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TOURS

Organized by Lower Columbia Section of PNCWA

PNCWA2019 is proud to offer the tours listed below on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday of the 2019 Conference. 

Please note that all tours are first come, first served and do not require preregistration. Tours will depart from the bus loading zone directly in front of the Oregon Convention Center on Martin Luther King Blvd. 

    • Monday, September 9, 2019
      • Gresham Wastewater Treatment Plant | Departs Oregon Convention Center at 1:15pm | Returns at 4:15pm | Approx. Total Time: 3 Hours.
      • 0.15 CEUs
    • Tuesday, September 10, 2019
      • Clean Water Services Durham (AWWTF), Forest Grove, and Fernhill NTS Facility Tours| Departs Oregon Convention Center at 8:15 am | Returns at 3:15 pm | Approx. Total Time: 7 hours | Lunch will be included
      • 0.4 CEUs
    • Wednesday, September 11, 2019
      • Kellogg Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant | Departs Oregon Convention Center at 8:15am | Returns at 11:45am | Approx. Total Time 3 1/2 hours| *ADDITIONAL DETAILS COMING SOON*

 Gresham Wastewater Treatment Plant

Monday,  September 9

The Gresham Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) serves an estimated population of 114,000 residents in the cities of Gresham, Fairview and Wood Village. The 20-MGD WWTP is the first plant in the Pacific Northwest to reach energy net zero (the plant produces as least as much energy as it uses).   

On the surface, the WWTP is a prototypical plant that uses the following treatment train: 

  • Preliminary Treatment: Screening and Grit Removal 

  • Primary Treatment: Clarifiers 

  • Secondary Treatment: Activated Sludge and Clarifiers 

  • Disinfection/Dechlorination: Liquid Sodium Hypochlorite and Bisulfite 

  • Discharge Location: Columbia River 

However, a deeper dive into the plant produces a unique and sustainable system.  

The tour will highlight the challenges and solutions to achieving net zero including visits to the two 400kW Caterpillar Cogeneration units, the FOG receiving station, and a solar array.  Net zero isn’t just about power production but also about energy efficiency, such as blowers and heating systems, and the net zero milestone was achieved in a business conscious manner. 

 

Durham Advanced Wastewater Treatment Facility, Forest Grove, and Fernhill NTS Facility Tours                               

Tuesday, September 10  

The Clean Water Services Durham Advanced Wastewater Treatment Facility (AWWTF) is a state-of-the-art facility, serving portions of the Tualatin River watershed basin. The AWWTF treats in average of 22MGD, and recovers/produces electricity, heat, reuse water, and soil amendments. 

Some of the unique highlights of the AWWTF include: 

    • Provides a higher level of treatment than 98-percent of the facilities in the nation.
      • Biological Phosphorus removal secondary treatment and floc/sed/sand filter tertiary treatment. 
    • Recycles more than 50-MG a year of reuse water for local irrigation. 
      • Users include a golf course, ball fields, and local city parks. 
    • Recycles more than 14-dry tons of bio solids per day for use as a soil amendment.  
    • Produces over 300 tons of a commercial, high value fertilizer. 
      • First commercial nutrient recovery facility in the nation in partnership with Ostara Nutrient Recovery Technologies.  
  • Co-generation and solar panels provide 60-percent of the plant’s electricity needs. 
    • Includes a FOG receiving station and two 848-kw co-generation engines.   

The AWWTF is currently being expanded to add a fifth secondary treatment train. This expansion will add 5.5MGD to the 22MGD AWWTF.  The project includes a 7-cell aeration basin and 145-ft diameter secondary clarifier

The Forest Grove Wastewater Treatment Facility (Facility) is owned and operated by Clean Water Services (CWS) and serves the cities of Forest Grove, Gaston and Cornelius. The Facility provides secondary treatment using an activated sludge process followed by ultraviolet disinfection. Tertiary treatment for the Facility is the Fernhill Natural Treatment System (NTS).

 The 30-MGD Facility’s most recent upgrade project was completed in 2010. Principal new features that replaced outdated and undersized facility components were the headworks, influent pump station, grit building, and aeration basin. CWS is currently working towards upgrading the secondary clarifiers, disinfection system, and effluent pump station. 

Fernhill NTS provides tertiary treatment for the Facility by reducing ammonia concentrations, 

increasing dissolved oxygen concentrations, and reducing effluent temperature prior to discharge. This treatment is accomplished using a 1.3-acre nutrient filter and 90-acre emergent wetland. Construction of Fernhill was a site to see and included 2,000 tons of boulders, a million native plants, and precision landsculpting of 250,000 cubic years of soil.  

Fernhill provides benefits in addition to treatment. It’s a National Audubon Society-designated Important Bird Area utilized by 200+ bird species and a magnet for researchers, students, and other visitors who frequent Fernhill for opportunities to learn and enjoy nature.  

 

Wednesday, September 11 - Kellogg Creek WWTP **Tour Information Coming Soon**

Check Back for more details on the Wednesday tour