VanLare Wastewater Treatment Facility - The Process
of Wastewater Treatment
Wastewater from surrounding areas enters the plants through
inducts, starting the eight hour long process. The solids in
the wastewater (sediments, human liquid/solid wastes, tampons,
paper, condoms, etc.) drop twenty feet and are therefore forced
to be uplifted. The water is then filtered through a set of screens
where the larger solids (sediments, paper, etc.) are collected.
A steel rake then scrapes the debris from the screen on a timed
basis.
The wastewater then proceeds to an aeration tank where solids
are again uplifted and then sent to primary treatment tanks.
In primary treatment, solids (now sludge) sink to the bottom and
are collected. The collected solids are sent to a sludge thickening
tank and the remaining effluent is sent to another aeration tank
where secondary treatment (or biological treatment) occurs.
On its way to secondary treatment, the phosphate concentration
of the effluent is tested. After the amount of phosphate in the
water has been tested, EPA standards for phosphate concentrations
are met by chemically reacting ferrous sulfate with the phosphate.
Once the effluent reaches the aeration tanks, bugs (microscopic
organisms) are pumped in to process or eat the sludge. The sludge
is now contained within the micro-organisms and is pumped to another
settling tank with the effluent. The micro-organisms settle to
the bottom where they are collected and sent to a sludge thickening
tank. The bugs are very useful because they can be recycled (the
bugs used in the aeration tanks are brought from sludge holding
tanks).
The effluent remaining after the solids have settled is sent
to a chlorinating tank. Chlorine is added to disinfect the wastewater
and to kill pathogenic organisms. Once chlorinated, the effluent
can be safely pumped back into the environment. The sludge in
the thickening tanks is sent to holding tanks or to the incinerator.
Once in the incinerator, the sludge is dewatered of all liquid
and is incinerated at temperatures of 1230 to 1300 degrees Farenheit.
The leftover ash is then sent to the landfill.