Farmington Treatment Plant Handles Record Storm Flow While Meeting Nutrient Targets

Opening Gavel 💧

The Water Pollution Control Authority convened on June 11, 2025 to approve minutes from the May 14 session, motion, second, unanimous “aye.” Full meeting video: watch on YouTube.

May by the Numbers

Average daily flow: 5.4 MGD
One‑day peak: 16.3 MGD (two clarifiers, polymer assist)
Monthly average during storms: 9.3 MGD
BOD removal: 97.8 %
TSS removal: 98.3 %
Ammonia: 0.25 mg/L
Total nitrogen: three pounds over May allotment but below the 178‑lb rolling annual cap
Total phosphorus: 76.67 lb at 1.53 mg/L

Engineer Brian showed a four‑year chart: 2025 nitrogen remains 10–15 % under the previous years despite wet weather.

Storm‑Driven Field Reports ⚙️

Date	Site	Issue	Fix	Cause
May 9	South Row	Backup	Reset	Storm surge
	Snowberry Pump	High‑temp alarm	Reset	Power blip
	Punkis Village	High‑current fault	Reset	Unknown
	West Farms	Pressure transducer fault	Reset	Lightning
	Corporate High Stanley	Generator switch	Auto‑reset	Power loss

Keeping Pipes Clear

Crews jetted Burnt Hill, Park Drive, Maple Ridge, Penfield, Red Oak Hill, Skyline, Talcott Notch, Timber Lane, West Bay, Valley View. Early‑morning jetting pauses until the new fiscal year to cap overtime.

Grease, Roots & Right‑of‑Way

FO G inspections: Claudius Grinder Shop and four others, 95 % pass rate.
Westgate storm drains: large root ball removed.
Right‑of‑way clearing resumes as ground dries.

Plant Maintenance

Dissolved‑oxygen rooms cleaned; VFD readings verified.
Slide pin reinstalled on dewatering unit.
Transfer‑building compressors serviced.
12‑yard grit dumpster hauled off.
Ammonia/nitrate probes recalibrated.
Avon & Crocus flow meters certified within 2 % on May 6.
New groundwater pump at Batterson Pump Station now moving ≈ 80–100 GPM year‑round.

Looking Ahead

Strategic‑planning items roll to July’s agenda. No sewer‑lateral updates. No chicken‑manure complaints, only corn discussions from the public gallery.

Adjournment

Motion, second, unanimous. Meeting closed without incident.

Farmington Storage Thanks You 📦

The Farmington Mercury is powered by our friends at Farmington Storage (155 Scott Swamp Road, 860‑777‑4001). Museum‑grade air, zero chicken manure, and enough space to stash every root ball we yank from Westgate, because even sewer grit deserves climate control.

About the Author ☕

Jack Beckett sips cold‑brew strong enough to degrease a siphon. When he isn’t timing clarifier cycles, he files slow‑news dispatches for The Farmington Mercury. Dive into more at farmingtonmercury.com. Tweet, X, or Twix us anytime @WeFarmington , he checks between pump‑station alarms.

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© 2025 The Farmington Mercury / Mercury Local
This article, “Farmington Treatment Plant Handles Record Storm Flow While Meeting Nutrient Targets,” by Jack Beckett is licensed under CC BY‑ND 4.0.

“Farmington Treatment Plant Handles Record Storm Flow While Meeting Nutrient Targets”
by Jack Beckett, The Farmington Mercury (CC BY‑ND 4.0)