Owatonna WWTF Expansion

Nero completed a facility plan and antidegradation alternatives analysis for the Owatonna WWTF Expansion project. The existing treatment facility has surpassed its design life and does not have adequate capacity to handle future hydraulic and organic loadings for the community. The facility plan included a plant-wide condition assessment of the existing equipment, the development of a whole-plant biological model used primarily for evaluating biological nutrient removal alternatives, an evaluation of treatment process alternatives, cost estimates for feasible alternatives, estimated operation and maintenance costs for feasible alternatives, and the recommended alternative for expansion.

An Antidegradation Alternatives Analysis was required as part of the permitting process for an expanded discharge. The analysis essentially established the potential of each pollutant’s degradation to the receiving stream for the alternatives being considered. The economic feasibility of the alternatives were also considered. The recommended technology for the plant expansion was not only feasible, but Nero was able to keep mass limits for several parameters out of the City’s effluent permit by successfully completing the antidegradation analysis.