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Norwalk WPCA says plant rode out July 6 storm but flags BOD/TSS exceedance
Summary
Contract operations staff reported the wastewater plant sustained brief flows above 30 MGD during a July 6 storm without activating combined sewer outfalls, but recorded a high-limit exceedance for BOD and TSS tied to the event; operations and staffing updates were also announced. No formal actions were taken because the commission lacked a quorum.
The contract operations manager told the Norwalk WPCA on July 20 that the wastewater treatment facility sustained flows above 30 million gallons per day for about three hours during a July 6 heavy rain but did not activate combined sewer outfalls.
That outcome came with a trade-off: operating above design capacity contributed to a high-limit exceedance for biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and total suspended solids (TSS), the manager said. "We did have a high, high limit exceedance for BOD and TSS," he said, adding that the exceedance has been reported and the plant has returned to normal operations.
Why it matters: avoiding outfall activation can reduce immediate discharges to receiving waters, but exceedances for BOD and TSS are compliance issues the WPCA must track with state regulators. The presenter reported the facility's average nitrogen performance for June was 651 pounds per day, below the 718-pound target, and said required monthly permit reports were submitted to DEEP and EPA.
The presenter gave operational detail: the collection team completed 3.25 miles of CCTV inspection, 2.33 miles of sewer cleaning, 120 manhole inspections and 90 IPP inspections in June. He also described maintenance work including installing a new scum baffle and returning primary clarifier 4 to service.
Staffing and equipment updates were announced alongside the operations report. The presenter said the project has a new VP (Zach Donahue), promoted Peter Verderosa to deputy leader/maintenance manager, and promoted Brian Muro to collections manager to cover an internal transfer. He said Ahmed, the former GIS manager turned collections manager, is transferring to a Veolia project in Buffalo and will provide short-term remote GIS support during the transition.
On equipment, the presenter reported that repairs to a 2,400-volt aeration blower damaged during a February power outage were completed after contracting both low-voltage and medium-voltage specialists. The work—initially estimated in the $30,000–$35,000 range—returned blower #1 to service and supplied spare fuses for the specialized components, the presenter said.
The meeting had no quorum and no binding votes were taken; the commission adjourned at 5:51 p.m. and scheduled its next meeting for Aug. 17.
