Issue link: http://townofcary.uberflip.com/i/1280192
It has been another momentous year for Cary's wastewater utility. Within the last year, our three wastewater treatment facilities have been optimizing their operations as charter members of the American Water Works Association's, Partnership for Clean Water. The Partnership is focused on self-assessment, optimization and continuous improvement of our long-term wastewater collection and treatment operations. Even during challenging times, Cary's dedicated staff works tirelessly to provide top quality sewer service to citizens in Cary, Morrisville, Wake RTP, and RDU Airport. Our wastewater system (sometimes called the sewer system) is an extensive network of approximately 990 miles of pipelines and 41 wastewater pumping stations. It has captured and conveyed approximately 7 billion gallons of wastewater without losing more than a tiny fraction of a percentage to overflows or spills. Our three wastewater treatment facilities have also performed exceptionally well with no violations during the reporting period while consistently removing organic materials and nutrients from wastewater. We are very proud to report that highly treated water returned to creeks and streams from our treatment facilities is cleaner than the water in the streams. The nutrients recovered from wastewater treatment are heat dried and made into Class A, Exceptional Quality biosolids pellets. Our high quality biosolids are beneficially reused for soil conditioning and nutrients to improve soils in agribusiness applications. We also recover a portion of the highly treated water from our facilities to provide reclaimed water for irrigation, cooling towers, and numerous reuse applications. Our report highlights the ongoing efforts to protect and preserve the Town's infrastructure through rehabilitation and replacement of critical pipelines and infrastructure systems. Protecting Cary's infrastructure is essential to wastewater utility operations as we work to shape the future as outlined in Cary's Community Plan. We invite you to study this report and experience how we are protecting the environment with sustainable wastewater services. Jamie Revels, P.E. Director of Utilities