How the Move to a Centralized Data Platform Heightened Operations at a Small New York Wastewater Treatment Plant

By Scott Dorner

Located on the north end of Keuka Lake in the State of New York, is the Village of Penn Yan which is home to approximately 5,000 people. The Keuka Lake Outlet carries water from the lake’s outlet through the village along with flow from two small creeks to Seneca Lake, the largest lake in the Finger Lakes chain. These waterways and the power they generated were a principal reason for the establishment of the village on this site in 1799. Today, residents and summer vacationers enjoy many recreational activities along the lakes and outlet. Protecting these waterways is a top priority for the Penn Yan Wastewater Treatment Plant Operations team and Chief Operator Yvonne Tucker.

The village wastewater treatment plant was built in 1983 with a design flow capacity of 1.8 MGD. For the most part, the plant runs well, however during heavy rain events, flows can increase from the average 1.2 MGD daily flow to 5.6 MGD in less than 30 minutes causing inflow/infiltration issues. The secondary treatment process is comprised of 16 rotating biological contactors (RBC), 2-stage anaerobic digestion, mechanical screw press dewatering and biosolids compost production. Nitrification takes place on the last 10 RBCs, and polyaluminum chloride is utilized for total phosphate reduction to less than 1 mg/L. While industry accounts for about 10 percent of the plant’s flow, periodic dumping can cause overloading that upsets conditions resulting in the need for an increase in phosphorus removal.