Camden County Municipal Utilities Authority

FACILITY BASIC INFORMATION

• Plant Name: Delaware No. 1 Water Pollution Control Facility
• Location: Camden, Camden County, New Jersey (Waterfront South)
• Operating Authority: Camden County Municipal Utilities Authority (CCMUA)
• Design Capacity: 80 MGD
• Current Average Flow: ~58 MGD
• Population Served: ~500,000 residents
• Service Area: 37 Municipalities across Camden County
• Receiving Water Body: Delaware River (Zone 3)
• NPDES Permit Number: NJ0026182
• Year Commissioned: Regional system established 1972; Major plant expansion mid-1980s

1. INTRODUCTION

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The Delaware No. 1 Water Pollution Control Facility, operated by the Camden County Municipal Utilities Authority (CCMUA), stands as a premier example of environmental engineering and sustainable utility management in the mid-Atlantic region. Servicing a population of approximately 500,000 across 37 municipalities, this 80-MGD design capacity facility is critical to the water quality of the Delaware River Basin.

Located in the Waterfront South neighborhood of Camden, the facility has transitioned from a conventional wastewater treatment plant into a “Utility of the Future.” Through aggressive capital reinvestment totaling over $1 billion in the regional system, CCMUA has achieved significant milestones, including the implementation of a high-purity oxygen biological system, a state-of-the-art sludge drying facility, and a comprehensive green energy grid that makes the plant nearly energy self-sufficient. For consulting engineers and municipal planners, the Delaware No. 1 facility offers a case study in optimizing aging infrastructure for modern regulatory compliance and climate resilience.

2. FACILITY OVERVIEW

A. Service Area & Coverage

The CCMUA regional sewer system encompasses the majority of Camden County, New Jersey. The collection system relies on a vast network of interceptors spanning over 135 miles. The system serves a diverse demographic, ranging from the dense, urbanized Combined Sewer System (CSS) of Camden City and Gloucester City to suburban separated sewer systems in the outlying municipalities. The regional force mains channel flow to the Delaware No. 1 plant, which serves as the sole treatment point for the entire service area.

B. Operational Capacity

The plant is designed for a hydraulic capacity of 80 million gallons per day (MGD) on an annual average basis. Current dry weather flows typically average between 53 and 58 MGD. However, due to the Combined Sewer System (CSS) in the older sections of the service area, wet weather events generate significant peak flows. The facility is engineered to handle wet weather peaks exceeding 130 MGD through the primary treatment stage, with flow equalization strategies employed to manage biological loading.

C. Discharge & Compliance

Treated effluent is discharged into the Delaware River via a submerged outfall. The discharge is regulated under the New Jersey Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NJPDES). The Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC) also exercises regulatory oversight regarding water quality standards in Zone 3 of the river. The facility has maintained a robust compliance record, consistently meeting effluent limits for Total Suspended Solids (TSS) and Carbonaceous Biochemical Oxygen Demand (CBOD), achieving removal rates consistently above 85%.

3. TREATMENT PROCESS

The Delaware No. 1 WPCF utilizes a High-Purity Oxygen (HPO) Activated Sludge process, a distinct engineering choice that allows for a smaller physical footprint and higher organic loading rates compared to conventional aeration.

A. Preliminary Treatment

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Raw influent enters the headworks where it passes through coarse mechanical bar screens to remove large debris, rags, and plastics. Following screening, flow enters aerated grit chambers. These chambers reduce the velocity of the wastewater, allowing inorganic sands and grit to settle while keeping organic matter in suspension. The removal of grit is critical to preventing abrasion on downstream pumps and accumulation in the anaerobic digesters.

B. Primary Treatment

The facility utilizes circular primary clarifiers. Wastewater flows radially from the center, allowing heavier solids to settle as primary sludge, while grease and oils are skimmed from the surface. The hydraulic retention time (HRT) in this stage is managed to maximize Total Suspended Solids (TSS) removal, reducing the organic load on the secondary biological system. Primary sludge is pumped directly to the gravity thickeners.

C. Secondary Treatment (High Purity Oxygen)

The core of the treatment process is the High Purity Oxygen (HPO) activated sludge system. Unlike conventional aeration basins that blow ambient air (21% oxygen) into the wastewater, the CCMUA facility utilizes cryogenic oxygen generation or VPSA (Vacuum Pressure Swing Adsorption) technology to inject nearly pure oxygen into covered aeration tanks.

Engineering advantages of this configuration include:

• Higher Dissolved Oxygen (DO) transfer rates: Supporting a higher Mixed Liquor Suspended Solids (MLSS) concentration.
• Reduced Footprint: The tanks require less volume than conventional air activated sludge for the same BOD loading.
• Odor Containment: The covered tanks capture process off-gases, which are treated before release.

Following the aeration stage, the mixed liquor flows to secondary clarifiers where biological floc settles out. Return Activated Sludge (RAS) is recycled to the head of the aeration tanks, while Waste Activated Sludge (WAS) is sent to solids handling.

D. Disinfection

The clarified effluent undergoes chlorination using sodium hypochlorite for disinfection to eliminate pathogenic bacteria (fecal coliform/E. coli). Prior to discharge into the Delaware River, the water is dechlorinated using sodium bisulfite to prevent toxicity to aquatic life, complying with strict residual chlorine limits.

E. Solids Handling & Biosolids Processing

CCMUA operates a sophisticated solids handling train designed to minimize volume and maximize beneficial reuse:

• Thickening: Primary sludge is gravity thickened, while WAS is thickened via gravity belt thickeners or centrifuges.
• Anaerobic Digestion: Thickened sludge is processed in anaerobic digesters. This process stabilizes the sludge, reduces volatile solids, and produces methane-rich biogas.
• Dewatering: Digested sludge is dewatered using belt filter presses to achieve a cake solid concentration suitable for drying.
• Sludge Drying: The facility operates a large-scale sludge drying plant (Komline-Sanderson paddle dryers). This thermal process evaporates water from the dewatered cake, creating a “Class A” biosolid pellet. This reduces the weight of material to be trucked by nearly 75%, significantly lowering disposal costs and carbon footprint.

4. INFRASTRUCTURE & ENERGY SYSTEMS

A. Energy Independence & Sustainability

The Delaware No. 1 WPCF is a national leader in energy resilience, operating a microgrid that significantly offsets grid energy consumption.

• Combined Heat and Power (CHP): The facility captures biogas generated during anaerobic digestion to power cogeneration engines. These engines generate electricity for plant operations and waste heat for process heating (digesters) and building climate control.
• Solar Photovoltaics: An extensive solar array (approx. 1.8 MW) is installed across the site, including parking lot canopies and open ground mounts.
• Effluent Heat Recovery: The plant utilizes heat exchangers to capture thermal energy from the treated effluent, using it to heat buildings in the winter and cool them in the summer, reducing natural gas dependency.

B. Odor Control

Given the plant’s proximity to the residential Waterfront South community, odor control is a primary operational directive. The facility employs a multi-stage approach, including chemical scrubbers and activated carbon filters, specifically targeting the headworks, primary clarifiers, and sludge processing buildings. Real-time fence-line monitoring ensures fugitive emissions are detected immediately.

5. RECENT UPGRADES & MAJOR PROJECTS

Sludge Drying Facility (2015-2018)

Budget: ~$55 Million
This transformative project involved the construction of a thermal drying facility to process dewatered biosolids. By converting Class B cake into Class A dried pellets, CCMUA reduced the mass of biosolids requiring transport from ~45,000 tons/year to ~12,000 tons/year. This project saves the authority approximately $2 million annually in hauling and disposal fees while eliminating thousands of truck trips through the local community.

Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) Long Term Control Plan

Ongoing Initiative
As part of the regional effort to address CSOs in Camden City and Gloucester City, CCMUA acts as the lead agency. Projects include:

• Green Infrastructure: Construction of rain gardens, bioswales, and porous pavement across the city to divert stormwater from the combined system.
• Phoenix Park: Conversion of a former brownfield into a waterfront park with permeable surfaces that capture 5 million gallons of stormwater annually.
• Netting Facilities: Installation of floatables control netting at CSO outfalls to prevent trash from entering the Delaware River during overflow events.

Digester Rehabilitation & CHP Upgrades

Recent & Ongoing
Upgrades to the anaerobic digesters to improve mixing efficiency and gas production, coupled with the installation of modern low-NOx cogeneration engines, have optimized the energy recovery loop, pushing the facility closer to net-zero energy status.

6. REGULATORY COMPLIANCE & ENVIRONMENTAL PERFORMANCE

NPDES Permit Parameters

Operating under NJPDES Permit NJ0026182, the facility is subject to strict limitations based on the water quality requirements of the Delaware River Estuary. Key monitoring parameters include:

• CBOD5 (Carbonaceous Biochemical Oxygen Demand): High removal efficiency required (>85%).
• TSS (Total Suspended Solids): Strict load limits (kg/day).
• Enterococcus/Fecal Coliform: Seasonal disinfection requirements.
• Nutrients: Monitoring of Ammonia-N, Nitrate/Nitrite, and Total Phosphorus is conducted to support DRBC water quality modeling.

Environmental Justice

CCMUA is widely recognized for integrating Environmental Justice (EJ) into its operational philosophy. Located in an overburdened community, the Authority has gone beyond permit requirements to minimize odors, reduce truck traffic (via sludge drying), and create green community spaces (parks and river access) on utility-owned land.

7. OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE

Performance Metrics

The facility consistently achieves removal efficiencies exceeding 90% for BOD and TSS. Through the implementation of the Environmental Management System (EMS), the facility has achieved ISO 14001 certification, verifying its commitment to continuous environmental improvement.

Staffing & Leadership

The facility is staffed by licensed N.J. wastewater operators (S-1 to S-4 licenses). The engineering and management teams maintain active roles in the Water Environment Federation (WEF) and the National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA), frequently presenting on the facility’s success in energy neutrality and community partnership.

8. CHALLENGES & FUTURE PLANNING

A. Combined Sewer Overflows (CSOs)

The primary hydraulic challenge remains the legacy combined sewer systems in Camden and Gloucester City. During heavy rainfall, stormwater overwhelms the collection system, necessitating overflows. The Long Term Control Plan (LTCP) outlines a multi-decade strategy involving gray infrastructure (storage/tunneling) and green infrastructure to mitigate these events.

B. Climate Resilience

Located on the banks of the tidal Delaware River, the facility is vulnerable to storm surge and sea-level rise. Future capital planning includes hardening critical assets, elevating electrical switchgear, and reinforcing the shoreline (living shorelines project) to protect the plant from extreme weather events.

C. Emerging Contaminants

Like all major utilities, CCMUA is preparing for future regulations regarding PFAS (Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances). The Authority is monitoring regulatory developments from the NJDEP and EPA to determine necessary process modifications.

9. TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS SUMMARY

10. FAQ SECTION

Technical Questions

1. What distinguishes the aeration process at CCMUA from conventional plants?
CCMUA utilizes a High Purity Oxygen (HPO) system rather than conventional air aeration. This involves injecting >90% pure oxygen into covered tanks, allowing for higher biomass concentrations and a smaller physical footprint.

2. How does CCMUA manage biosolids disposal?
The facility processes biosolids through anaerobic digestion, dewatering, and thermal drying. The thermal drying facility converts the sludge into Class A biosolids pellets, which are suitable for beneficial reuse as fertilizer or fuel, significantly reducing disposal volume.

3. Is the facility energy independent?
While connected to the grid, the facility generates a substantial portion of its own energy through a 1.8 MW solar array and a Combined Heat and Power (CHP) system that utilizes digester biogas. It uses effluent heat recovery for HVAC, making it one of the most energy-efficient plants in the nation.

Public Interest Questions

4. Does the plant smell?
Wastewater treatment inherently generates odors, but CCMUA has invested heavily in odor control technologies, including chemical scrubbers and carbon filters. The HPO tanks are covered, which further traps process odors for treatment.

5. What is the “Green Infrastructure” associated with the plant?
CCMUA has built over 60 acres of green infrastructure (rain gardens, parks like Phoenix Park) to capture stormwater before it enters the sewer system. This reduces the frequency of sewage overflows into the river and provides green space for the community.

6. Can the public tour the facility?
CCMUA often accommodates educational tours for schools, universities, and industry groups. Requests are typically handled through their administrative office and require prior scheduling due to safety protocols.