Black & Veatch, a global engineering, consulting and construction company, announced today that it has begun development of conceptual design for Phase I improvements to the 20.6 million-gallon-per-day (mgd) Regional Wastewater Treatment Facility in Columbia, Mo. The improvements will enable the city to handle increasing wastewater treatment demand through mechanical processes and continue to environmentally benefit from the wetlands treatment that follows.
The existing facility, which serves more than 90,000 people, is unique because effluent from the mechanical plant is discharged through a series of constructed wetlands for further treatment. Effluent from the wetlands units is discharged into the nearby Eagle Bluffs Conservation Area wetlands.
This is the first major step in Columbia’s program to improve and expand its treatment capabilities in accordance with the city’s Wastewater Facilities Master Plan approved early this year. Conceptual design now underway encompasses the addition of a third mechanical liquid treatment train and dewatering facilities; upgrades to grit removal and influent pumping; and improvements to wet weather treatment, odor control and sludge processing facilities.
Black & Veatch, together with subconsultants Dr. Robert Kadlec and MEC Water Resources, Inc., (Columbia, Mo.) is also assessing the condition and performance of the constructed wetlands to identify possible improvements that could enhance the ability of the wetlands to continue treating effluent naturally for safe discharge into the conservation-area wetlands.
Source: Black & Veatch
