MSD
would like to expand the treatment capacity of the Sycamore plant
to treat additional wastewater flows and eliminate overflows associated
with extreme wet weather. MSD is currently working with the Ohio Environmental
Protection Agency (Ohio EPA)
to gain approval for this project. An Ohio EPA public hearing was held
on July 24, 2003 as part of the plant’s request for a Permit
to Install and a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NDPES)
permit modification (see Progress). The Ohio EPA is now issuing a draft NPDES permit for the plant. A public comment period on the permit began July 8, 2004 and lasted for 30 days. The draft permit will become final, pending any comments received during the comment period. See Progress
Report for more information.
The project
is divided into four phases, which are described below. Construction
of the entire project should be complete by 2007. The estimated total
project cost is $31.2 million.
Phase 1
The
primary focus of Phase 1 is to expand the plant’s peak treatment
capacity from 32 to 50 MGD. Wastewater flows above 18 MGD will be diverted
to a high-rate treatment system that removes suspended solids, organics
and phosphorus using a chemical coagulant. This wet weather system was
pilot tested at Mill Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant in 1997. After
treatment, the wet weather flows would recombine with flows from the
conventional treatment system for disinfection and discharge to Sycamore
Creek.
In addition,
the plant will replace its current chlorine disinfection system with
a new ultraviolet disinfection system and increase plant influent and
effluent pumping capacity.
