SANITATION DISTRICT NO. 1 WESTERN REGIONAL WATER RECLAMATION FACILITY (20 MGD), Boone Co., KY
The Western Regional Water Reclamation Facility (WRWRF) is a new secondary wastewater treatment plant located on a 150-acre site in western Boone County, KY. Designed by GRW, the WRWRF has the capacity to treat up to 20 MGD of wastewater, making it SD1's second largest treatment plant.
Key features of the WRWRF include upstream wet weather flow equalization (accomplished in a 6 mile long 102-inch diameter wastewater conveyance tunnel), mechanically cleaned fine screens with compaction and bagging of screenings, vortex grit removal and classification, secondary treatment consisting of activated sludge treatment utilizing fine bubble aeration (can be operated in either contact stabilization or conventional activated sludge modes), secondary clarification, medium pressure/high intensity UV disinfection with cascade post aeration prior to discharge to the Ohio River. The sludge processing portion of the plant includes return/waste activated sludge pumping, aerated sludge holding with jet aeration, combination gravity belt thickener/belt filter presses with ultimate sludge disposal to a landfill. The plant is also equipped with a non-potable water pumping station.
In addition to the more conventional treatment plant processes, the WRWRF includes several unique technologies and features which facilitate ease of operation, low operating cost, cost effectiveness and environmental stewardship. A few of these features include:
- Biofiltration throughout the site for odor control
- Technologies, such as PVC channel and structure liner, to prevent damaging effects from hydrogen sulfide corrosion
- High-efficiency, centrifugal turbo blowers supply the aeration basins and dissolved oxygen measurements in the aeration basins control blower operation to increase energy efficiency and power cost savings
- Gravity belt thickeners/belt filter press units incorporate a unique three-belt design, which combines thickening and dewatering into a single unit, to increase operations flexibility
- Scum concentrator allows beneficial reuse of material in lieu of landfill transport
- Sustainable design features include pervious pavement, bioretention swales, groundwater recharge, and rain garden
GRW received an Engineering Excellence Grand Award from the American Council of Engineering Companies of Kentucky for our work on this project.