Master Plan of System Improvements
The HCWSA master plan of system improvements includes a number of construction activities, highlighted by vital expansion of wastewater treatment capacity, necessary to keep pace with the fourth fastest growing county in the U.S.
Springdale Water Reclamation Facility.
One of the projects completed most recently within the HCWSA's master plan was the addition to the Springdale Water Reclamation Facility, including the adjoining land application system. The plant and land application have been expanded from 1.6 million gallons per day (MGD) treatment capacity to 2.0 MGD.
In addition, the future HCWSA plans call for the Little Cotton Indian interceptor to pick up any additional sewage from the Springdale facility, in excess of 2.0 MGD, and transfer it for treatment at the Walnut Creek plant, which will soon be under construction.
Bear Creek Water Reclamation Facility.
The Bear Creek plant and adjoining land application system serve a number of customers in the growing area of the county near Hampton, where Atlanta Motor Speedway serves as a primary commercial account for the HCWSA.
The Authority is currently laying down the Bear Creek interceptor and pump station, in addition to working on an agreement with the city of Hampton to handle any need for additional treatment capacity for their customers.
Eventually, the capacity of the Bear Creek facility will be expanded from .25 MGD to .50 MGD. The improvements are scheduled for completion in 2005, though chances are they may be done sooner, say project managers from ARCADIS.
Camp Creek Water Reclamation Facility.
The Camp Creek Water Reclamation Facility has been built out, and it now provides customers of the Authority with 1.5 MGD of wastewater treatment capacity. The Walnut Creek Interceptor will eventually pick up excess treatment flow from Camp Creek and transfer it to the new Walnut Creek facility, which is under construction.
After Walnut Creek becomes operational, engineers propose that the Camp Creek facility can then be refurbished, before coming back on line to offer the Authority much more flexibility in wastewater treatment throughout the system.
Simpson Mill Water Reclamation Facility.
As one of the system's smallest facilities, Simpson Mill is no longer adequate to handle the need for more capacity in wastewater treatment in its service area. Thus, the current master plan of capital improvements calls for a North Indian Creek Interceptor to tie into the Bethlehem Bottoms Interceptor, which will ultimately carry the wastewater handled at Simpson Mill to the new Indian Creek Water Reclamation Facility and adjoining Land Application System.
Indian Creek Water Reclamation Facility.
Phase I of the Indian Creek Water Reclamation Facility, a $12.5 million project, was completed at the end of October, providing the HCWSA with 1.5 MGD of wastewater treatment capacity.
In addition, the facility already has the necessary pipes and tanks to accommodate 3.0 MGD. All the Authority will need to do in order to access this additional capacity is install necessary plant equipment. Ultimately, the new Indian Creek facility will have the capability of treating 12 MGD, so the Authority is poised to handle additional consumer demand that is expected through the next decade and beyond.
Walnut Creek Water Reclamation Facility.
John Dean, water/waste management business practice manager with ARCADIS, who heads up many of the Authority's master plan projects, calls the Walnut Creek facility "the backbone of the sewerage system" in Henry County.
When completed, Walnut Creek, along with Indian Creek, will be the largest, most innovative and technically advanced facilities of the HCWSA. Initially, Walnut Creek is designed to handle 4.0 MGD of wastewater treatment, as the facility is set to open in July, 2004.
The Authority has 2,000 acres for land application on this site, which equates to 10 MGD of capacity for spray irrigation of treated wastewater, according to permit stipulations, on the property. When the facility comes on line, the Authority will begin operations by accessing just 600 acres of land application.
The Walnut Creek construction project will include the plant, adjoining land application system and pump station. In mid October, the Authority began to review bids for the Walnut Creek interceptor, and by the end of the month, the same process was under way for the construction of the plant and adjoining facilities.
