Beaufort Wastewater Treatment Plant

Town of Beaufort, NC

During a period of strong growth, the Town of Beaufort faced a state-imposed moratorium on new sewer connections resulting from sanitary sewer collection system overflows and violations at its aging wastewater treatment plant (WWTP).  Operating its wastewater system under a Special Order by Consent (SOC) would allow the community to continue growth and development while resolving the conditions that led to the moratorium.

Rivers was engaged by the Town to assist in negotiation with the NC Department of Environmental Quality for the terms of an SOC, as well as to devise and assist with implementation of a multi-prong approach to identify infiltration/inflow (I/I) problems, rehabilitate the collection system and improve its WWTP.  Detailed services included funding applications & administration assistance, preparation of capital project ordinance, sanitary sewer evaluation surveys, surveying, engineering design, environmental/regulatory permitting, easement mapping, construction administration and construction inspection.  The final SOC contained a series of stringent interim dates by which various activities were to be completed thus allowing additional connections to the wastewater system.  With Rivers assistance, every date was met on or ahead of schedule.

The WWTP project involved design, permitting and construction of a new 1.5 MGD facility with nutrient removal capability and tertiary filtration.  Major components include a 3.75 MGD influent pump station; preliminary treatment unit; oxidation ditch comprised of two racetrack-style channels and three selector tanks and equipped with six rotors, six submersible mixers, and four flow boosters.  Other major components include two 58’ diameter clarifiers; 3.75 MGD filter feed pump station; tertiary filters; 3.75 MGD effluent pump station; chlorination and dechlorination facilities; reaeration basin, and; non-potable water pumps.  Sludge treatment and disposal components include a 2.25 MGD return activated sludge pump station; two aerobic digesters; belt filter press, and; sludge storage facilities.

A new Operations Center contains office space, laboratory, restrooms, and control room.  The WWTP includes two Power Zone Centers with integral Motor Control Center with energy efficient variable frequency drives and motor starters.