Current Projects

Current Projects
A list of the most up-to-date projects being undertaken by the Authority.

Biosolids Drying Partnership

The treatment of wastewater is essential to the well being of the public. However, the process is not without its down side.

Treating wastewater in West Hanover is an almost completely natural process with the majority of the work being completed by microscopic organisms. There is one step, however, that does include the introduction of aluminum sulfate. This naturally occurring salt helps coagulate and settle solids in order to clarify the water in the final steps of the treatment process. These particles then fall to the bottom of the treatment tanks and are kept there so that they aren't sent out into the streams and waterways we discharge to. Since these  biosolids can't be broken down any further, they remain in the tank and start to pile up.

In order to remove them from the system, the Authority uses pumps to transfer accumulated biosolids to a press that squeezes the water from them and produces a solid cake which traditionally has had an agricultural lime added to it and is then spread on farmers' field to fertilize crops for animal feed.

While this system works, new research is beginning to show that not all biosolids can be handled this way. Because of pollutants like PFAS and PFOS and other inorganic waste resulting from new consumer products and the processing they require to manufacture them, land applying these biosolids will become increasingly expensive and may even have long-term damaging effects on the environment. Enter the P3 Project (Public Private Partnership).

The Authority is partnering with Griffin Residuals, LLC., a biosolids treatment company, to create a drying facility in the existing storage building at the wastewater treatment plant. Griffin plans to install dryers to produce environmentally safe and beneficial fertilizer from biosoilds. What was once a waste product will now be a completely treated and stabilized fertilizer for use by the average homeowner and farmers without negatively affecting the environment or the crops grown with it. In addition treating all of the Authority's biosolids, Griffin will be paying rent (which will help with improvements and upgrading of existing facilities) as well as reusing some of the Authority's treated water in their process.

The project is still in the early stages, but will hopefully be up and running by the summer of 2024.
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