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Wastewater staff: Painesville plant operating below design capacity, Red Creek connection will increase flow but not exceed peak capacity
Summary
Wastewater staff reported the Painesville treatment plant is operating below design average flow and that Red Creek sanitary sewer improvements would increase average flow but not exceed design capacity if the city accepts the currently-expected amount.
City wastewater staff delivered an overview of the Painesville Wastewater Treatment Plant’s operations, recent accomplishments and planned capacity increases tied to the Red Creek development.
Max Mendoza, lab tech services supervisor, told council the plant was designed for a daily average flow of 6 million gallons per day (MGD) with a peak of 15 MGD; current average daily flow for the city is about 3.62 MGD. Staff are completing a local limits study, have replaced pump-station hardware and are planning several equipment upgrades (HVAC, aeration diffusers, new dump bed, media filter replacement and elevator repair). Mendoza listed staffing (12 total employees, nine certified operators) and recent capital and maintenance work.
On the Red Creek sanitary sewer improvements, staff described a project that will redirect wastewater from Red Creek to the Painesville plant via gravity sewers, a lift station and a force main. Project materials presented to council estimated the project could support approximately 2,300 new residential and business units and cited an estimated 3.2 million (units not specified in the slide excerpt). Later in the meeting a council member said the city had agreed to accept about 1.0 MGD; staff clarified that accepting 1.0 MGD would bring the plant’s average flow to about 4.6 MGD — under the 6 MGD design average and well under the 15 MGD peak capacity.
Staff said the project aims to minimize environmental impacts (directional boring for pipe installation), includes public meetings and a 30-day comment period, and will require design and capacity planning. Councilmembers asked how the increased flows would affect operations and compliance; staff said the plant has capacity for the proposed increase but will continue to monitor and plan upgrades as needed. Staff offered tours and said they will proceed with necessary project design steps.
