Welcome to the City of Lompoc

Wastewater Division

Wastewater Plant Update

Posted: January 8, 2010

Update November 2009: (Click on thumbnails to view pictures larger)

Due to an unplanned absence, the author of these updates was unable to write any after March (for the February update). However, since the Upgrade Project is now completed, here’s the last of the updates from November 2009.

Administration Building To compliment all the upgrades to the plant, Wastewater Maintenance staff demoed the existing concrete and lawn at the facility’s Admin Building entrance. New dyed stamped concrete was installed along with irrigation and lighting systems and new vegetation. The end product was a beautiful new entrance to greet those attending the Dedication Ceremony in November.

Admin Building Entrance New Concrete

Admin Building Entrance Landscaping

Secondary Effluent Equalization Pump Station (SEEPS) Since the pumps had been installed, work continued to install the pumps’ discharge valves and piping header. The concrete pad to support that equipment was poured. Then the valves and piping were put into place. This pump station will pump secondary effluent temporarily stored in the Secondary Effluent Equalization Tank (SEET) to the final phase of treatment: filtration and disinfection. The SEET will be constructed by modifying the existing aeration tanks during phase 2 of the project.

Operations Supervisor Sean Walsh shuts down old control systems

Removing Old Electronics
Roughing In the New Control Room Wall
Control Room Wall Sheetrock

Aerobic Digesters The 1959 anaerobic digesters were abandoned and replaced with new aerobic digesters. Air blowers (see picture) are used to inject air into the sludge contents of the digesters to provide oxygen and mixing. Digested sludge (the organic material has been stabilized during the digestion process) is then transferred to the sludge storage lagoons before final drying and disposal.

Wastewater Staff Start Up the Digester Blowers

Site Work Final paving of new plant roads and refinishing old roads was completed.

New AC Paving

Flow Equalization and UV Disinfection Phase 2 of the Upgrade was to commission the new Secondary Effluent Equalization Tank (SEET) and Secondary Equalized Effluent Pump Station (SEEPS). Once flow was moving through those process units, the tertiary filters were placed in service and flow was channeled through the Ultraviolet (UV) disinfection system. After the UV system’s performance was validated by sampling and verifying that it was killing the disease causing organisms in the water, the old chemical disinfection system (using aqueous ammonia and sodium hypochlorite for chloramination and calcium thiosulfate for dechlorination) was shutdown. The Upgrade met its disinfection requirements with UV treatment starting November 9. This new disinfection process will help eliminate chemical compounds called chlorinated byproducts in the water and better meet our discharge requirements.

Dedication The City celebrated the dedication of the Upgrade Project on November 17, 2009. Designer and construction contractor joined in as well as other City staff. City of Lompoc Council members attended and Mayor Mike Siminski delivered as address praising the completion of the project and noting the betterment it will provide to the community and the environment. Wastewater Superintendent Susan Halpin gave a slide presentation recognizing all those who made the project possible and asking the audience to praise the extraordinary efforts by City staff to work through the 30 month construction duration.

A brass plaque was cast memorializing the names of the Upgrade participating agencies, Lompoc City Council members, design firm and construction contractor. The plaque is mounted at the Plant’s Administration Building.

Mayor Siminski Dedicates the Upgrade

Upgrade Project Plaque

And so closes out the City of Lompoc Regional Wastewater Reclamation Plant Upgrade Project. Thanks for visiting the project updates. You may review a self-guided tour of the new plant HERE If you have any questions about the project or the treatment facility, please call 805-736-5083 or email us at wwtp-info@ci.lompoc.ca.us.

Update November 2009: (Click on thumbnails to view pictures larger)

Due to an unplanned absence, the author of these updates was unable to write any after March (for the February update). However, since the Upgrade Project is now completed, here’s the last of the updates from November 2009.

Administration Building To compliment all the upgrades to the plant, Wastewater Maintenance staff demoed the existing concrete and lawn at the facility’s Admin Building entrance. New dyed stamped concrete was installed along with irrigation and lighting systems and new vegetation. The end product was a beautiful new entrance to greet those attending the Dedication Ceremony in November.		Admin Building Entrance New Concrete Admin Building Entrance Landscaping

Secondary Effluent Equalization Pump Station (SEEPS) Since the pumps had been installed, work continued to install the pumps’ discharge valves and piping header. The concrete pad to support that equipment was poured. Then the valves and piping were put into place. This pump station will pump secondary effluent temporarily stored in the Secondary Effluent Equalization Tank (SEET) to the final phase of treatment: filtration and disinfection. The SEET will be constructed by modifying the existing aeration tanks during phase 2 of the project.		Operations Supervisor Sean Walsh shuts down old control systems
Removing Old Electronics	Roughing In the New Control Room Wall	Control Room Wall Sheetrock

Aerobic Digesters The 1959 anaerobic digesters were abandoned and replaced with new aerobic digesters. Air blowers (see picture) are used to inject air into the sludge contents of the digesters to provide oxygen and mixing. Digested sludge (the organic material has been stabilized during the digestion process) is then transferred to the sludge storage lagoons before final drying and disposal.		Wastewater Staff Start Up the Digester Blowers

Site Work Final paving of new plant roads and refinishing old roads was completed.		New AC Paving

Flow Equalization and UV Disinfection Phase 2 of the Upgrade was to commission the new Secondary Effluent Equalization Tank (SEET) and Secondary Equalized Effluent Pump Station (SEEPS). Once flow was moving through those process units, the tertiary filters were placed in service and flow was channeled through the Ultraviolet (UV) disinfection system. After the UV system’s performance was validated by sampling and verifying that it was killing the disease causing organisms in the water, the old chemical disinfection system (using aqueous ammonia and sodium hypochlorite for chloramination and calcium thiosulfate for dechlorination) was shutdown. The Upgrade met its disinfection requirements with UV treatment starting November 9. This new disinfection process will help eliminate chemical compounds called chlorinated byproducts in the water and better meet our discharge requirements.

Dedication The City celebrated the dedication of the Upgrade Project on November 17, 2009. Designer and construction contractor joined in as well as other City staff. City of Lompoc Council members attended and Mayor Mike Siminski delivered as address praising the completion of the project and noting the betterment it will provide to the community and the environment. Wastewater Superintendent Susan Halpin gave a slide presentation recognizing all those who made the project possible and asking the audience to praise the extraordinary efforts by City staff to work through the 30 month construction duration. A brass plaque was cast memorializing the names of the Upgrade participating agencies, Lompoc City Council members, design firm and construction contractor. The plaque is mounted at the Plant’s Administration Building.		Mayor Siminski Dedicates the Upgrade Upgrade Project Plaque

And so closes out the City of Lompoc Regional Wastewater Reclamation Plant Upgrade Project. Thanks for visiting the project updates. You may review a self-guided tour of the new plant HERE If you have any questions about the project or the treatment facility, please call 805-736-5083 or email us at wwtp-info@ci.lompoc.ca.us.