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Communities at Work: The science behind the flush March 6, 2010
Some might consider this edition of Communities at Work a stinky subject, but nevertheless, nearly all residents in Craig city limits rely on the city’s Wastewater Department. The city’s Wastewater Plant releases more than one million gallons of treated wastewater back into the natural river system per day, and is only running at half capacity. The Wastewater Department is also responsible for maintaining Craig’s 55 miles of sewer mains throughout the city and testing the wastewater coming in and leaving the plant. There is more science and engineering that goes into the process than one might realize. The water mains use the simple principle of gravity to do most of the work, but engineers must use advanced math to determine volume capabilities based on main sizes. Once the wastewater reaches the plant, it goes into an oxygenation ditch where an anoxic zone is created to harvest and control the protozoa that feed on the waste. After oxygenation, the water then goes through a series of filters and pools to separate the sludge from the water. The final step in the process is adding chlorine to kill any bacteria or remaining protozoa and then adding sulfur dioxide to neutralize the chlorine. The process lasts 23 days on average. It’s a lot of work for the four-person crew that makes up the Wastewater Department, but they consider it their job to try to take care of Craig residents. “We consider the citizens to be our bosses,” plant manager Nate Browning said. — Story and photos by Shawn McHugh
Wastewater Plant manager Nate Browning stands on a platform above the oxygenation ditch Wednesday at the plant. Every water and waste particle stays in the plant for 23 days, on average.
Wastewater operator Kyler Scott uses a monitor to navigate a remote-control-operated video camera attached to tracks, like a miniature tank, to look through an eight-inch sewer main in the alleyway east of Yampa Avenue between Fourth Street and Victory Way. Although the remote system was expensive, it allows the Wastewater Department to pinpoint problems in the main.
Teena Ray, a lab technician and plant operator, works up a fecal test Thursday at the city’s Wastewater Plant. Testing the plant’s material is an important part of ensuring effective treatment before releasing the water back into the river’s flow.
Kyler Scott scrapes sludge out of the grit elevator Wednesday at the Wastewater Plant. The sludge comes from the bottom of a neighboring wastewater ditch. An auger scrapes the heavier materials from the bottom of a pool into the grit elevator, and it is then dropped into a waste container.
David Mundo, left, and Scott, are wastewater operators, control a machine to pull a high-pressure hose out of the sewer main after cleaning the line Thursday in the alleyway east of Yampa Avenue between Fourth Street and Victory Way. They cleared debris from the line so they could run a remote control camera through to inspect it.
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Question of the week
Should the Craig Chamber of Commerce revise its State of the County attendance policy to allow people to hear speakers without paying for a ticket?
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