The city of Merced began its upgrade of the wastewater treatment plant Friday to continue its journey to become eco-friendly.
City officials grabbed their shovels and took part in a groundbreaking that marked the first day of construction for the plant, located on Gove Road south of the city.
The plant, which treats all wastewater collected from the sanitary sewer system, will add solar active dryers that can treat solids in wastewater to make commercial grade fertilizer, which can be used for agriculture or home gardens, explained Mike Wegley, Director of Water Resources.
Construction is to cost more than $30 million for the final phase, he said. "When the economy was booming, the project would've cost over $60 million," Wegley said. "We're getting quite a bargain here."
The previous phase of the project added ultraviolet disinfectors to help clean some of the liquid waste that the plant collects, Wegley said. Previously the plant had used chlorine to treat the liquid water.
The wastewater that is now cleaned with the ultraviolet disinfectors meets drinking standards, Wegley said. "I wouldn't drink it myself, but that recycled water can also be used for agriculture and other things," Wegley said.
The upgrade is a part of a 10-year operation to expand the plant, make the plant more eco-friendly, and to bring it up to state and federal water quality mandates, Wegley said.
After completion, the plant plans to increase its capacity to 16 million available gallons of treated water per day, from 4 million available gallons of treated water per day, Wegley said.
The project is expected to be completed in December 2012.
The plant opened in 1977 and serves the entire population of Merced.
Reporter Samuel Cosby can be reached at (209)385-3484 or scosby@mercedsun-star.com.
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