North Tonawanda Wastewater Treatment Plant

The City of North Tonawanda retained Wendel to assist with improving the energy and operational efficiency of its wastewater treatment plant. Wendel completed a comprehensive examination and developed a Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) for various treatment facilities at the wastewater treatment plant. Wendel is also utilizing a grant from NYSERDA’s FlexTech Program to evaluate energy operational efficiency options that will assist in meeting the city’s environmental goals and facility upgrade needs.

The CIP and energy study, completed in late 2018, identified the potential costs, savings, incentives and paybacks associated with each option. The city has elected to move forward with a $6 million Phase 1 project that addresses critical needs outlined in the CIP, utilizing a $1.5 million Water Infrastructure Improvements (WIIA) grant awarded by NYSEFC to fund the project.

Improvements during this phase will include:

  • Complete replacement of the grit removal system
  • High head wet well pump, valve and VFD replacements
  • Low head wet well pump, valve and VFD replacements
  • Sludge pump, valve and VFD replacements
  • Chlorination system improvements
  • Plant wide LED lighting upgrades
  • Raw sewage pump and sludge pump MCC upgrades

In addition to the Phase 1 project, design and bidding has been completed for a chemical storage and pump replacement project based on the findings that came out of the CIP. Now in the construction administration and observation phase, this $300,000 project includes:

  • Replacement of the (2) existing ferric chloride storage tanks with new chemical storage tanks
  • Chemical feed pumps, valving and piping upgrades
  • Storage/containment area structural renovations

Wendel’s implementation of the ICE approach to create the city’s Capital Improvement Plan has led to real, tangible capital and energy saving projects, with even more planned for future phases.