City Awarded approximately $800,000 in grant funds for Wastewater Treatment Plant improvements

The Fernley Reporter

The City of Fernley was recently awarded two grants to assist with necessary wastewater treatment plant improvements and repairs. The City received a $500,000 grant from the State Revolving Fund (SRF) through a low interest bond agreement. In addition, the City received a $291,000 grant from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

The plant improvements are part of a $2.3 million project to replace a 30-year-old pond liner and remove sludge from the wastewater treatment plant. This will be the first time the City is able to remove sludge with filter beds on site for disposal at a permitted landfill. This project will be split into two phases, with the awarded grant funds applied to phase one.

The primary scope of work for phase one includes the removal and dewatering of approximately 8,000 cubic yards of sludge from pond “two” and the hauling/disposal of dewatered sludge to the approved landfill. The project work also includes the following: site grading; construction of filter drying beds and a polymer addition system; construction of a filtrate/recirculation pump station; installation of approximately 2,100 linear feet of 6-inch sewer force main; and 1,050 linear feet of 4-inch to 6-inch filtrate pipeline; chlorination system improvements; and all associated appurtenances and electrical improvements.

Phase two will be a relining of pond “two” to regain the capacity of treatment of 3.05 million gallons per day at the wastewater treatment plant. The City operates and maintains a tertiary treatment system, which is the lowest level of sophistication for treatment systems in Nevada. It relies on biological activity to treat wastes to acceptable levels in the pond system before discharge to the Wildlife Management Area under a permit held by the State of Nevada Division of Wildlife.  The construction of the filter bed system will allow the City the ability to process the sludge from the remainder of the ponds in the future.