Treatment Process

The Big Buffalo Wastewater Reclamation Facility is an advanced treatment facility with a permitted capacity of6.8 million gallons per day. Physical, biological, and chemical processes at the plant treat wastewater before it is released into the environment. First, it passes through a bar screen and then through a grit chamber where debris is removed prior to reaching the influent pumps that pump it to the aeration basins. Microorganisms in the aeration basin are used to convert organic matter to a solid residue. The aeration basins discharge the wastewater to the clarifiers where solids are broken down further. Clear water in the clarifiers then travels to the filters. The waste-water is disinfected by a chlorination process and safely dechlorinated prior to being discharged through an outfall pipe into the Deep River.

Staffing

There are twenty-five employees of the Public Works Department, which provide day-to-day operations and twenty-four hour response to plant and collection system emergencies. Employees are certified by the State of North Carolina for proficiency in plant operation, collection system repair, pump station maintenance, laboratory analysis, and pretreatment management. City employees are on duty twenty-four hours, seven days per week monitoring all system activity from the plant control room.

Biosolids

The nutrient-rich organic materials resulting from the treatment of domestic sewage at the wastewater treatment facility are called biosolids. The nutrients in these biosolids contain calcium, nitrogen, phosphorous, and micronutrients like copper and zinc, which are essential for plants. Farmers have been using these biosolids for years because of their benefits as a fertilizer to maintain productive soils. These solids are converted to a dense residue, removed, and reused on permitted land in Lee, Chatham, and Montgomery Counties. This past year we applied six million gallons of biosolids to permitted land.

Reuse Program

Sanford’s reuse program decreases the amount of nutrients and flow discharged into the river. Treated wastewater in recent years has been used to irrigate the local municipal golf course. The City is also looking into expanding its reclaimed water usage to industries in an effort to curb overall water usage, free up more capacity in the river, and to extend the life of the waste-water plant. We have asked local industries to examine the feasibility of introducing the use of reclaimed water into their operations.

Pretreatment Program

Industrial discharges are monitored through the City’s pretreatment program. This program helps protect the wastewater treatment facility by specifying the maximum amounts of pollutants that may be discharged into the facility. Staff conducts routine monitoring and inspections of these industries to ensure compliance. We currently have nine industries in the program. The City issues permits to these industries specifying the parameters of concern and flow limitations.

Laboratory Analysis

Sanford’s reclamation facility maintains a certified analytical laboratory approved by the State of North Carolina and the EPA. Our lab is certified to perform environmental analysis and report monitoring data to the Division of Water Quality for compliance with NPDES effluent and pretreatment regulations. Technicians observe wastewater discharge at local industries in order to monitor compliance, and laboratory personnel monitor the effluent daily by testing twenty wastewater parameters. All data reported this year was in compliance with the NPDES permit.