NEWS RELEASE                                   MARCH 2005

Thousands of Upgrades and New Projects at U.S. Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plants

The needs for higher wastewater discharge purity, control of odors, capacity expansion and replacement of overage systems are factors contributing to the thousands of capital investment projects at U.S. municipal wastewater treatment plants.  Each of these projects is tracked in the online McIlvaine report, U.S. Municipal Wastewater Treatment Facilities and People.

Large numbers of wastewater treatment plants were constructed in the United States during the 1970s and 1980s when large sums of federal money were available for implementation of the Clean Water Act.  Much of the equipment, now over 25 years old, is reaching the end of its useful life.  This means a number of upgrades at the 16,000 municipal wastewater treatment plants in the U.S.

Despite the fact that activity at existing plants outstrips investment in new plants, there are a significant number of new plants under construction.  The western U.S., with higher rates of population growth and more severe water problems, is making many new plant investments.  Here are examples in four western states:

Biosolids that are to be land applied must meet strict regulations and quality standards. The rule governing the use and disposal of biosolids contains numerical limits for metals in biosolids, pathogen reduction standards, site restriction and crop harvesting restrictions.  As a result, a number of current projects involve treatment of biosolids either prior to land use or as an alternative to land use.

For more information on U.S. Municipal Wastewater Facilities and People, click on: http://www.mcilvainecompany.com/water.html#62EI