This page will help keep the public up-to-date on the progress of the construction on the town's Water Pollution Control Facility.
For larger images, click on the photos.
Update: October 27, 2009
Activity is increasing as construction at the treatment plant goes forward. As things progress the scope of the new plant becomes more apparent and impressive. It’s big! From the plant entrance on Vibert Road to what will be the back of the plant compound is almost 900 feet.
Our new aeration system is almost 200 feet and about 90 feet wide. Each of the two tanks will hold 600,000 gallons of water.
The first picture was taken inside one of the tanks, from near the back end.
This picture shows plant operator Dave Geng looking at the inside of the distribution chamber at the beginning of the new aeration tanks.
Coring of holes in the existing aeration tanks and pipe installation between the existing tanks and the new aerators has also begun. These pipes will carry water to the new aeration tanks. The old tanks are going to be modified in support of the new treatment process we’ll be using.
Our new secondary clarifiers will certainly be a welcome addition. They’re 65 feet in diameter (10 feet larger than our current tanks) and hold almost 350,000 gallons each.
The top photo shows the rebar mat for the tank base being “woven”. The second picture shows the tanks with about 90% of the tank walls poured and cured.
The new sludge storage tank structure is well underway. The base is completely poured and reinforcing steel for the walls is being put up.
Update: September 22, 2009
Construction continues at the treatment plant! Over the past several weeks 80% of the aeration tanks bases have been completed, while the side and center walls are springing up.
Aeration Tanks
The secondary clarifier bases are being prepped and the 24” center piping for the #3 clarifier is in place and encased in concrete.
A double rebar mat will be woven on top of the stone to strengthen the concrete tank base, which will be poured in the next couple weeks.
Also, excavation has progressed on the new sludge storage building, with geofabric and stone being put in place.
This building, as its name suggests, is where thickened, liquid sludge will be stored prior to its removal for off site disposal. The liquid sludge will be hauled to the MDC plant in Hartford where it will be dewatered and incinerated.
As construction progresses, the number of different activities is increasing. The contractor is beginning to do some work inside the existing plant compound. Submittals for equipment and materials come in daily for review, comment and approval. There are requests for information (RFI’s) from the contractor asking for clarification about drawings and specifications. There are also meetings with the contractor and construction engineers in preparation for the coming weeks activities as well as working on system development.
Upcoming activities include forming and pouring the center walkway for the aeration tanks and completing the rebar mat for one of the new secondary clarifiers and pouring the concrete base.
The sludge storage building will become an area of increased activity, too. This structure will be more complex, somewhat similar to the new pump gallery that will be built between the two new secondary clarifiers. It will contain three enclosed storage tanks as well as pumping facilities.
There is also the possibility that work will start on the administration/garage building. There will be modifications to the interior of the existing building that will encompass a new laboratory for water quality testing and process control, and a new addition that will provide a much needed workshop, electrical shop and parts storage area.
Things are looking up!
Update: August 3, 2009
Despite the inclement weather, the Treatment Plant construction is progressing well! In June the site was cleared and silt fence installed around the plant to protect the wetlands. July was a busy month of site work and excavating for the new aeration tanks* and secondary clarifiers**.
An initial eight feet of material (soil) was removed and transported off site. Because of the final depth of the tanks and the height of the local water table (we’re so close to the Connecticut River), fourteen wells were installed around the site. These wells pump excess water from the digging area. This allowed the contractor (C.H. Nickerson) to remove an additional three feet of material, reaching the final depth of the tanks.
Geofabric (similar to heavy landscaping fabric) was spread across the tank area. One foot of stone was spread on top of the fabric for drainage underneath the new tanks. Iron reinforcing bars (rebar) are currently being installed to form a “mat” on top of the stone. This rebar mat will help strengthen the concrete tank bases.
Although somewhat involved, forming the rebar mat should go quickly. Nickerson is hoping to start pouring the concrete tanks bases during the second week of August. They are also going to be working on the excavation for the new sludge storage building (the deepest excavation of the project!) and possibly begin the excavation for the new air blower building.
* Two new aeration tanks, each approximately 40 feet wide, 13 feet deep and 160 feet long are being constructed. The treatment plant uses a biological process to break down solids and certain chemical compounds from the wastewater (for the past 15 months, the treatment plant has removed 96% of these). The aeration tanks are the home for the bacteria and protozoa that perform this process.
** Two new secondary clarifiers are being added to the treatment plant. Water from the aeration tanks flows into these 65 foot diameter tanks where solids settle and are removed. The clear water from these tanks (the plant’s final effluent) then flows through a metering chamber and is discharged to the Connecticut River.
++++++++++++++++ Help Yourself and the Treatment Plant!! ++++++++++++++
Washing grease down the drain or introducing rags and debris into the sewer system can cause big problems! They can plug up your pipes, block the sewer lines or jam our pumps. Any of these can cause sewage to back up into your or your neighbor’s home! Grease also interferes with the plant process, making it more difficult to clean the water!
For more information, contact the South Windsor Public Works Department
at 860-644-2511 ext. 243.
This site will be updated throughout the construction project. Stay Tuned!
June 23, 2009
Ground Breaking Event
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