The Owatonna Wastewater Treatment Facility is a more sustainable facility that runs more efficiently and at a lower operating cost due to recent improvements.

The project included preliminary treatment upgrades, which resulted in reduced energy usage and increased capacity for peak flows. Phosphorus removal equipment added as part of the project allows the facility meet more stringent phosphorus discharge requirements and to reduce the amount of phosphorus discharged to the Straight River in southeast Minnesota.

Sludge handling and drying improvements provide greater flexibility and lower cost application for biosolids disposal. A parallel dry sludge handling system was added to the existing liquid sludge system for flexibility of operations and includes an innovative sludge drying/storage bunker. The system provided a ten-fold reduction in sludge volume, increased flexibility for operations personnel, eliminated weather dependent operations, reduced labor for biosolids land application, and increased satisfaction of participating farmers.

Contact

Tracy Ekola
tekola@sehinc.com