Wonders and Woes of Fairfield’s sewer system: Part 2 of 3

In response to the DNR’s 2008 Administrative Consent Order, Fairfield’s sanitary sewer system has undergone a huge overhaul. The new system is efficient, effective, has a much larger capacity than the old system, and has adopted many cost-saving practices. Here’s some of what was done.

The Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) now boasts a state-of-the-art chemistry laboratory. With its meters, monitors, computers, and displays, this lab tracks everything, everywhere, all at once in the plant: pressure, volume, pH, chemical composition and other details about the materials flowing through every part of the plant. A crew member is always on hand or on call to respond to any significant fluctuations that the delicate sensors might detect. Besides serving Fairfield’s needs, this lab also offers testing and analysis services for other communities for a fee.

Septic systems must be emptied periodically. Also, for a fee, Fairfield’s WWTP accepts these septic contents for processing from all the other communities in Jefferson County (except Maharishi Vedic City) and has the capacity to process even more.

Giant augurs (like big screws) have been installed to lift sewer water into the plant’s Pump House to begin the treatment process. The augurs are simpler, more efficient, more reliable, and more economical than the motors they replaced. Plant supervisor Shawn Worley discovered this method as he researched best practices and networked with other sanitation professionals, something he does often. Shawn and his crew have installed variable frequency drives on plant machines wherever possible to lower energy costs and use generators instead of electricity from the grid during certain peak utility charge periods, saving taxpayers’ dollars.

To update the city’s pipe network, trunk lines were enlarged and replaced, and lift stations upgraded. The sanitation crew employs a high-tech camera system to inspect pipes for trouble spots. They can then thread inflatable liners into large sections of deteriorated pipe, inflate the liners, and allow them to harden, thus replacing pipes from the inside rather than doing expensive, costly excavations to replace them. They’ve also fully separated the sanitary and stormwater systems over most of the city.

Shawn reports that he has a stellar, dependable crew, and very little turnover. “These are excellent career jobs,” says Shawn. “There’s lots of training involved, but it’s mostly on-the-job. The work is challenging, interesting, and important. I urge more young people to consider it. This is a field that isn’t likely to become obsolete any time soon!”

And what advice might Shawn offer to consumers about how to help keep their WWTP going strong? “Please, please don’t put stuff in the drains that doesn’t belong there, especially those so-called ‘flushable’ wipes. Don’t put pharmaceuticals there, either; take those to a drug store or the Law Center.”

So now you know the story of what it takes to keep nine buildings, seventy-four miles of sewer mains, 1,100 manholes and three generators in good shape!

Coming in Part Three: How it works today.