The Saraland Water and Sewer System (SAWSS) is committed to improving the operation efficiency and condition of its water and sewer infrastructure in order to maintain affordable rates while minimizing impact to the natural environment. After taking over the wastewater treatment and collection system in 2015 from the City of Saraland, the SAWSS Board asked Carah Hall PE from McCrory Williams and Chad Hennis, Saraland Utilities Director, to evaluate the condition of the infrastructure of the entire treatment plant system. It was apparent during the evaluation that the tanks and basins at the wastewater treatment plant were a top priority as they were in dire need of infrastructure rehabilitation and cleaning due to a great deal of accumulated ragging, sediment, sand and sludge in the bottom of the tanks. The sludge, sediment and sand accumulated after numerous years of wastewater treatment and caused many problems such as reducing treatment volume and capacity at the Wastewater Treatment Plant.
In late winter of 2017, bid specifications were developed to solicit a contractor to clean the north reactor tank. Greensouth Solutions was awarded the project as the lowest responsible bidder. The north reactor tank was temporarily decommissioned and then drained for cleaning. Greensouth removed and hauled off over 70 tons of sludge/ragging material from the north tank (diameter of 70-feet and depth of 20-feet). Subsequently, in the Spring of 2017, to address the remaining tanks/basins to be cleaned, SAWSS bid and awarded a contract to clean the south reactor tank, equalization basin, UV basin and post-aeration basin at the Wastewater Treatment Facility. In order to complete both of these projects, SAWSS expended approximately $250,000 including cleaning, disposal, engineering and construction inspection fees. Following the cleaning operations, interior infrastructure of the north and south reactor basins replacement was deemed as the next order of work.
The results of this project were almost instantaneous. The effluent leaving the plant was noticeably clearer and lacked odor. The effluent test results showed significantly less solids and other pollutants entering into Norton Creek and Bayou Sara and ultimately to the Mobile-Tensaw Delta. The Saraland Water and Sewer Board Members and staff are committed to maintaining and improving its infrastructure in order to keep down water rates for their valued customers.