Inside Hillsborough County's 24/7 Wastewater Treatment Plant Operation

The Role of a Wastewater Treatment Plant Manager

• 💡 The plant manager, Alfonso Higera, oversees the South County wastewater treatment facility for Hillsborough County, ensuring the plant runs smoothly and operators have the necessary tools.
• 🎯 The facility processes all wastewater from toilets, sinks, and washing machines, turning it into reusable water.

The Wastewater Treatment Process

• 🔬 Water first enters the headworks, where large items like toilet paper are removed and discarded.
• ⚙️ The plant utilizes a five-stage biological nutrient removal process with no chemicals, employing five tanks, each with a specific function to remove harmful nutrients.
• 🧪 Operators analyze samples to ensure processes are running correctly and water quality meets compliance standards.

Common Issues and Contaminants

• ⚠️ People often dump inappropriate items like acids, paints, and chemicals down drains, which disrupt the biological process.
• 🚫 Items like flushable wipes, dental floss, and hair are not flushable and cause clogs in pipes and equipment, both outside and within the facility.
• 💧 Improper disposal not only contaminates the environment but also negatively impacts the plant's process, leading to the need for re-treatment of water that doesn't meet compliance.

What's Found in the Wastewater

• 🧩 Workers have found unusual items in the wastewater, including money, Lego toys, dolls, and pieces of wood.
• 🛠️ The job requires dedicated professionals who work 24/7, 365 days a year, including holidays and during emergencies like hurricanes.

Plant Capacity and Future Expansion

• 📈 The South County facility currently processes up to 9 million gallons of wastewater daily.
• 🚀 An expansion is underway to increase its capacity to 13 million gallons per day.
• 🏗️ A new plant is also being built in Lithia to serve the growing region.