Overview

The Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) serving the Borough of Jim Thorpe was originally built in 1965. Improvements were made over the years which included the addition of secondary treatment in 1977 and in the mid 80’s, ammonia removal, however, most of the components were over 35 years old. Entech completed a feasibility study that recommended major renovations to meet current and pending and water quality requirements. Several additional modifications were also recommended to increase effectiveness and efficiency of the plant.

The Borough approved the $10M project which was 46% funded by a grant from RUS. We provided complete engineering design services for the upgrade which included a new headworks building, new influent pump station modifications, automatic screening, a new treatment process system, new UV system, augmented aerobic digestion, new dewatering equipment, and a new SCADA system.

Entech provided study and design services to upgrade the wastewater treatment plant. The only new structure for the project was the Headworks Building. All other upgrades included retrofits and repurposing of existing facilities. Flow comes into the plant from the East and West sides of the Borough. Flow from the West side is pumped into the new Headworks Building by three new influent pumps, located in the upgraded control facility. The gravity line coming from the East side was extended to come directly into the Headworks, which houses the new automatic screen and grit removal system.

The WWTP’s existing aeration tanks were converted to an Integrated Fixed-film Activated Sludge (IFAS) process in order to improve secondary treatment performance and to facilitate biological nutrient removal (BNR).

Existing equipment in the clarifiers was removed and the tanks were retrofitted with new components including baffles and launder covers which greatly reduced routine maintenance. The existing chlorine contact tank was converted to a UV tank with the addition of three (3) UV units. The chlorine disinfection was discontinued, but remains intact if needed as a back-up. A new overhead structure houses a crane in the event that the UV units need to be lifted out.

Two original 1965 spirogesters on site were capped and re-purposed as more cost-effective aerobic digesters. A new screw press replaced the existing plate and frame press which was labor intensive and inefficient. The utility water system was also upgraded by adding a package unit that brings pumps on/offline to maintain a constant water pressure. The upgrade also included a new SCADA system.

With the upgrades completed, the Borough has a more effective and efficient plant, improving water quality and requiring less maintenance, with systems that can adjust to meet changing regulatory limits for decades to come.