BELFAST WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITY
2004 ANNUAL REPORT

During 2004 the City finished the fourth and final combined sewer overflow (CSO) abatement project required by the Department of Environmental Protection as a condition in the City's current Waste Discharge Permit. The project included a portion of High Street, Bridge Street, and Pierce Street. Now that all mandated projects have been completed, the City will begin a collection system assessment to quantify the effects these projects have had on reducing inflow and infiltration in the collection system. To date, the abatement program has been a success. There has not been a CSO event in Belfast since January 2001. Even though the City has reduced inflow and infiltration there is a need to continue sewer collection system replacement and storm water management in several areas of the City. A proactive approach for removing additional inflow and infiltration will allow for future growth in the City without negatively affecting the CSO's. Also in 2004 the City extended the sewer up Swan Lake Avenue. This project will allow Swan Lake Estates Mobile Home Park to continue to operate and eliminate a sewage collection and wastewater treatment system problem that has existed for years. This project should be totally completed by this Summer.

Treated 211,538,670 gallons of wastewater, an average of 579,558 gallons per day.

Removed 880 cu. yds. of dewatered sludge for composting by Soil Preparation, Inc. in Plymouth, Maine.

Used 2,387 gallons of sodium hypochlorite to disinfect the treated wastewater and 380 gallons of sodium bisulfite to dechlorinate the chlorinated effluent before being discharged to Belfast Harbor.

Received at the treatment plant a wastewater with an average concentration of 271 mg/l Biochemical Oxygen Demand ( BOD is a measure of wastewater strength by measuring oxygen demand of the wastewater).

Discharged from the treatment plant treated wastewater with an average concentration of 18 mg/l of biochemical oxygen demand. A BOD reduction of 93%.

Received at the treatment plant wastewater with an average concentration of 231 mg/l of Total Suspended Solids (TSS).

Discharged from the plant treated wastewater with an average concentration of 5 mg/l of Total Suspended Solids. A TSS reduction of 98%.

Note: License requirements for % reduction for both BOD and TSS is 85%.

In addition to the three full time staff operating and maintaining the wastewater treatment plant they also operate and maintain seventeen pumping stations throughout the community.

The Belfast staff are very proud of their facility and welcome any group or individual who wishes to tour the facility to please call 338-1744 to make arrangements for a guided tour.