Wastewater Treatment Plant Improvements Project

2 Documents in Project

Summary

SCH Number
2022120090
Lead Agency
Buttonwillow County Water District
Document Title
Wastewater Treatment Plant Improvements Project
Document Type
NOD - Notice of Determination
Received
Posted
2/24/2023
Document Description
Existing Facilities. The existing Buttonwillow WWTP consists of two side by side pre-engineered modular biological treatment systems constructed in 2010. The modular units are constructed of painted steel and sit on a concrete slab and are entirely above grade. The primary components include an equalization tank, rotating biological contactor, Bio-wheel followed by a flat plate membrane filtration system designed to remove biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and suspended solids. The system is also designed to nitrify/denitrify. Effluent from the membranes is distributed to one of two unlined recycled water ponds. These ponds provide for percolation of the effluent into the soil and sediments beneath the ponds and evaporation to the atmosphere. Effluent from the ponds may also be applied, if needed, to feed and fodder crops on the 40 acres adjacent to the WWTP, but the District has not used this disposal method in recent years. At the current flow of wastewater to the WWTP (0.091 MGD), effluent entering the ponds percolates and evaporates quickly, leaving little or no water available for irrigation. Proposed Facilities. The primary focus in the Project Report is the evaluation and selection of a treatment alternative to prevent future discharges that are out of compliance with the 2009 Waste Discharge Requirements. According to the Report, the existing WWTP has been plagued with operational issues since it was commissioned in 2010. Due to operational issues, the WWTP has consistently been out of compliance with the WDR limits. In short, the WWTP has not operated as originally designed and this has resulted in secondary treatment capacity not being used and discharge requirements, such as Total Suspended Solids (TSS), Electrical Conductivity (EC), and Total Nitrogen. The net effect of this situation is that the existing WWTP needs to be upgraded or an alternative treatment system needs to be installed. After evaluating four alternatives in the Project Report, Alternative 2, the Biolac Extended Aeration System, was selected as the recommended alternative for treatment and disposal. The Biolac System can meet the nitrogen disposal requirements and eliminates the acquisition of additional crop land and access to supplemental irrigation water.

Contact Information

Name
Regina Houchin
Agency Name
Buttonwillow County Water District
Job Title
Board Secretary
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency

Location

Cities
Buttonwillow
Counties
Kern
Regions
Southern California
Cross Streets
southern San Joaquin Valley ~25 miles west of downtown Bakersfield
Zip
93206
State Highways
58
Township
29S

Notice of Determination

Approving Agency
Buttonwillow County Water District
Approving Agency Role
Lead Agency
Approved On
County Clerk
Kern
Final Environmental Document Available at
BCWD, P.O. Box 274 (289 North Main Street), Buttonwillow, CA 93206

Determinations

(1) The project will have a significant impact on the environment
No
(2a) An Environmental Impact Report was prepared for this project pursuant to the provisions of CEQA
No
(2b) A Mitigated or a Negative Declaration was prepared for this project pursuant to the provisions of CEQA
Yes
(2c) An other document type was prepared for this project pursuant to the provisions of CEQA
No
(3) Mitigated measures were made a condition of the approval of the project
Yes
(4) A mitigation reporting or monitoring plan was adopted for this project
Yes
(5) A Statement of Overriding Considerations was adopted for this project
No
(6) Findings were made pursuant to the provisions of CEQA
No

Attachments

Final Document(s) [Approved_Certified draft environmental documents]

Disclaimer: The Governor’s Office of Planning and Research (OPR) accepts no responsibility for the content or accessibility of these documents. To obtain an attachment in a different format, please contact the lead agency at the contact information listed above. You may also contact the OPR via email at state.clearinghouse@opr.ca.gov or via phone at (916) 445-0613. For more information, please visit OPR’s Accessibility Site.

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