2007 Wastewater Service Charges
NACWA Peak Performance Awards

Pretreatment

The City of Corpus Christi Pretreatment Program operates in accordance with a federal law requiring publicly owned treatment works to regulate the volume and character of non-domestic wastes treated by the system. Many industries produce wastewater from manufacturing processes that may not be compatible with normal domestic wastewater treatment technology. In these cases, the industries are required to pre-treat their wastes to an acceptable level prior to discharging them into the City system.

The Corpus Christi Pretreatment Program is currently staffed by four full time personnel. A pretreatment coordinator oversees the activities of two inspectors and one laboratory assistant. The inspectors both hold class "B" Wastewater Operator Certificates from the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission, and the laboratory assistant holds a class "C" Certificate.

The program regulates and issues permits to major industries defined as "Significant Industrial Users," as well as numerous smaller industries that have a potential to impact the wastewater treatment system. In addition, all restaurants are inspected and sampled on a rotating basis to determine the strength of wastes from food preparation activities and to make sure that grease interceptor units are functioning and maintained properly. Restaurants are then surcharged for the additional cost involved with treating their high strength wastes.

Finally, the pretreatment program operates a sampling and analysis program that tracks the presence of toxic or incompatible pollutants in the treatment system. Analyses are regularly performed that indicate concentrations of dissolved heavy metals, organic chemicals, and pesticides. Sources of these pollutants are actively investigated and source reductions or controls are implemented wherever possible. Effluent toxicity tests are performed as well to help identify sources of toxic materials that cannot be specifically identified.

Treatment Facility – Broadway Wastewater Treatment Plant

This plant serves the downtown and North Beach areas of the City. Total area served is over 15,000 acres. Thie plant is designed to treat 10.0 MGD averge daily flow with a two hour peak of 20 MGD discharge permit limits are 20 mg/I BOD5 and 20 mg/I TSS. The plant consistenly meets the permit requirements and fotr the last six months, it averaged below 6 ml/I BOD5 and 5 mg/I TSS. Presently the plant treats less than 5.0 MGD of domestic wastewater.

Treatment Facility – Oso Wastewater Treatment Plant

This plant is the largest of the six plants which the City owns. This plant serves the Southside of the City where over 50% of the population lives. This plant is permitted for a 20 mg/I BOD5 and 20mg/I TSS. The plant is presently treating about 11.3 MG, on the average.This plant is also an activated sludge plant and is operated in a contact stabilization mode. it has two process trains, each capable of treating about 8.0 MGD. The sludge (Bio-Solids) is aerobically digested and processed through the belt filter presses before it is disposed at the city owned landfill. the dewatered sludge consist of approximately 16% - 18% solids. About 10 dry tons of sludge is processed per day.

Treatment Facility – Greenwood Wastewater Treatment Plant

This plant has a capacity to treat 6.0 MGD. This plant serves the International Airport and about 6,000 acres of the City's Westside. This plant was recently issued a more stringent permit with 10 mg/I CBOD5, 15 mg/I TSS 3mg/I NH3-N discharge. The plant has been treating about 3.5 MGD, on the average. The effluent quality for the last ten months averged less than 5mg/I CBOD5, 5mg/I TSS and 1.0 mg/I NH3-N.

Treatment Facility – Allison Wastewater Treatment Plant

This plant serves the northwest side of the City and is located close to the Nueces River. This plant has a capacity to treat 5.0 MGD. The service area of this plant is about 5,600 acres. Presently it treats about 2.9 MGD. The plant is permitted to discharge treated wastewater with a 20 mg/I BOD5, and 20mg/I TSS quality. Presently the effluent discharged averages 4 mg/I BOD5 and 6 mg/I TSS.

Treatment Facility – Laguna Madre Wastewater Treatment Plant

This plant is one of the two samaller plants and serves the Flour Bluff area of the City. This plant has the capacity to treat 3.0 MGD. This plant is currently treating about 1.7 MGD and it consistently meets 3mg/I BOD5 and 5mg/I TSS even though the plant is permitted for 20 mg/I BOD5 and 20 mg/I TSS effluent limit.

Treatment Facility – Whitecap Wastewater Treatment Plant

This plant is the smallest of the six plants, designed to treat 0.8 MGD of wastewater and serves the North Padre Island area. This plant is presently being expanded. Once the expansion is copleted, the plant's capacity will be increased to treat 2.5 MGD. Presently, the plant is treating about 0.7 MGD with a 5 mg/I BOD5 and 6 mg/I TSS effluent quality. The plant's permitted for a 20 mg/I BOD5 and 20 mg/I TSS effluent discharge.