Orange County NC Website
'w..� ®� �IIIVIW �fliliNbN R ( ) II tt� il <br />wwwum 0!` I <br />I p f q`� "�y "�' PI uN 1411NINIIVN4 YN��!1�I1Iy1I1,I ^�tt INI ` IU IIII IMF „ „y� y^^;, gyp 1�0 \ry�;,�9,�” � ^ W {pr <br />� 4II IIIp �j �Arvn6V1 �11111n�dfllY �111NIM (IIII IIIIY� tli �Vl� d IIII )J �!I @a I II �A g`Iryl� "ryNnn�Vry ,y tlp q ,y tlll I � d 4 / II <br />`�'� IIpWIM �j I'IpPp Annual Report <br />u w uii �,��ai r; <br />for y <br />a�����.:i through June 2015 <br />We surpassed the water quality standards for our Mason Farm <br />Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP). The phosphorus level in <br />our treated wastewater was 7% below the limit and nitrogen <br />was 71% below the limit. Limiting phosphorus and nitrogen is <br />important for water quality because they promote excessive <br />growth of algae, which reduces water quality and makes water <br />more difficult and expensive to treat for drinking purposes. <br />We treated and recycled 1,597 dry tons of wastewater biosolids. <br />Biosolids are solids which we separate from wastewater and <br />treat so that they can be recycled in agriculture or landscaping. <br />Our Class A biosolids continue to meet the U.S. Environmental <br />Protection Agency's (EPA's) standards for Exceptional Quality. <br />In September 2014, we completed $10.4 million of <br />improvements at our WWTP which reduced electricity use per <br />gallon of wastewater by about 30% ($250 ®000 annual savings); <br />will help us meet future standards for treated wastewater; and <br />further eliminated off -site odor. <br />There were two overflows from our sanitary sewers. The <br />overflows totaled an estimated 1,100 gallons or a fraction of <br />one percent of total wastewater volume (2.95 billion gallons). <br />In 2014, we began a review of opportunities to reduce biosolids <br />management costs while ensuring sustainable use of biosolids. <br />A key issue in this study is whether OWASA should continue <br />applying liquid biosolids to approved farmlands. <br />