QUEST in Action
Treatment Plant Drastically Reduces Local Environmental Impact
In May 1996, Interface Fabrics' East Douglas facility reviewed their operations and a decision was made to build a new wastewater treatment plant. They needed a plant that would be more efficient, add more versatility, and allow for unit-process redundancy. The existing treatment plant had been built in 1972 by the facility's previous owner and had been constructed as an activated-sludge secondary treatment plant, utilizing a membrane-lined aerated lagoon for biological treatment to process the wastewater.Construction began in August 1996. The new design used the same theory as the old one in utilizing activated-sludge and extended aeration, but instead of a membrane-lined lagoon, concrete aeration basins were constructed with an equalization tank for added control.
The new design gave the facility a way to ensure redundancy and versatility. The system also allowed for optimal treatment and minimized production interruption from fluctuations in flow rates, production rates or equipment failure. The new construction was fully operational by April 1997.
Since the construction, energy has been greatly reduced and the chemical additions and consumption have been reduced by half. East Douglas' local environmental footprint also has been drastically reduced by its ability to consistently achieve effluent quality greater than state requirements.
In 2001 alone, the total actual discharges were less than 5% of what is allowed by permit requirements. Interface Fabrics continues to be an environmental industry leader in the State of Massachusetts.
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