Plant staff focused on optimizing sludge-wasting and biosolids dewatering processes
New Update: Wastewater Wednesday!
Last week, we highlighted the final treatment stages, where advanced filtration and disinfection produce high-quality treated water that can be stored and recycled for future beneficial reuse. This week, plant staff are optimizing two equally important processes: sludge wasting and biosolids dewatering.
This week, plant staff are focusing on optimizing the sludge-wasting and biosolids-dewatering processes. During wastewater treatment, beneficial bacteria naturally break down organic material. As these bacteria grow, some excess solids must be removed to maintain the proper balance within the AquaNereda treatment basins.
The facility’s automated controls and variable-frequency motor drives allow staff to carefully adjust how much excess sludge is removed and how equipment operates. The removed solids then go through dewatering, which reduces their water content and makes them easier to manage. Fine-tuning these processes helps keep biological treatment stable, supports reliable facility operations, and contributes to the consistent production of high-quality reuse water.
Progress is also continuing beyond the facility as FPUA prepares the conveyance system that will carry wastewater flows to the new Mainland facility.
One new project we are introducing this week is the Jenkins Force Main Extension from Edwards Road to Ten Mile Creek. Construction is anticipated to begin within the next month and will include approximately 2,500 linear feet of wastewater force main, followed by system testing, startup, and commissioning. Once completed, this segment will become part of the larger conveyance network supporting the transition to the Mainland Water Reclamation Facility
Several other conveyance projects are also advancing through design and permitting. We look forward to sharing additional updates as this coordinated work strengthens wastewater reliability, expands opportunities for water reuse, and improves the resilience of our community’s infrastructure.
Also, we’d like to thank all of our partners, contractors, vendors, and crew who are helping us deliver this important project to our customers! FPUA is grateful for this project with industry leaders Globaltech, Inc., Haskell and Hazen, the site designers and build team; TLC Diversified, Inc., re-routing the conveyance system to redirect wastewater flows away from the Indian River Lagoon; Kimley-Horn, the conveyance system designers, and the sub-contractors working so hard to keep this project safe and on schedule.
We are also thankful for the partnership with the City of Fort Pierce in this infrastructure improvement effort that will benefit the Fort Pierce community for generations to come.
Follow all the construction progress of the new Mainland Water.
Reclamation Facility at: https://www.sustainablesewer.net/wastewaterwednesdays
Take a virtual tour of the new Mainland Wastewater Reclamation Facility at:
https://www.sustainablesewer.net/videos
Thank you as always for your support and interest.
#WastewaterWednesday #FPUA #FortPierce #Wastewater #Infrastructure #IndianRiverLagoon
