Description
The Wastewater Treatment Plant provides treatment of all wastewater collected through the sanitary sewer system.

Mission
Protect public health, the environment, and the waters of the State of California by providing appropriate treatment processes to all wastewater collected within our service area while monitoring and ensuring water discharged meets or exceeds State and Federal requirements.

Goals
* Operate and maintain the City of Merced’s Wastewater Treatment Plant in a reliable, safe, productive, and cost-efficient manner.
* Maintain compliance with State Water Resources Control Board, National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES), and Clean Water Act permit requirements.
* Promote safety in the workplace through increased employee involvement, as well as taking full advantage of the industry’s educational and technical programs, which are in compliance with Cal- OSHA and Fed- OSHA regulations.

City of Merced Initiates Design of New Wastewater Treatment Facilities

The City of Merced has recently completed a significant upgrade and expansion design project to the City’s wastewater treatment plant (WWTP). The WWTP, originally built in 1977, currently serves the City's population of over 80,000. The project is required to comply with new state and federal water quality mandates as well as expansion of treatment capacity for the City and the new UC Merced Campus.

The City has contracted with ECO:LOGIC Engineering and Erler & Kalinowski, Inc. for the facility design and permitting. The City has also selected Environmental Science Association to complete the required environmental documentation.  OVERAA construction was awarded the construction contract and Corollo Engineering will oversee construction management.

The existing WWTP can process up to 11.5 million gallons of wastewater per day. This project will increase the capacity to treat and dispose up to 12 million gallons per day. It will include among other things:

* Site access improvements and security
* New preliminary treatment (screens, grit removal and pumping)
* Tertiary facilities (chemical addition, filtration)
* Ultra violet light disinfection
* Effluent re-aeration
* New outfall pipe to Hartley Slough

With the new upgrade, wastewater generated within the City, is conveyed to the City’s WWTP. The wastewater is screened, rocks and sand removed; and water is then pumped to the primary clarifiers that allow any particles in the water to settle. The water flows to aeration basins where bacteria consume organic material and secondary clarifiers are then used to settle out the bacteria. Secondary effluent is chemically conditioned, filtered, and disinfected with ultraviolet light. The treated water is then aerated prior to discharge into Hartley Slough. After final treatment, the water will also be suitable for unrestricted reuse for agriculture purposes. The waste solids, or sludge, is digested and dried so the material can be applied as a soil amendment.

The project began in the spring of 2009 and is schedule for final completion of March 2011.  The total cost of the project close to 37 million dollars.