PA DEP Acting Secretary Tours UAJA’s State-of-the-Art Wastewater Treatment Plant
On Wednesday, October 30, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection Acting Secretary, Jessica Shirley, toured the University Area Joint Authority’s (UAJA) Spring Creek Pollution Control Facility. The project, engineered by RETTEW, is a significant step forward in advanced wastewater treatment technology in Pennsylvania.
The upgraded facility utilizes a state-of-the-art anaerobic digestion process to convert sludge into renewable natural gas and a high-quality Class A biosolids compost product. This innovative approach not only reduces UAJA’s operational costs but also contributes to a more sustainable future.
Key features of the biosolids process include sludge pre-thickening using belt thickeners, temperature-phased anaerobic digestion, third-party food waste digestion, biogas upgrading into pipeline-quality renewable natural gas, and thermal belt sludge drying.
By implementing these advanced technologies, UAJA is achieving significant environmental and economic benefits. These include reduced greenhouse gas emissions, increased energy independence, enhanced water quality, and sustainable resource management through the production of high-quality biosolids. UAJA will save approximately $11 million over the next 25 years through operational cost reductions and revenue generation.
The project team comprises the University Area Joint Authority as the owner, RETTEW as the engineer, Quandel Construction Group, LLC as the general contractor, Myco Mechanical, Inc. as the plumbing/HVAC contractor, and Hayden Power Group as the electrical contractor.
By investing in cutting-edge technology and sustainable practices, UAJA is setting a new standard for wastewater treatment in the region.
