CITY of DUNKIRK, NY
WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT
The City of Dunkirk recognized the importance of an effective wastewater treatment plant system long before "pollution and environmental protection" became household words. By the year 1907, the City had installed its first collections system. During the years that followed, the City made numerous improvements and additions to the original system. By the year 1927, 70% of the City's present collection system was installed.
The first wastewater treatment facility was built sometime between 1929 and 1930. During the same years, an interceptor line was installed to bring the wastewater flow to the treatment plant. In 1956, a major improvement was made to the original facility which gave the City a "modern" primary treatment plant which met the federal and state regulations that were guidelines at that time. The plant had vacuum filters for biosolids dewatering, Imhoff tanks for settling, and a chlorine building for disinfection of the wastewater. By 1967, the primary treatment was inadequate, it could no longer meet the newer more stringent treatment requirements stipulated by the Environmental Protection Agency. The City employed Havens & Emerson to conduct studies for bringing the plant into compliance with the upgraded standards. Their recommendations resulted in the design and major upgrade at the plant.
In 1975, a new treatment and collection facility was completed which provided for full secondary treatment. From that time until July of 1993, the plant could treat up to 6 million gallons per day and up to 260 million gallons per storm flow. The upgrade included:
- Raw wastewater screens
- Storm wastewater screens
- Raw wastewater pumps
- Combined Sewer Overflow pumps (storm water pumps)
- An additional detritus tank (9 MGD), had two Primary sedimentation tanks
- Aeration tanks
- Primary and secondary sludge removal systems
- Secondary sedimentation tanks
- Sludge holding tank
- Sludge vacuum tank
- Sludge incinerator
The new treatment facility was built at a total cost of $18,000,000- 55% of the funding was provided by the U.S. government through the EPA, 38% by New York State and the remaining by the City of Dunkirk.
In 1982, a study was conducted by the engineering firm of Malcolm-Pirnie which would replace the plant vacuum filters, which were unable to keep up with the waste load and the sludge holding tank remained near capacity during the warm weather months- 310,000 gallons.
Pilot testing was completed, the decision was made to go with Perrin recessed plate frame presses. The new presses went into service in August of 1985. A fine bubble diffuser system was installed in 1987 as the coarse bubble diffusers had become a maintenance headache.
In 1989, hard times hit the treatment plant and the City of Dunkirk. The City was hit with a law suit by the United States on behalf of the EPA and New York State. At the time, the plant was having a difficult time meeting permit requirements because of the heavy biochemical oxygen demand and total suspended solids load being put on the plant. Also the plant was receiving pollutant discharge from industries it was unable to treat.
In January 1990, a pretreatment monitoring system was established and vigorously enforced. Significant industrial users were required to submit baseline monitoring reports to the treatment plant. BOD and TSS limits were established with the significant industrial users. A curve was developed to regulate nitrate discharges from a local industry which was creating problems at the plant. Through the efforts of plant personnel and local industry, a very successful pretreatment program was created. Industries are monitored closely through the pretreatment program.
The City purchased used equipment from the Westfield Treatment plant, which included belt presses which Westfield no longer used. From the used equipment a gravity belt thickener was constructed in-house. The unit improved sludge dewatering capabilities. In 1992, a Komline-Sanderson gravity belt thickener was put into service.
The thickener has made it possible to achieve 30-40% solids on sludge taken to the landfill on a regular basis.
In 1993, another set of aeration tanks and a clarifier were constructed to handle the plant's increased load. It increased the plant's capacity by 50%. A blower building was constructed which houses two Roots blowers.
The plant has an administration building which houses a wet lab, dry lab (A.A. machine), microbe room, conference and staff offices.
In 2003, another aeration train and clarifier were constructed because of increased loading on the plant from industrial wastes. The plant has six blowers which provide the air to the aeration system. The plant's capacity is 22,800 pounds of BOD per day.
Currently, an upgrade project is underway which will include the renovation of the primary settling tanks, a chemical feed building, a de-chlorination system, electrical upgrades, and new blower motors/VFS's.
Hill Engineering and Falletta Engineering are the firms heading the way.
The Plant currently employs 17 people, which include operators, maintenance, lab personnel and laborers.
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