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Wastewater Treatment Facility Upgrade

Upgraded facility increased treatment efficiency by nearly 40% and reduced it's energy consumption by over 40%.

Awarded "Engineering Excellence" by ACEC-ME

The Falmouth Wastewater Treatment Facility discharges to Casco Bay, one of the 27 estuaries of national significance designated by the EPA. Faced with an aging facility, significant sewered growth over the preceding decade, concerns about future growth impacts, and the expectations of more stringent nutrient standards for Casco Bay, the Town embarked on a major facility upgrade to address these concerns. Challenged by significant site constraints, creative and innovative concepts were developed by Wright-Pierce to maximize the reuse of existing infrastructure in concert with new
treatment technologies.

The result was the successful conversion to one of only a few advanced wastewater treatment facilities in the state of Maine. The upgraded facility has increased treatment efficiency by almost 40% and is poised to meet future nutrient discharge standards, while at the same time reducing its “carbon footprint” by cutting energy use by over 40%.

This $7M project was completed without an increase to the original bid price, virtually unheard of on publically bid public works projects.

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Project Highlights

Challenge
In order to keep the facility operational and compliant during construction, a complex sequencing plan was developed.

Upgrade Included:

  • New influent screening system
  • New biological aeration tanks/system designed for phosphorus and nitrogen removal (A2O process)
  • Conversion of existing package treatment units into new secondary clarifiers
  • Conversion of existing chlorine contact tank into new disinfection/sludge pump station building
  • New return and waste activated sludge pumping system
  • New effluent disinfection facilities (chlorine contact tanks and chemical facilities)
  • New sludge storage tank
  • New electrical distribution system and emergency generator