Jamaica Wastewater Treatment Plant Queens

FACILITY BASIC INFORMATION

• Plant Name: Jamaica Wastewater Resource Recovery Facility (WRRF)
• Location: 150-20 134th Street, South Ozone Park, Queens, NY 11420
• Operating Authority: New York City Department of Environmental Protection (NYC DEP)
• Design Capacity: 100 MGD (Dry Weather)
• Peak Wet Weather Capacity: 200 MGD
• Current Average Flow: ~85 MGD
• Population Served: ~728,000 residents
• Service Area: Eastern Queens (Jamaica, Hollis, Springfield Gardens, Kew Gardens, JFK Airport)
• Receiving Water Body: Jamaica Bay (Grassy Bay/Bergen Basin)
• NPDES/SPDES Permit Number: NY0026115
• Year Commissioned: 1903 (Major expansions in 1927, 1943, 1978)

1. INTRODUCTION

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The Jamaica Wastewater Resource Recovery Facility (WRRF) serves as a cornerstone of environmental protection for the Borough of Queens and the ecologically sensitive Jamaica Bay watershed. As one of 14 wastewater treatment plants operated by the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (NYC DEP), this facility manages wastewater for the densely populated regions of Eastern Queens and the commercial hub of John F. Kennedy International Airport.

With a design dry weather flow capacity of 100 million gallons per day (MGD) and the ability to handle peak wet weather flows up to 200 MGD, the Jamaica plant plays a pivotal role in the “Jamaica Bay Watershed Protection Plan.” The facility has recently been the focus of significant capital investment aimed at Biological Nutrient Removal (BNR) to combat hypoxia in the bay. Following over $245 million in recent upgrades, the plant now utilizes advanced step-feed BNR technology to significantly reduce nitrogen loading, setting a regional benchmark for estuarine recovery and urban water management.

2. FACILITY OVERVIEW

A. Service Area & Coverage

The Jamaica WRRF services a drainage area comprising approximately 25,236 acres (roughly 40 square miles) in the southern portion of Queens. The service area is largely separate sanitary sewers, though portions remain combined. The sewershed includes residential neighborhoods such as South Ozone Park, Jamaica, St. Albans, and Laurelton, as well as significant commercial discharge from JFK International Airport. The collection system relies on a network of major interceptors and pump stations, including the proliferation of storm sewers designed to reduce hydraulic loading during rain events.

B. Operational Capacity

The facility is designed for a dry weather flow of 100 MGD. Historically, the plant operates near 80-85% of this capacity on average days, processing approximately 85 MGD. During heavy precipitation events, the facility’s peak hydraulic capacity is tested, capable of treating up to 200 MGD through primary and secondary treatment. Flows exceeding this capacity within the combined sections of the service area may result in Combined Sewer Overflows (CSOs), a primary driver for the facility’s ongoing infrastructure planning and retention tank projects.

C. Discharge & Compliance

Treated effluent is discharged into the Bergen Basin, a tributary of Jamaica Bay. Because Jamaica Bay is a relatively enclosed estuary with limited tidal flushing, it is highly susceptible to eutrophication caused by excess nitrogen. Consequently, the Jamaica WRRF operates under strict State Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (SPDES) permit limits, specifically regarding Total Nitrogen (TN), Total Suspended Solids (TSS), and Carbonaceous Biochemical Oxygen Demand (CBOD). The facility is a key component of NYC DEP’s aggressive goal to reduce nitrogen discharges into the bay by over 50% compared to pre-BNR levels.

3. TREATMENT PROCESS

A. PRELIMINARY TREATMENT

Influent wastewater enters the plant’s headworks via major interceptors. The preliminary stage utilizes mechanical bar screens to remove large debris, rags, and plastics that could damage downstream pumps. Following screening, the flow passes through aerated grit chambers where velocity is controlled to allow heavy inorganic materials (sand, gravel, eggshells) to settle while keeping organic matter in suspension. The removed screenings and grit are washed, compacted, and hauled to landfills.

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B. PRIMARY TREATMENT

The screened wastewater flows into primary settling tanks (sedimentation basins). These rectangular tanks reduce flow velocity, allowing settleable solids to accumulate on the tank bottom as primary sludge, while grease and floatables are skimmed from the surface. The primary treatment stage typically achieves 50-60% removal of Total Suspended Solids (TSS) and 30-40% removal of Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD). Primary sludge is pumped to the thickening complex.

C. SECONDARY TREATMENT (Step-Feed BNR)

The heart of the Jamaica WRRF is its secondary treatment system, which has been retrofitted for Biological Nutrient Removal (BNR). The plant utilizes a step-feed activated sludge process. Unlike conventional plug-flow systems where wastewater enters at the head of the tank, the step-feed configuration distributes primary effluent at multiple points along the aeration basin.

This configuration creates alternating anoxic and oxic zones:

• Anoxic Zones: In the absence of dissolved oxygen, bacteria use nitrate (NO3) as an electron acceptor, converting it to nitrogen gas (N2) which off-gasses to the atmosphere (Denitrification).
• Oxic Zones: Fine bubble diffusers provide oxygen, allowing nitrifying bacteria to convert ammonia (NH3) to nitrate (Nitrification).

This sophisticated biological process is critical for meeting the strict nitrogen limits required for Jamaica Bay. Following aeration, the mixed liquor flows to final settling tanks (secondary clarifiers) where the biological floc settles out. A portion is returned to the head of the aeration tanks (RAS), and excess biomass is removed as Waste Activated Sludge (WAS).

D. DISINFECTION

Disinfection is achieved using sodium hypochlorite (chlorination) to eliminate pathogenic bacteria (fecal coliform/E. coli). Given the sensitivity of the receiving marine life in Jamaica Bay, the plant utilizes a dechlorination facility utilizing sodium bisulfite to neutralize residual chlorine before the effluent is released into the Bergen Basin.

E. SOLIDS HANDLING

The Jamaica WRRF employs a comprehensive solids handling strategy:

• Thickening: Primary sludge is typically gravity thickened, while WAS is thickened using Dissolved Air Flotation (DAF) or gravity belt thickeners to reduce volume.
• Anaerobic Digestion: Thickened sludge is stabilized in anaerobic digesters heated to mesophilic temperatures (approx. 98°F). This process reduces volatile solids and generates methane gas (biogas).
• Dewatering: Digested sludge is chemically conditioned and dewatered using centrifuges to produce a sludge cake.
• Disposal: The dewatered biosolids are hauled off-site for beneficial reuse (land application) or landfill disposal, depending on current city contracts and regulatory requirements.

4. INFRASTRUCTURE & FACILITIES

A. Physical Plant

The Jamaica WRRF occupies a sprawling site surrounded by residential zones and marshland. The facility includes the Main Building (housing administrative offices and the process control laboratory), the Pump and Power Building, the Dewatering Building, and extensive outdoor tankage for aeration and settling. The architecture reflects various eras of expansion, from early 20th-century brickwork to modern industrial structures.

B. Energy Systems

As a major energy consumer, the plant is a focus of NYC DEP’s energy neutrality goals. The facility utilizes digester gas (biogas) to fuel boilers for process heating. Significant electrical demand is driven by the aeration blowers and main sewage pumps. Recent retrofits have included the installation of high-efficiency turbo blowers and LED lighting systems to reduce the overall carbon footprint.

C. Odor Control

Due to its proximity to the South Ozone Park community, odor control is a primary operational mandate. The facility employs two-stage odor control systems, utilizing chemical wet scrubbers followed by activated carbon polishing filters. These systems cover high-odor generation points, including the headworks, thickeners, and dewatering facilities. Real-time perimeter monitoring helps operators adjust chemical dosages to mitigate off-site migration.

5. RECENT UPGRADES & MAJOR PROJECTS

The Jamaica WRRF has been the recipient of substantial capital investment under NYC DEP’s Capital Improvement Program (CIP), driven largely by the Jamaica Bay Consent Order and the need for State of Good Repair (SOGR).

Current & Future Planning (2024-2027)

Future projects are focused on resiliency. The “Jamaica Bay Long Term Control Plan” (LTCP) outlines strategies to manage CSOs. Furthermore, following Hurricane Sandy, the plant is undergoing resiliency retrofits, including flood-proofing critical electrical gear and installing backup power generation raised above the 100-year flood elevation.

6. REGULATORY COMPLIANCE & ENVIRONMENTAL PERFORMANCE

A. Permit Requirements

The facility operates under NYSDEC SPDES Permit NY0026115. Key effluent limitations include:

• CBOD5: 25 mg/L (Monthly Avg)
• TSS: 30 mg/L (Monthly Avg)
• Total Nitrogen: Aggregate limits applied across the Jamaica Bay plants (Aggregate limit of approx. 36,000 lbs/day typically, with specific reductions targeted).
• pH: 6.0 – 9.0
• Fecal Coliform: 200 MPN/100 mL (30-day geometric mean)

B. Compliance History

The Jamaica WRRF generally maintains high compliance rates. However, like many NYC plants, challenges arise during extreme wet weather events regarding bypasses or disinfection efficiency. The facility is subject to the Nitrogen Consent Judgment, requiring continuous optimization of the BNR process. Recent reports indicate the facility is successfully meeting its individual nitrogen reduction targets, contributing to the overall ecological recovery of the bay.

7. OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE

A. Staffing & Training

The plant is staffed 24/7 by a team of NYC DEP Senior Sewage Treatment Workers (SSTWs), Oilers, Engineers, and Electricians. Operators are required to hold or pursue NYSDEC Grade 4A Wastewater Operator certifications, the highest level of certification in the state, requiring extensive experience and technical examination.

B. Process Control

The facility utilizes a distributed SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) system. This allows operators to monitor dissolved oxygen (DO) profiles in real-time, adjust return activated sludge (RAS) rates, and manage chemical dosing for chlorination and odor control automatically based on flow and loading parameters.

8. CHALLENGES & FUTURE PLANNING

Climate Resiliency: Located adjacent to the bay, the Jamaica plant is vulnerable to storm surge. The NYC DEP “Wastewater Resiliency Plan” has identified this facility for hardening measures, including the installation of flood gates and the elevation of critical sensors and motors.

Evolving Nitrogen Standards: As water quality standards in Jamaica Bay become more stringent to restore salt marsh habitats, the plant may require further tertiary treatment technologies, such as cloth media filtration or carbon supplementation (e.g., glycerol or methanol addition) to push nitrogen limits even lower.

Aging Infrastructure: Managing a facility with components dating back nearly a century requires a continuous cycle of investment. The “State of Good Repair” budget focuses on structural concrete rehabilitation of the aeration tanks and the replacement of underground piping networks that are nearing the end of their useful life.

9. COMMUNITY & REGIONAL IMPACT

The Jamaica WRRF is integral to the health of the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, a critical stopover for migratory birds. Improvements in effluent quality have directly contributed to the return of diverse marine species to the bay. The DEP engages with the community through the Jamaica Bay Task Force and local Community Boards to address concerns regarding construction traffic and odors, maintaining transparency regarding facility operations and environmental stewardship.

10. TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS SUMMARY

12. FAQ SECTION

Technical Questions

1. What is the specific BNR configuration at the Jamaica Plant?
The plant utilizes a step-feed BNR process where primary effluent is introduced at multiple points along the pass to provide carbon for denitrification in anoxic zones.

2. How are biosolids managed at the facility?
Solids are anaerobically digested and then dewatered via centrifuges on-site. The resulting cake is hauled for beneficial reuse or disposal.

3. Does the facility have a cogeneration system?
The facility uses digester gas to fire boilers for heat. While NYC DEP is expanding cogeneration (CHP) across its portfolio, check current CIP documents for the status of electrical generation at Jamaica specifically.

4. What is the peak wet weather flow capacity?
The facility is rated for 200 MGD peak wet weather flow.

Public Interest Questions

5. Why does the plant sometimes smell?
Wastewater treatment inherently generates odors (H2S). The plant uses carbon scrubbers and chemical misting to control this, but atmospheric conditions or maintenance on scrubbers can sometimes lead to escaping odors.

6. Is the water released into Jamaica Bay clean?
Yes, the water meets strict state standards for bacteria and pollutants. The nitrogen reduction upgrades have specifically made the water healthier for fish and wildlife.

7. Can I tour the Jamaica Wastewater Treatment Plant?
NYC DEP occasionally offers tours for educational groups and during special events like “Open House New York.” Contact the DEP Bureau of Public Affairs for specific requests.