While secondary-level municipal treatment was mandated by the Clean Water Act of 1972, it was operational in Coeur d’Alene in 1939; making it one of the first such municipal plants in the world. The city has always utilized conventional primary clarification and fixed-film “trickling filters” as the secondary treatment process followed by chlorination.

Beginning in 1982, the plant has undergone 11 major “phases” of construction, including the current 5B project constructing the Wastewater Administration/Lab building and Collection maintenance garage. These projects added new anaerobic digesters, sludge gravity thickeners, belt filter presses for biosolids de-watering, plastic-media trickling filters with solids contact tanks, secondary clarifiers, a chlorine contact tank, de-chlorination with sulfur dioxide, a chemical systems center for phosphorus removal and foul air treatment with compost-bed biofilters. Some of the original 1939 structures are still used today.

While the city has about $73 million invested in its treatment plant alone, customer rates have stayed competitive with other communities.

1939 Primary Clarifier in Foreground
with 1988 Primary in the Background.
Solids Removal = 60% Plus

The nominal capacity of the plant is 6 million gallons per day (mgd) and current flow is 3.6 mgd. Recent modifications to the plant’s discharge permit require additional measures to control ammonia discharge. Planning is underway to add ammonia removal process structures and additional digester capacity. The replacement of the 1939 raw sewage pumping station and headworks structure is also a high priority.

Plastic Media Trickling Filters and
Foul Air Ducting. Foul air is pretreated
in the trickling filters.

One of two Advanced Treatment Processes is the summer removal of phosphorus with liquid aluminum sulfate—required to protect water quality in downstream Long Lake.

1994—Liquid Aluminum Sulfate Pumps for
Summer Phosphorus Removal.

The second advanced process is the neutralization of excess chlorine with sulfur dioxide just prior to discharge to the Spokane River. Chlorine is toxic to aquatic life.

1984—The Chlorine Contact Basin and Chlorination/De-chlorination Building
in Left Background

1999—Compost-Bed Biofilters for Foul Air Treatment.

Odor control was added to make the plant a good neighbor. The use of biofilters is very innovative to the Northwest. The city has been using them for odor control at its biosolids composting facility since 1990. The compost is made by the utility.

Solids Bldg. & Digester Complex—1984 & 1994

The plant produces a daily average of just more than 4,600 dry pounds of biosolids, 365 days a year. Cake averages 18% solids or 27,000 wet pounds per day, which is mixed with wood chips and composted at the utility’s own facility. This yields about 4,000 cubic yards of finished compost per year and is sold.

One of Two Belt Filter Presses— Refurbished in 1999

Our chemist and two analysts perform over 700 tests per month for permit compliance and process control. In addition they sample the river weekly and record weather observations. The chemist also conducts the industrial pretreatment program that regulates the discharge of commercial and industrial customers into the city’s collection system.

Wastewater Utility Facts

Collection System: 210 miles of pipe, 3700 manholes and 10 “lift stations".

Treatment Plant: Primary Trickling Filter/Solids Contact ® Secondary Clarification ® Disinfection/De-chlorination.

Performance:

Average BOD Removal = 97% (Required 85%)

Average Total Suspended Solids Removal = 96% (Required 85%)

Average Summer Phosphorus Removal = 86% (Required 85%)

Average Daily Summer Ammonia Treatment = 563 pounds

Population Served = 44,000+

Number of Customers (Accounts) = 17,900

Average Daily Sewage Per Person = 74 gallons per day

Chemical Cost Per Day for Phosphorus Removal = $600.00

Chorine Used Per Day = 100 Pounds

Sulfur Dioxide Used Per Day = 32 Pounds

Annual Plant Gas & Electric Bill = $261,000

Average Daily Dry-Weather Flow = 3.6 million gallons per day

Maximum Peak Daily Flow Capacity = 20 mgd

Nominal Design Flow Without Nitrification = 6 mgd

Staffed 7 days a week; 8 hours a day; 365 days a year.

Compost: Aerated Static Piles with Aerated Curing. 21 Days in Piles Followed By 30 Days of Curing.

Total Utility Staff = 6 plant operators; 1 plant mechanic; 6 collection operators; 3 lab analysts; 2 compost operators; 7 administrative & project managers = 25 or 7.5% of total city staff of 280.

Typical annual revenues = $20.3 million or 27% of a total city budget of $76.4 million.

Typical annual expenditures = $15.5 million or 23% of a total city budget of $66.6 million.

From Left to Right: Mike Taylor, Opr. I, 1.5 yrs.; Dave Bradymimre, Opr. III, 27 yrs.;
Andy Williams, Opr. II, 11 yrs.; Kevin Pfenning, Opr. III, 14 yrs.; Mike Zwiebel, Plt. Mechanic, 8.5 yrs.;
Casey Fisher, Chief Opr., 27.5 yrs.; Mark Moore, Opr. III, 12 yrs.