Across the United States, utilities are upgrading and expanding waste-water treatment plants (WWTPS) in response to a host of factors. Aging systems originally built in the 1970s or 1980s following the enactment of the Clean Water Act often need to be extensively rehabilitated or replaced to continue to operate effectively today. In many parts of the country, treatment projects are driven by the need for increased system capacity to accommodate population growth. Tighter regulatory requirements that necessitate treatment beyond secondary levels―including ammonia removal and nutrient reductions―also are prompting wastewater upgrades. As drought or extensive use takes its toll on groundwater and surface water supplies, an increasing number of WWTPS are incorporating advanced treatment technologies so that the effluent is of sufficient quality for reuse projects. Finally, as efficiency and competitiveness assume greater importance for utilities, the desire to reduce staffing levels is prompting some owners of treatment plants to renovate their facilities.
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