How Chicago Cleans 1.4 Billion Gallons Of Wastewater Every Day | Deep Cleaned | Insider

Summary

The Stickney Water Reclamation Plant in Chicago processes over 600,000 pounds of sludge daily, transforming it into clean water, fertilizer, and energy. Covering 413 acres, it's one of the world's largest wastewater-treatment plants, serving 2.3 million residents. The facility can handle 1.4 billion gallons of wastewater in a day, equivalent to 2,000 Olympic pools. It employs a series of treatments including coarse screening, aeration, and digestion to produce nutrient-rich biosolids used as fertilizer, emphasizing the importance of responsible flushing and environmental protection.

Takeaways

• 🌿 The Stickney Water Reclamation Plant processes over 600,000 pounds of sludge daily, turning it into clean water, fertilizer, and energy.
• 📏 Located near Chicago, Stickney is one of the largest wastewater-treatment plants globally, covering 413 acres and serving 2.3 million residents.
• 🌧️ During rainfall, the plant can handle an astonishing 1.4 billion gallons of wastewater, equivalent to over 2,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools.
• 🚰 The plant's primary goal is to treat wastewater to produce clean water that meets environmental standards and to transform solids into biosolids for fertilizer.
• 🚫 Joe Cummings, the operations manager, advises against flushing 'flushable wipes' as they do not break down and cause significant issues in the treatment process.
• 🔬 The treatment process at Stickney mimics natural processes, condensing what would take weeks in nature into just a few hours.
• 🌀 Aerated grit tanks are used to separate lighter materials like fats, oils, and grease from heavier solid waste, which is then further processed into nutrient-rich fertilizer.
• 🛑 The plant strictly adheres to quality standards set by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency to ensure the treated wastewater is safe for the environment.
• 🌱 Biosolids, the end product of the sludge treatment, improve soil health, reduce nutrient loss, and increase water retention when used as fertilizer.
• 🚂 Over 1,000 wet tons of biosolids cake are produced daily, transported via railcars to a lagoon for additional treatment and drying before being used as fertilizer.
• 🔬 Stickney has an in-house laboratory for monitoring and research, including a greenhouse to test the optimum use of biosolids on various plant species.

Q & A

How much sludge does the Stickney Water Reclamation Plant remove from sewage and wastewater daily?

The Stickney Water Reclamation Plant removes more than 600,000 pounds of sludge from sewage and wastewater every day.

What is the purpose of drying the sludge at the Stickney facility?

Once the sludge is dry, it is used as fertilizer in surrounding farms and fields.

What is the size of the Stickney Water Reclamation Plant in acres?

The Stickney Water Reclamation Plant is 413 acres, making it one of the largest wastewater-treatment plants in the world.

How many residents' sewage does the Stickney plant process?

The Stickney plant processes sewage from roughly 2.3 million nearby residents.

What happens to the sludge at the Stickney plant after it is separated from the liquid?

The sludge is treated further to produce a nutrient-rich material known as biosolids cake, which is used as a fertilizer.

What is the capacity of the Stickney facility during heavy rain?

During heavy rain, the facility can handle 1.4 billion gallons of wastewater in a single day.

What is the first step in the wastewater treatment process at Stickney?

The first step in the wastewater treatment process at Stickney is passing the sewage through a set of coarse screens to filter out larger objects.

Why should flushable wipes not be flushed down the toilet according to the script?

Flushable wipes should not be flushed because they do not break down in the sewer system or inside the plant, causing them to form large blocks that need to be manually removed.

What is the role of oxygen in the secondary treatment tanks at Stickney?

Oxygen in the secondary treatment tanks neutralizes compounds such as ammonia, turning it into less toxic forms of nitrogen, which are less harmful to aquatic life.

How does the Stickney plant ensure the treated wastewater meets environmental standards?

The treated wastewater is tested daily in the plant's lab to ensure it meets specific quality standards set by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency.

What is the final product of the sludge treatment process at Stickney, and how is it used?

The final product of the sludge treatment process is a biosolids cake, which is used as a fertilizer on farm fields, golf courses, parks, and recreational facilities.

What is the Stickney Plant's greenhouse used for?

The Stickney Plant's greenhouse is used for research, where they test the biosolids as a nutrient-rich fertilizer product mixed with soils in different proportions on various plant species to determine the optimum use.

What is the main purpose of the Stickney Water Reclamation Plant?

The main purpose of the Stickney Water Reclamation Plant is to protect the water environment by treating wastewater and transforming it into clean water, fertilizer, and energy.