Wastewater Dept. FAQ

Dispose of household products safely.

Don't pour solvents, pesticides, paint thinners, engine oil, or household cleaning down the drain. Cooking oils and grease should be collected in a container, covered, and disposed of as solid waste. Fats, oils, and grease collect in the sewer system and are a major cause of blockages and sewage back-ups.

Many people do not know how to dispose of prescription medications and often times flush them down the toilet. Flushing drugs carry the risk of possible contamination of soil and groundwater. The City of Kendallville offers a Prescription Drug Drop Box for the City of Kendallville and surrounding area. A secure box is located in the City of Kendallville Police Department lobby located at 234 South Main Street. Individuals can walk in and anonymously deposit unused or expired prescription medications.

Use fertilizers and pesticides carefully—and only as directed.

Try to find safe alternatives to products that can harm water supplies. If you wish to dispose of old mercury thermometers, please call the Northeast Solid Waste Management District at 260-587-3063.

Be informed.

Learn about your local water supplies and any possible threats the water supply faces. Know what your community is doing to protect your water supply. Help other citizens be aware of the importance of clean water in your community.

Support your local treatment plant.

Be aware of your treatment plant's effort to provide clean water. Help make sure the plant has the money, equipment, and personnel to ensure the water's safety. Visit your local treatment plant. Learn what special problems it must solve and what you can do to help. Use water wisely.

Practice water conservation at home and at work. Fix leaks and install water-saving devices and appliances. Be aware of how much water you use in your household. Don't take this valuable resource for granted.
 

• Nutrients - Phosphorus, nitrogen, and other chemical nutrients found in wastewater can damage lakes and rivers. These nutrients need to be changed into less harmful substances or removed before being released into the environment.
• Toxic Chemicals - Sometimes wastewater contains hazardous chemicals from industry, pesticides, etc. Controlling these chemicals may require pretreatment of wastewater by industries and the use of advanced (tertiary) treatment methods at the wastewater treatment plant.
• Water Infiltration - Water entering the treatment system through cracks or joints in sewer lines or storm drains places an extra burden on a facility.
• Changes in Water Flow - The amount and kind of wastewater entering a treatment plant can change quickly. Plant operators must be ready to respond to these changing conditions.

Sludge can be a useful byproduct of treated wastewater. Sludge may be treated (thickened) to remove some of its water, then further processed by stabilization. Raw sludge is allowed to decompose in digester tanks. In some cases, special chemicals are used for stabilization. Stabilized sludge has no odor and is free of disease-causing organisms.

Some nontoxic sludge can be safely used as:

• Soil conditioner to improve the soil for crops in some areas of the nation. Sludge can also improve the soil for lawns, fields, and parks.
• Fuel. Using certain processes, sludge can also be used to produce methane gas. The methane can then be burned to supply energy for a small power plant or for other purposes.

If it can't be safely used, sludge must be buried in approved landfills or burned using special technology to prevent air pollution. 

The daily treatment plant operation is conducted by highly trained and certified operators. It requires:

• A plant manager/superintendent to ensure the plant has enough money, trained personnel, and equipment to conduct business.
• Maintenance personnel to prevent mechanical failures and solve equipment problems.
• Plant operators who know how to treat wastewater properly before discharging it into the environment. After a thorough training and exam process, operators are licensed through State standards.
• Lab Technicians who know how to test for state required parameters and meet those requirements by training.

Wastewater treatment usually takes place in two steps:

• Primary treatment removes 40-50% of the solids. Sanitary sewers carry wastewater from homes and businesses to the treatment plant. Bar screens let water pass, but not the trash. The trash is collected and properly disposed. A grit chamber is a large tank that slows down the flow of water. This allows sand, grit and other heavy solids to settle to the bottom for removal later.
• Secondary treatment completes the process, so that 85-90% of the pollutants are removed. A secondary sedimentation tank allows the microorganisms and solid wastes to form clumps and settle. Some of this mixture called "activated sludge" can be mixed with air again and reused in the aeration tank. A disinfectant such as ultraviolet light is usually added to the wastewater before it leaves the treatment plant. The disinfectant kills disease-causing organisms in the water. After treatment the water can be returned to nearby waterways. It can also be used on land for agriculture and other purposes.

A wastewater treatment plant:

• Removes solids - This includes everything from rags and sticks to sand and smaller particulates found in wastewater.
• Reduces organic matter and pollutants - Helpful bacteria and other microorganisms are used to consume organic matter in wastewater. The bacteria and microorganisms are then separated from the water.
• Restores oxygen - Treatment facilities help ensure the water put back into our lakes or rivers has enough oxygen to support life.

• Homes - human and household wastes from toilets, sinks, baths and drains
• Industry, Schools and Businesses - chemicals and other wastes from factories, food services operations, airports, shopping centers, etc.

On average, each person in the U.S. contributes 50-100 gallons of wastewater daily.