Wastewater Treatment Process

Plum Island Wastewater Treatment Plant
The treatment of wastewater is necessary to protect the environment and public health. Wastewater carries many of bacteria that are harmful to humans and wildlife; removal of these bacteria and other pollutants requires a two-step process: primary treatment and secondary treatment.

Click the treatment schematic to the right for an interactive description of the treatment process.

Primary Treatment
Wastewater arrives at Plum Island from one of two deep tunnels: the Harbor Tunnel, which conveys all the water from the Peninsula to the treatment plant, and the West Ashley Tunnel, which collects all sewage from the West Ashley area and transports it to Plum Island. Primary treatment involves physically removing debris and large particles from the wastewater to prepare it for the biological treatment process that occurs during Secondary Treatment.

Upon arrival at the plant, wastewater enters one of two pumping stations: sewage from West Ashley enters a large caisson, where powerful pumps convey it into stilling basins. As the wastewater flows past, mechanical “Auger Monsters” grind up large debris—everything from candy wrappers to rope—and filter it out for disposal. Next, wastewater enters grit removal tanks, where heavy inorganics such as sand, gravel, seeds, and coffee grounds (“grit”) settle to the bottom by gravity. The wastewater then flows into the primary settling basins, where smaller particles settle out and mechanical devices skim off oil and solids that float to the top.

Secondary Treatment
Once solids and large particles are removed, the wastewater enters the second phase of treatment—appropriately named Secondary Treatment.

Click the image to enlarge

The wastewater flows into large aeration basins, where it is mixed with air to aid the growth of microorganisms that naturally live in wastewater. Diffused air enters these 30-foot-deep tanks from the bottom, creating bubbles that make the water appear as if it is boiling. The microorganisms, called “activated sludge,” clean the wastewater by digesting organic materials and other contaminants. Wastewater remains in the aeration basins for about three hours to allow time for the microorganisms to grow and consume the bacteria.

Next, the wastewater enters basins called secondary clarifiers, where the “activated sludge” settles out of the water; some if it is reused in the treatment process and the rest is collected, thickened, and dewatered using large belt presses that squeeze out the excess water. The resulting sludge is transported to a landfill for disposal.

The wastewater now flows into final settling tanks where any remaining particles are settled out. Finally, sodium hypochlorite is injected into the water to kill any remaining bacteria. The resulting effluent is then released into the Ashley River; it is cleaner than the river water and is not harmful to the Harbor ecosystem.