Sewage Treatment Plant

Route 315, Waterville • 315-841-4445
Louis Langone, Plant Operator
watstp@frontiernet.net

The Village of Waterville Wastewater Treatment facility was recently awarded the EPA's Clean Water Act Recognition Award, 1st place Outstanding Operation and Maintenance, small advanced plant.

Each year the U.S. EPA recognizes municipalities, wastewater treatment programs, facilities and individuals on a national level, as an example of an outstanding commitment to protect and improve the quality of the nations water.

Louis Langone, Operator of the Waterville Wastewater Facility, accepted the award on behalf of the Village of Waterville. The award presentation held at the 81st annual Water Environment Federation Technical Exhibition and Conference in Chicago. The small advance treatment category award is given to a facility that has a design flow of less than one million gallons per day and show outstanding operation and maintenance practices at the wastewater facility. In New York State alone there are approximately 370 facilities of over 20,000 gallons per day but less than 1,000,000 gallons per day that would fall into this category.

The Waterville Wastewater Facility was constructed in 1969 and 1970. The construction included the sanitary collecting system, all the buildings and all the process treatment equipment. In April of 1970, the plant was put on line and has been operating everyday since. The plant and its process are regulated by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. The D.E.C. issues all our permits and routinely monitors the plants performance and operation. The facilities most have two licensed operators on staff. The Facility currently has three D.E.C. issued permits: a SPEDES discharge permit, a composting of biosolids permit and a land application of biosolids permit.

In 1997, a plant modification project began, upgrading, repairing and replacing the existing facility which had deteriorated due to age and/or became obsolete. In December of 1997, the plant went back on line from this construction. This construction was done before equipment breakdown or malfunctions due to age would cause any type of permit violations which in turn could lead to fines against the Village.

In October of 2000, the Wastewater facility started composting its biosolids. This composting is done by taking the liquid biosolids (sludge) from our aerated digesters and running it through a belt press to remove the water from it. It is then mixed at a precalculated mix with woodships. Once mixed this compost is dumped into a triangular pile and then cover for insulation with clean woodchips. This pile sets and works and heats for 21 days and must reach certain temperatures within that 21 days. After 21 days the compost is set outside for another 30 days to cure. The piles are turned over weekly until the 30 days are over. After 30 days the compost is then screened to remove all the big woodchips from it. The finished compost is now ready to give to the public. This compost will have nothing in it bigger than 1/4" in size and will have little to no odor.

This is now a class one compost that can be used as a soil amendment for flowers, grass, shrubs, trees or any other type of landscaping. The best part about it is that it is free. If you would like some of this compost or would like to see how it is made, stop down or give a call. Our facility has been given several awards on its operation and the Village is very proud of its facility and has given many tours of the plant and operation. So stop down and see this operation yourself.