Wastewater Treatment Plant
Design & Safety Review

Mark Hurley, Director of Engineering at Gosling Czubak Engineering Sciences discusses the design and State permitting process required for the construction and operation of the proposed WWTP. For a general description of the system with a diagram click here. Mark also summarized the system as well as the planning, design and construction process. Read that here.

Here’s an outline of Mark’s discussion in the video.

1. Selection of an area of the property best suited to install the WWTP

a. based on prior knowledge of the soils & land contours

1. Upland with sandy soil
2. Higher ground will assist flow and dissipation of treated discharge
3. Greatest distance from GTB to allow greater absorption
4. Required setbacks & access from M22 for service

b. Based on proximity to the campground WW sewer collection layout
c. Capacity requirements – Part 22 State Discharge Rules

2. Hydrogeological (HGI) soil testing to determine:

a. Groundwater aquifer dept & flows
b. Soils capacity for absorption of treated effluent
c. Current ground water quality testing
d. EGLE Permit Requirements

3. WWTP design

a. Required standards of treatment - 10-States Standards
b. Nutrients & metals removal (organic & inorganic)
c. types of systems (package plants)
d. back-up contingency - capacity, power
e. Operational plans

4. Permitting applications & Review

a. EGLE for operating permits
b. Final submission to LTPC as condition of special land use
c. Operator license, monitoring

Donald Hearl, EnviroProcess, LLC who has 40 year industry career knowledge discusses the public health & environmental safety of a WWTP designed, permitted, constructed and operated as described above.

Don also wrote a review of the Timber Shores system. Click here to read that report.

1. Technology has advanced significantly in recent years

a. MBBR – review of technology
b. MBBR is used extensively for all sizes of system capacity requirements.

2. Safety Record

a. Redundancy of system for monitoring and contingencies.

3. Ground Water safety

a. Treated wastewater contaminant reduction can be made as clean as or cleaner than well water.
b. Wells are required to be drilled into a specific aquifer typically below a layer of clay and separated from the ground water.
c. Treated effluent is constantly tested by equipment and licensed operator.

4. Comparison between a modern WWTP and conventional septic system.

Environmental Reports
Environmental Review
Response to Luttenton Report
Response to Wetland Filling Allegation
Beach Restoration Plan

Permitting
EGLE & Corps Permit Process
Final Wetland Mitigation & Monitoring Plan