By Mark J. Howarth, Superintendent and Timothy J. O’Dell, Assistant Superintendent, Water Pollution Control Plant, The Township of Morris, NJ

The two wastewater plants in The Township of Morris, New Jersey have experienced significant savings in electricity costs, sludge removal, and chemical usage. Savings result from installation of an effective system to control dissolved oxygen levels in the plants’ aerated digestion tanks. Regulated DO levels optimize the rate of tank aeration and reduce pumping requirements. They also provide a uniform and stable environment for the microorganisms that process the wastewater, which reduces sludge production and chemical usage.

Processing wastewater

Wastewater comes into the Butterworth plant from portions of The Township of Morris, Morris Plains, and Randolph. A smaller plant, called Woodland, treats wastewater from another part of the township. Routinely the Butterworth plant can treat 2.2 million gallons per day, but can accommodate up to 10 million gpd during storm surges.

Pretreatment facilities at Butterworth remove grit, rags, and debris. Raw sewage pumps then send the wastewater to anaerobic and anoxic tanks to reduce the wastewater’s biological oxygen demand. These tanks also convert phosphorus to a readily removable form. Only desirable facultative bacteria, those that can survive with or without oxygen, survive passage through this stage.

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