With rare exceptions, domestic wastewater treatment plants are constructed outside and exposed to the elements. This paper presents the critical design requirements for five fully enclosed domestic wastewater treatment facilities, the differences between inside and outside design elements, the shifts in priorities leading to the decisions to construct indoor systems, and the cost benefit - life cycle cost analyses which differ between the two.

Following the session, conference participants will be able to clearly identify a dozen or more unique engineering design and building code compliance criteria which differ between wastewater treatment plants constructed and inside buildings and wastewater plants constructed outside.

The planning, design, permitting, construction and operation of the Warrenton Chase, the Pocahontas County, the Mount Weather, and the two Lucketts Elementary School Wastewater Treatment Plants will be presented, compared and discussed in detail.

Discussion topics will include public vs private ownership, the need to involve architects, the heightened life safety concerns, how to address the high humidity issues, tank depth and building height coordination, accessibility of submerged equipment, the use of overhead portable cranes, enhanced noise and odor management, electrical code requirements for explosion proof fixtures, enhanced indoor only lighting performance, limitations on future plant expansions, NPDES permit limits and their impact on process and equipment selection, enhanced operation and maintenance requirements, the need for supporting self-contained functions and onsite analytical laboratory support.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1061/9780784483466.047

Design of Fully Enclosed Wastewater Treatment Plants Requires Special Considerations

Created in 1999, the Environmental & Water Resources Institute (EWRI) is the recognized leader within ASCE for the integration of technical expertise and public policy in the planning, design, construction, and operation of environmentally sound and sustainable infrastructure impacting air, land and water resources.

Paper Proceedings: https://ascelibrary.org/doi/book/10.1061/9780784483466