The System
Pre-treatment, Primary
Treatment, Secondary Treatment, Disinfection, Solids Digestion
The treatment plant has a design capacity of 8.5 million gallons of sewage per day and the daily average so far this year is 6.3 million gallons. The system also consists of a regional pumping station, force main, ocean outfall, and the trunk line .
Currently all sewage from the Borough of Tinton Falls, the western portion of Neptune Township and Wall Township flow to the Authority's force main by gravity. Avon by the Sea, Bradley Beach, Neptune City, Ocean Grove and a portion of Neptune Township pump their sewage to the Authority through a pump station. The Authority currently operates two inlet facilities and three parallel treatment trains (process units in series) which provide the ability to distribute the flow of sewage for the most efficient treatment.
A wastewater collection system, utilizing both gravity flow and pump stations, transports the sewage to the Authority's regional treatment plant. A combination of physical, chemical and biological processes are employed to eliminate the undesirable components contained within the wastewater.
The treatment processes employed by the Authority include pre-treatment, primary treatment, secondary treatment, disinfection, and sludge digestion.
Pre-treatment takes place at each of the two inlet facilities and at the authorities pump station. The pre-treatment process removes large, dense, and often abrasive materials from the wastewater. The pre-treatment process consists of comminution, grit removal, and equalization. At the pre-treatment stage, the Authority also uses a pre-chlorination process which accomplishes odor control. The pre-treatment process also includes the addition of hydrogen peroxide to provide additional oxygen to the influent.
Comminution reduces the size of wastewater solids by shredding, which renders the sewage more easily handled and ensures a carryover of organic matter into the grit removal facilities.
Grit removal effects a substantial reduction in the inorganic material contained in the wastewater. Air is injected into the chamber to separate the heavier inorganic from the lighter organics. This form of treatment removes the particles which will cause equipment wear. Grit removal also prevents the introduction of inorganic material into processes where it would interfere with efficient operation.
The primary treatment takes place in each of the Authority's three primary clarifiers (settling tanks) and is a physical separation process which removes settleable and floating solids. The influent is introduced into a primary settling tank where sufficient time is provided for solids to either settle to the tank bottom (sludge) or float to its surface (scum and grease). Both types of solid accumulations are mechanically collected and the sludge is sent to the primary digester while the scum and grease solids are sent to the scum pit for further treatment. Approximately 60 percent of the solids are removed at this stage.