated and recycled.
What is tertiary wastewater treatment?
Tertiary (or advanced) treatment removes dissolved substances, such as colour, metals, organic chemicals and nutrients like phosphorus and nitrogen.
What are the different levels of wastewater treatment?
There are several levels of wastewater treatment; these are primary, secondary and tertiary levels of treatment. Most municipal wastewater treatment facilities use primary and secondary levels of treatment, and some also use tertiary treatments.
How to reduce pressure on septic system?
Following some water conservation practices can greatly reduce pressure on your septic system. For more information about conserving water, see the fact sheet about Water Consumption. Here are a few things that you can do to care for your septic system: 1 Do not use your drain or toilet as a garbage disposal; avoid putting dental floss, diapers, coffee grounds and paper towel down the drain, as they can clog up your septic system. 2 Spread your loads of laundry out over the week. When too much water is added to the septic tank, it does not have time to treat wastes, and you could be flooding your drainfield with wastewater. 3 Plant grass on your drainfield, but keep trees and shrubs away from it, because roots can clog the system and cause damage. 4 Do not drive on your drainfield, because this can compact the soil and damage the septic system components.
Why is oxygen important in wastewater treatment?
The oxygen helps the bacteria to digest the pollutants faster. The water is then taken to settling tanks where the sludge again settles, leaving the water 90 to 95 percent free of pollutants. The picture below shows the settling tanks in the Winnipeg Wastewater Treatment Plant.
What is the process of removing pollutants from water?
Another natural method is called rapid infiltration, which is a process where a basin is filled with wastewater, which has already gone through a pre-treatment. The ground acts as a filter and removes the pollutants from the water. This method is similar to what happens in a septic system.
What is the process of tertiary treatment?
One of the biological treatment processes is called Biological Nutrient Removal (BNR). This diagram shows the treatment steps that Saskatoon wastewater goes through. Biological Nutrient Removal Process.
Where does BNR process occur?
In this treatment plant, wastewater first undergoes primary and secondary treatment. For the tertiary treatment, the BNR process occurs in the bioreactors. The BNR process uses bacteria in different conditions in several tanks, to digest the contaminants in the water.
Where is Seaview pumped?
Seaview (Upper Hutt and Lower Hutt) is pumped to an outfall near Bluff Point. Porirua outfall is near Rukutane Point. Western (Karori) down a pipeline to the South Coast. Above is an image of the influent [left] (the water that enters the wastewater treatment plant) and effluent [right] (the treated water as it leaves the treatment plant).
Why is sludge pumped back to the aeration tank?
This is because the aeration tank needs a certain bacteria population to maintain the aeration process. The exact amount is calculated and adjusted every day.
How does a centrifuge work?
The sludge is then pumped to a centrifuge where it’s mixed with polyelectrolyte - a substance that helps bind the solids and separate the water. The centrifuge acts like a spin dryer, as it spins the contents at a high speed causing the solids to stick to the outside of the ‘bowl’ and any leftover liquid to the centre.
What is wastewater sieve?
These are made of fine mesh (about two millimetre wide openings) and act as a sieve to stop any large solids in the wastewater getting through, such as wet-wipes, sanitary products, shampoo bottles, toys, plastic bags, etc.
How deep is Moa Point?
Video of the Moa Point ocean outfall. This outfall is located 1.8km out into Cook Strait, is 20m deep, and is where we discharge all the treated water from the Moa Point wastewater treatment plant.
What is the best way to remove bacteria from a liquid?
The method we use is ultra violet (UV) light.
Post Point Resource Recovery Plant
Preliminary Treatment
- Preliminary treatment conditions the wastewater by removing materials which can harm or plug plant processes. It also contains a receiving station for residential septic tank sludge which is generated countywide. The wastewater is pre-chlorinated and aerated to control bacteria and reduce odors. It then flows through coarse screening bars where rags and other large debris are …
Primary Treatment
- In primary treatment, the wastewater flows into large basins called primary clarifiers. The water remains in the primary clarifiers for approximately two hours. While there, the suspended solids (primary sludge) settle to the bottom and oil and grease (scum) rise to the surface where they are skimmed off and sent to solids handling for disposal.
Secondary Treatment
- Aeration Basin Secondary treatment uses micro-organisms (activated sludge) to remove pollutants from the wastewater. The wastewater flows into large, enclosed aeration basins. Here, activated sludge is mixed with the wastewater and pure oxygen is added to create a perfect environment for the microorganisms to trap and remove contaminants. Secondary Clarifiers Th…
Disinfection
- Following secondary treatment, wastewater spends an hour in the chlorine contact chamber where chlorine is added to kill any remaining disease-causing organisms. Sodium bisulfite is added following the treatment to neutralize the chlorine to protect fish and sea life. Microscopic protozoan help treat wastewater before it is discharged into Bellingham Bay. Laboratory person…
Solids Handling
- Secondary solids are placed on a gravity belt, where polymer is added to thicken the sludge. Excess water is then removed from the primary and secondary sludge by high-speed centrifuges. The sludge is incinerated in two multiple-hearth gas-fired incinerators at a temperature of 1500 degrees Fahrenheit, which reduces the volume by approximately 80% and destroys all pathogen…
Laboratory
- The City of Bellingham operates a state-certified laboratory. The laboratory performs compliance testing for the plant’s National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit and process control testing for each unit process. For treated effluent water quality information, please see the Effluent section. For more information about the laboratory and monitoring progr…
ADMINISTRATION/CONTROL
- State-certified plant operators are on duty 24 hours a day to monitor and control the treatment process. The plant is fully automated and has a state-of-the-art computer system which provides operators with accurate and up-to-date information.
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