Wastewater Utility
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The Wastewater Utility received a complete upgrade in 1991 and in that time the rates took a substantial increase to pay the debt service costs. From 1991 to 1998, rates stayed relatively constant Rates slowly rose between 1998 and 2015, as the Plant become older and maintenance more extensive. Power costs and labor continue to be large budgetary expenditures.
The Plant is completing the transition to new hybrid style high efficiency blowers for the aerobic digester system. The first full year of operation for these blowers for the lead and second of the three aerobic digesters has been a success. They have operated trouble free with very little maintenance required. Energy usage was noticeably lower during the first half of the year. During the second half of the year the energy savings to the Utility was offset by an increase in industrial loadings. For much of the late summer and fall two blowers rather than the usual single blower were required to supply air to the activated sludge aeration system. Of course this also means that industrial production is probably also increased which is good news for the local economy.
Even with the increased biological loading the energy savings from these blowers is inherent in their design and that they operate using 50hp per blower less than the models they replaced.
The increase in loading to the Utility effects other parts of the processes as well and can be measured in more ways than just electrical usage. Chemical usage has also increased. Besides the chlorination and dechlorination chemicals we use for final effluent disinfection, we also use a coagulant polymer for biosolids thickening and dewatering, and ferric chloride for aiding in phosphorus removal and also as a settling aid.
See the link for our Sewer Use Ordinance here.
The Wastewater Utility received a complete upgrade in 1991 and in that time the rates took a substantial increase to pay the debt service costs. From 1991 to 1998, rates stayed relatively constant Rates slowly rose between 1998 and 2015, as the Plant become older and maintenance more extensive. Power costs and labor continue to be large budgetary expenditures.
The Plant is completing the transition to new hybrid style high efficiency blowers for the aerobic digester system. The first full year of operation for these blowers for the lead and second of the three aerobic digesters has been a success. They have operated trouble free with very little maintenance required. Energy usage was noticeably lower during the first half of the year. During the second half of the year the energy savings to the Utility was offset by an increase in industrial loadings. For much of the late summer and fall two blowers rather than the usual single blower were required to supply air to the activated sludge aeration system. Of course this also means that industrial production is probably also increased which is good news for the local economy.
Even with the increased biological loading the energy savings from these blowers is inherent in their design and that they operate using 50hp per blower less than the models they replaced.
The increase in loading to the Utility effects other parts of the processes as well and can be measured in more ways than just electrical usage. Chemical usage has also increased. Besides the chlorination and dechlorination chemicals we use for final effluent disinfection, we also use a coagulant polymer for biosolids thickening and dewatering, and ferric chloride for aiding in phosphorus removal and also as a settling aid.
See the link for our Sewer Use Ordinance here.
