$26.8M Wastewater Treatment Upgrade Project To Reduce Environmental Footprint

Recently, Lancaster Area Sewer Authority (LASA) and Buchart Horn, a full-service, international engineering and architectural firm, broke ground on a $26.8M biosolids upgrade and improvement project in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. The facility, which already meets EPA standards, is beginning the upgrade as a voluntary, proactive project to reduce its environmental footprint. The project will result in Class A biosolids which is EPA’s highest standard.

“This is a significant project – not only because of its significant construction cost of $26.8M, but also because of its importance in furthering the Board’s mission – to provide quality service at reasonable cost, and two of our strategic initiatives – to promote sustainability and encourage environmental stewardship,” said Barry Smith, board chairman of LASA. “We carefully planned, studied and evaluated biosolids processing alternatives. In the end, we are confident our final selection of anaerobic digestion coupled with heat drying with biogas will provide a sound return on the Authority’s investment dollars and will result in a financially sustainable and environmentally friendly method of handling and distributing our biosolids product – making what was in the past a nuisance into a resource to be recovered and re-used.”

The upgrade and expansion will include adding anaerobic digesters and a biosolids (organic matter) dryer. The anaerobic digesters will help to stabilize biosolids while producing methane gas. The gas produced is then used to heat the digesters and the biosolids dryer. The biosolids dryer will exceed EPA standards for stabilizing biosolids, which will allow the biosolids to be safely reused.. The efficiency of these upgrades will result in reducing the environmental impact of the facility.

“This project is positive for the environment, for local jobs, and for this community,” said Brian Funkhouser, president of Buchart Horn, which will serve as the project manager of the upgrade and expansion. “We’re proud to be a part of a project that promotes sustainability and innovative thinking for the betterment of the entire region.”

About LASA:
LASA currently owns, operates and maintains a sanitary sewer system that serves approximately 37,000 customers representing about 100,000 citizens and 1,300 businesses located in eight Lancaster County municipalities including East Hempfield Township, West Hempfield Township, Lancaster Township, Manor Township, Manheim Township, East Petersburg Borough, Mountville Borough, and Columbia Borough. The LASA system includes approximately 560 miles of pipeline, 38 pumping stations and a treatment facility designed to treat 15 million gallons of wastewater per day. The guiding principal of the Authority is to provide quality service and apply technology to process wastewater so as to protect and enhance the environment, health and well-being of the community at a reasonable cost. If you would like more information about the Authority, For more information, visit at www.lasa.org.

About Buchart Horn:
Buchart Horn, Inc. is a full-service, international engineering and architectural firm with 15 offices throughout the Eastern United States and Western Europe. As one of the first professional consulting companies to combine engineering and architecture under one roof, Buchart Horn’s professional services focus on three crucial areas essential to every community: Water Resources (water and wastewater treatment systems, and strategies to protect and improve our natural environment); Architecture (designing the buildings where we live, work, learn, and play); and Transportation (highways, bridges and airports). Celebrating its 70th year in business in 2015, clients range from local, county, state, and federal governments to large and small private sector clients. For more information about Buchart Horn, Inc., For more information, visit www.bucharthorn.com.