Kent County Public Works
Wastewater Facilities Division
Kent County Regional Wastewater Treatment Facility
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE KCRWTF
You can learn more about the Kent County Regional Wastwater Treatment Facility (KCRWTF) by downloading the KCRWTF Fact Sheet.
WASTEWATER PLANT RECEIVES EPA AWARD
The Kent County Regional Wastewater Treatment Facility (KCRWTF) was awarded the US EPA Region III Pisces Award by EPA Regional Administrator Shawn Garvin who presented it on June 2, 2011. The Pisces award is for "Performance and Innovation in the State Revolving Fund, Creating Environmental Success." Each region gives out one award per year. The KCRWTF received the award for its innovative projects including the 1.2 MW photvoltaic solar farm, the passive solar biosolids dryers and the switch from chlorine gas disinfection to the use of an innovative ultraviolet (UV) disinfection system.
SOLAR ENERGY ON LINE AT THE
WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT
A solar energy system is now operating at the Kent County Regional Wastewater Treatment Facility (KCRWTF). Using 6,000 photo-voltaic solar panels, the system has generated up to 1.2 Mw of energy, which on a sunny day, meets nearly all of the plant's electric usage.
Also nearing operation is a Passive Solar biosolids drying system to replace the currently used natural gas powered system. The system combines a passive solar greenhouse system with a solar water heating system. The system will ultimately replace the natural gas dryers currently in operation.
UV System Turned On
The Kent County Regional Wastewater Treatment Facility has been successfully using gaseous/liquid chlorine to disinfect the wastewater for almost 40 years. However, the Environmental, Health, Safety and Sustainability Management System (EHSS-MS) set as an objective the replacement of this process with ultraviolet disinfection becuase of the health, safety and regulatory burdens the chlorine process required. On October 7, 2010, the UV treatment system was turned on and on Ocotber 13, 2010, the last of the chlorine cylinders were removed from the plant. It is now a much safer plant for its employees and the surrounding neighbors. For picutres on this and the other projects under construction at the facility, click here.
KCRWTF Featured in National Magazine
The KCRWTF was recently featured in the October 2009 issue of TPO (Treatment Plant Operator) magazine. A copy of the article can be found by clicking the link below:
TPO Article
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KCRWTF Adopts Sustainability Management System
The KCRWTF has modified its EHS-MS to address sustainaibility using the Natural Step framework. The program recognizes the four system conditions detailed in the Natural Step framework. More information can be found on the sustainability management system webpage.
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KCRWTF Awarded a 2008 Environmental Achievement Award
The US EPA's Region III (Philadelphia, PA) office awared the KCRWTF the first Environmental Achivement award for governmental agencies in 2008 . The award recognized the development and implementation of the EHS-MS.
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The KCRWTF Wins National Award
The KCRWTF was awarded 1st place in the Large Advanced Treatment Plants category of the 2007 Clean Water Act Recognition Award for Operations and Maintenance ecellence by the US EPA. The facility competed agaisnst many larger facilities located in major metropolitan areas. The faiclity was recognized for its EHS-MS.
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KCRWTF Receives Honorable Mention
The Kent County Regional Wastewater Treatment Facility was awarded an Honorable Mention under Environmental Protection magazine's "Facility of the Year" Program. The facility received the award for its Environmental Health & Safety Management System (EHS-MS). The facility was one of 10 Honorable Mention facilities announced by the magazine. The awards were announced in the September 2006 issue of the magazine. In 2004 the Kent County Regional Wastewater Treatment Facility received a "Facility of the Year" designation for its "Fats, Oils & Grease (FOG) Program.
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EHS-MS Awarded NACo Achievement Award
The recently certified Environmental Health and Safety Management System (EHS-MS) has received a 2006 Achievement Award from the National Association of Counties (NACo). Additional information about this award can be obtained by viewing the link provided below.
NACo Award Press Release
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Sewer Districts
Description of Kent County Wastewater Treatment Facility
NPDES Permit Limits
The division ensures smooth and safe day to day operations of the Wastewater Treatment Plant and associated 69 pump and lift stations, and nearly 40 miles of various diameter sewer pipes. The Division projects future requirements and plans for their implementations. The Wastewater Division is also responsible for control over the budget for the Kent County Wastewater Facilities.
Division of Wastewater Facilities
139 Milford Neck Road
Milford, DE 19963 - 6728
Telephone: 302-335-6000
| Lobby / Plant Secretary |
335-6000 |
| Operations Superintendent |
335-6006 |
| Operations Supervisor |
335-6025 |
| Laboratory |
335-6015 |
| Maintenance Supervisor |
335-4534 |
There are currently thirteen sanitary sewer subdistricts and municipal contract users in the Kent County Sanitary District No. 1. By clicking on this link, an image of the current sewer district, the included subdistricts, and the respective pump stations will appear.
Current Sewer Map
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The Kent County Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant is an advanced secondary wastewater treatment facility that receives wastewater from Kent County, southern portions of New Castle County and northern portions of Sussex County. The treated wastewater is then discharged to a tributary to the Murderkill River referred to as "The Gut."
The treatment system is represented by the diagram below. In the process, wastewater enters the plant and is screened for large objects. Next grit, such as sand and gravel, is removed in a grit removal system. Biological treatment occurs in two parallel aeration basins that can provide nutrient removal, using a patented process developed by Parkson Corp. and referred to as the Bio-Lac process. The wastewater is then chlorinated in a chlorine contact chamber, and then residual chlorine is removed by the addition of sulfur dioxide. A schematic diagram of the wastewater system can be seen by clicking on the link below:
Wastewater Schematic Diagram
Biosolids are removed and recirculated through four secondary clarifiers. The biosolids that are wasted are thickened in four aerobic sludge digesters, and then treated in a process which includes lime stabilization after being dewatered on two belt filter presses. Biosolids are then heat treated to remove additional moisture, and then the resulting material identified as Kentorganite is land applied to County-owned and other local farms in the area. A diagram of the sbiosolids treatment operation is available by clicking on the link below:
Biosolids Operations
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Flow: Daily Average not to exceed 15 MGD
Dissolved Oxygen: Not less than 5 mg/l at all times
pH: Between 6-9 standard units (s.u.) at all times
BOD (5-day): Daily Average: 2502 lbs/day or 20 mg/l
Daily Max.: 3753 lbs/day or 30 mg/l
Total Suspended Solids: Daily Average: 2502 lbs/day or 20 mg/l
Daily Max.: 3753 lbs/day or 30 mg/l
Total Residual Chlorine: None detectable
Enterococcus: 33.0 colonies/100 ml
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| If you are interested in receiving a tour of the facilities or would like more information about how the system works, please contact our office at least one month in advance. |
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