GrokSurf's San Diego

Here are some photos from my facilities tour of the Point Loma Wastewater Treatment Plant.

The advanced primary treatment consists of an initial screening for large debris, followed by grit chambers to remove additional sand-sized substances, then along with added chemicals it goes into sediment tanks for further settling and clarification. Next the influent enters large anaerobic digesters where organic matter is converted into methane gas, carbon dioxide and biosolids which are extracted, and then the clarified water goes into the ocean outfall pipe to be dispersed through perforations in a Y-shaped pipe segment more than 4 miles out to sea. The captured methane gas is used in a cogeneration facility to generate electricity that provides for all the plant’s power needs and also contributes to the city’s power grid. The foul air produced in the various stages is treated with chemicals and then released. Water samples are continuously monitored in an on-site laboratory to ensure standards are maintained. About 150 million gallons per day are treated, with a capacity to treat about 240 MGD.

There is quite a concentration of facilities and equipment on what seems to be a fairly small footprint of land on the ocean side of Point Loma. It’s hard to imagine where they will locate additional facilities when they add Secondary Treatment to the process.

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