Wastewater Treatment Facility

The Wastewater Treatment Facility (WWTF) is a separate department from Public Works (PW)/Streets and Sewers. While PW is responsible for the maintenance of both storm and sanitary sewers, the WWTF, using an Activated Sludge process, treats the wastewater discharged to the sewers by residential, commercial and industrial properties. The Facility also accepts liquid wastes brought to it by pre-authorized/permitted trucks, i.e. septage, grease interceptor wastes and landfill leachate.

In addition to the treatment plant, Facility Staff are responsible for the operation and maintenance of fifteen (15) sewage pumping stations as well as the land application of municipal biosolids, a valuable by-product of the City's wastewater treatment process.

The Wastewater Treatment Facility is here to protect the water environment. A key component of the operation of the Plant is a laboratory which conducts monitoring in compliance with National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permit requirements as authorized by the Clean Water Act of 1977. Lab results are the basis on which plant process adjustments are made to insure the treated water discharged meets water quality standards. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requires that certain industries pre-treat their wastewater before discharging to the Publicly Owned Treatment Works (POTW). These industries are required to treat water to a level intended to protect the water quality of the receiving stream, in this case, the Mississippi River. Burlington WWTF has an Industrial Pretreatment Program to ensure compliance.