Dilution: Cost-Saver For Waste Utilities?

A town in Massachusetts is hoping dilution via tidal discharge is a technique that could curb costs at its wastewater treatment facility.

Newburyport “is currently involved in an engineering study to show its plant can comply with the new regulations by using additional dilution via tidal discharge or relocation of the wastewater treatment facility’s outfall,” The Daily News of Newburyport reported.

The hope is that if the U.S. EPA finds this report acceptable, Newburyport will not have to expand its current facilities. The town had previously been in step with federal wastewater standards, but rule changes left the facility noncompliant. The EPA reauthorizes wastewater plants every five years, according to the report.

Town Manager Neil Harrington explained the town’s approach.

“Dilution won’t be without cost, but it won’t be as expensive as expansion,” he said, per the report.

The facility in Newburyport is designed to handle 3.4 MGD, according to the city. It includes “four aeration basins, eight mechanical mixers, two primary clarifiers, two gravity thickeners, two aerobic digesters, two secondary clarifiers, and two chlorine contact chambers with chlorination and dechlorination. Sludge dewatering is performed with two, two meter belt filter presses.”

Newburyport waste facilities just completed an upgrade. Last year, odor was among the problems faced by the plant, according to Mayor Donna Holaday, per the Daily News.

“The wastewater treatment facility underwent a major upgrade completed two years ago but we continue to work on additional methods to control odors,” she said. “Weather conditions and rains impact odors and we are working with consultants to continually adjust and balance our system to improve odor controls.”

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