City Of Henderson Water Reclamation Facility

FACILITY BASIC INFORMATION

• Plant Name: Kurt R. Schneider Water Reclamation Facility (KRSWRF)
• Location: Henderson, Clark County, Nevada
• Operating Authority: City of Henderson Department of Utility Services
• Design Capacity: 52.0 MGD (Million Gallons per Day)
• Current Average Flow: ~32.0 MGD
• Population Served: ~330,000 residents
• Service Area: City of Henderson (Eastern and Central basins)
• Receiving Water Body: Las Vegas Wash (tributary to Lake Mead/Colorado River)
• NPDES Permit Number: NV0020702
• Year Commissioned: 1994 (Major expansion of previous infrastructure)

TARGET AUDIENCE

• Municipal consulting engineers evaluating BNR and reuse facilities in arid environments.

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• Wastewater treatment plant operators and managers.
• Environmental regulators monitoring Colorado River Basin discharge.
• Equipment vendors researching tertiary filtration and UV specifications.
• Municipal decision-makers planning water resource recovery projects.

1. INTRODUCTION

The Kurt R. Schneider Water Reclamation Facility (KRSWRF) serves as the cornerstone of wastewater management for the City of Henderson, the second-largest city in Nevada. Treating an average of 32 million gallons daily (MGD) with a design capacity of 52 MGD, the facility is critical not only for public sanitation but for regional water resource management. Located in the arid Mojave Desert, the plant plays a pivotal role in the “Return Flow Credit” system managed by the Southern Nevada Water Authority, where highly treated effluent discharged to the Las Vegas Wash allows the region to withdraw an equivalent volume from Lake Mead.

Commissioned in its current modern configuration in the mid-1990s and subject to continuous upgrades, KRSWRF utilizes advanced biological nutrient removal (BNR) and tertiary filtration to meet some of the strictest discharge limitations in the United States. Beyond traditional treatment, the facility is unique for its integration with the Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve, utilizing polishing ponds to support a thriving migratory bird habitat, demonstrating a successful symbiosis between municipal infrastructure and environmental stewardship.

2. FACILITY OVERVIEW

A. Service Area & Coverage

The KRSWRF services the majority of Henderson’s central and eastern basins. The collection system comprises over 1,100 miles of sanitary sewer mains and approximately 20 lift stations. The service area is characterized by a mix of low-density residential, master-planned communities, and commercial corridors. Due to rapid regional growth, the collection system is continuously modeled to manage peak wet weather flows and prevent sanitary sewer overflows (SSOs).

B. Operational Capacity

The facility is designed for a hydraulic capacity of 52 MGD. Historical flow trends indicate a steady increase consistent with population growth, though per-capita influent has stabilized due to aggressive municipal water conservation efforts.

• Design Capacity: 52 MGD

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• Average Daily Flow: 32 MGD
• Peak Hydraulic Capacity: 90+ MGD (Peak hour)

C. Discharge & Compliance

Effluent management is bifurcated into two streams: direct reuse (purple pipe) and discharge to the Las Vegas Wash. The Las Vegas Wash flows into Lake Mead, the primary drinking water source for Southern Nevada and millions downstream on the Colorado River. Consequently, the facility operates under a stringent NPDES permit focused heavily on nutrient loading (Phosphorus and Nitrogen) and Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) to prevent eutrophication in the receiving water body.

3. TREATMENT PROCESS

The KRSWRF employs a multi-stage Advanced Wastewater Treatment (AWT) process designed to achieve near-drinking water quality for reuse and environmental discharge.

A. PRELIMINARY TREATMENT

Raw influent enters the headworks where it passes through mechanical bar screens to remove large debris, rags, and plastics. This is followed by vortex grit removal systems designed to settle out inorganic solids like sand and gravel that could damage downstream pumps. The headworks is enclosed and ventilated through chemical scrubbers to mitigate odors, a critical requirement given the plant’s proximity to residential developments.

B. PRIMARY TREATMENT

Flow proceeds to primary clarifiers where velocity is reduced to allow settable organic solids to drop to the bottom as primary sludge, and grease/oils to float for skimming. Primary treatment removes approximately 60-70% of Total Suspended Solids (TDS) and 30-40% of Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD). Primary sludge is pumped directly to the solids handling facility.

C. SECONDARY TREATMENT (Biological Nutrient Removal)

The core of the KRSWRF is its Activated Sludge process, specifically configured for Biological Nutrient Removal (BNR). The aeration basins utilize a Modified Ludzack-Ettinger (MLE) or similar zonal configuration:

• Anoxic Zones: Raw effluent mixes with Return Activated Sludge (RAS) in the absence of dissolved oxygen to facilitate denitrification (conversion of nitrate to nitrogen gas).
• Aerobic Zones: Fine bubble diffusers provide oxygen for carbonaceous BOD removal and nitrification (conversion of ammonia to nitrate).

Following the aeration basins, the mixed liquor enters secondary clarifiers. Here, the biological floc settles, separating clear supernatant from the biomass. A portion of the sludge is returned to the head of the aeration basins (RAS), while the excess is wasted (WAS) to solids handling.

D. TERTIARY / ADVANCED TREATMENT

To meet Nevada’s Class A reuse standards and NPDES limits for the Las Vegas Wash:

• Filtration: Secondary effluent passes through deep-bed sand filters (or cloth media filters in newer trains) to remove remaining suspended solids and particulate phosphorus.
• Chemical Polishing: Alum or ferric chloride may be added upstream of filtration to precipitate soluble phosphorus, ensuring total phosphorus limits (< 0.1 mg/L often required) are met.

E. DISINFECTION

The facility utilizes high-intensity Ultraviolet (UV) disinfection. UV is preferred over chlorination to eliminate the formation of disinfection byproducts (DBPs) such as trihalomethanes, which are a concern for the downstream drinking water intake at Lake Mead. The UV system is designed to achieve a 5-log reduction in pathogens.

F. SOLIDS HANDLING

Primary sludge and Waste Activated Sludge (WAS) are co-thickened using gravity belt thickeners or dissolved air flotation (DAF). The thickened sludge is dewatered using high-speed decanter centrifuges. The resulting biosolids cake is typically hauled to a landfill, though the city continuously evaluates composting and thermal drying options for beneficial reuse.

4. INFRASTRUCTURE & FACILITIES

A. Physical Plant

The site encompasses the main treatment process areas and the adjacent Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve. The architecture of the administration and control buildings reflects the desert aesthetic. The site includes extensive maintenance shops, a fully accredited environmental quality laboratory, and fleet storage.

B. Odor Control

Odor control is a top priority due to encroaching residential zones. KRSWRF utilizes a combination of chemical wet scrubbers (typically utilizing caustic and bleach) and biotrickling filters at high-generation points such as the headworks and primary clarifiers. Covers are utilized on primary clarifiers to capture off-gases.

C. Reuse Infrastructure

The facility feeds into an extensive “purple pipe” network. Treated reuse water is pumped to golf courses, parks, highway landscaping, and construction sites throughout Henderson, offsetting potable water demand significantly.

5. RECENT UPGRADES & MAJOR PROJECTS

Nitrogen Removal Improvements Phase 1 & 2 (2018-2022)

• Project Scope: Upgrade of aeration basins and blower systems to improve nitrification/denitrification efficiency. Replacement of aging coarse bubble diffusers with high-efficiency fine bubble membranes.
• Project Budget: ~$25 Million
• Drivers: Energy efficiency and stricter total inorganic nitrogen (TIN) limits associated with the Las Vegas Wash.
• Technical Highlights: Implementation of turbo blowers with variable frequency drives (VFDs) linked to dissolved oxygen (DO) probes for automated aeration control.

Solids Handling Modernization (2020-2023)

• Project Scope: Replacement of belt filter presses with high-solids centrifuges.
• Drivers: Need for higher cake dryness to reduce hauling costs and tipping fees.
• Results: Increased cake solids concentration from ~18% to ~25%, resulting in significant reduction in hauling truck traffic and fuel costs.

Current/Upcoming: Secondary Clarifier Rehabilitation (2024-2026)

• Scope: Rehabilitation of mechanisms, launder covers, and concrete repair on existing secondary clarifiers.
• Estimated Budget: $15-20 Million
• Expected Benefits: Extended asset life and improved settling reliability during peak flows.

6. REGULATORY COMPLIANCE & ENVIRONMENTAL PERFORMANCE

A. Permit Requirements

Operating under NPDES Permit NV0020702, the facility faces some of the region’s strictest limits due to the “zero discharge” nature of the Colorado River basin (essentially a closed loop with downstream users). Key parameters include:

• Total Phosphorus: Seasonal limits, often averaging < 0.2 mg/L.
• Total Nitrogen: STRICT limitations to prevent algae blooms in Lake Mead.
• TDS (Salinity): Closely monitored to control salt loading in the Colorado River.

B. Environmental Stewardship

The facility is a key component of the Las Vegas Wash stabilization program. By providing consistent, high-quality flow, the plant supports wetlands that act as a final natural polishing step before the water enters Lake Mead.

8. CHALLENGES & FUTURE PLANNING

A. Salinity Management

As water is reused and cycled through the community, Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) increase. Managing salinity without reverse osmosis (which generates brine) is a long-term challenge for the entire region.

B. Emerging Contaminants

With discharge destined for a drinking water reservoir, the facility is closely monitoring regulatory developments regarding PFAS (forever chemicals) and pharmaceutical byproducts. Future master plans include space provisions for advanced oxidation or carbon filtration if regulations tighten.

C. Rapid Urbanization

Henderson is one of the fastest-growing cities in the US. The Utility Department maintains a dynamic Wastewater Master Plan to ensure the collection system and treatment capacity stay ahead of the “sewer connection” curve.

10. TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS SUMMARY

11. RELATED FACILITIES

Southwest Water Reclamation Facility (SWWRF): A satellite MBR (Membrane Bioreactor) plant operated by the City of Henderson to serve the high-growth western sector. It produces Class A reuse water for local irrigation, diverting load from the main KRSWRF collection system.

Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve: Located adjacent to KRSWRF, this 140-acre facility utilizes the plant’s treated effluent to maintain nine ponds, serving as a critical habitat for migratory birds and a public educational amenity.

12. FAQ SECTION

Technical Questions

1. What is the hydraulic retention time (HRT) at KRSWRF?
While variable based on flow, the design HRT in the aeration basins is typically 6-8 hours to ensure complete nitrification.

2. Does the facility utilize chemical phosphorus removal?
Yes, while BNR is the primary mechanism, the facility has provisions for Alum or Ferric dosing upstream of tertiary filters to polish phosphorus to low permit limits.

3. How is the plant integrated with the Southwest Water Reclamation Facility?
The two plants operate within the same collection network. The SWWRF acts as a “scalping” plant, treating flow for local reuse, while solids from SWWRF are discharged back into the sewer system for processing at KRSWRF.

4. What is the UV Transmittance (UVT) target for the effluent?
To ensure effective disinfection, the tertiary treatment process targets a UVT of >65% prior to the UV banks.

Public Interest Questions

5. Does the plant smell?
The City of Henderson invests heavily in odor control technology (scrubbers and biofilters). While occasional odors may occur during maintenance, the system is designed to contain smells within the fence line.

6. Is the water leaving the plant safe to touch?
Yes. The water discharged is Class A reclaimed water, which is safe for accidental contact and is used for irrigation at parks and golf courses, though it is not plumbed for drinking.

7. Can I visit the facility?
The treatment plant itself is a secure facility with restricted access. However, the adjacent Bird Viewing Preserve is open to the public and offers views of the polishing ponds.