Metro Wastewater Reclamation District’s (MWRD) long-term master plan acknowledged more stringent future discharge criteria for nutrients and recommended complete biological nutrient removal (BNR) at the Robert W. Hite Treatment Facility (RWHTF), prompting conversion of the high purity oxygen activated sludge process in the South Secondary Complex to a BNR air activated sludge process, similar
to that currently being operated in the North Secondary Complex.
This project also includes design of a 240-mgd primary effluent pump station, blower building with five 30,000 scfm single-stage centrifugal blowers, mixed liquor recycle pump stations, RAS/WAS pump stations, chemical feed systems, power feed system, and modification of the existing secondary clarifiers. The construction cost for these improvements is $135 million. Following the expansion of the South Secondary Complex, MWRD will have the capacity to fully nitrify and denitrify peak month flows of over 160 million gallons of wastewater a day.
