Operations

Water Reclamation
                                                                   Producing Top Quality Reclaimed Water Is What We Do!

Norman Water Reclamation Facility Overview

The City of Norman Water Reclamation Facility (NWRF) treats wastewater generated by a population of over 100,000 and the University of Oklahoma. Originally constructed in 1943, the facility has undergone additional significant facility upgrades during 1957, 1963, 1972, 1986, 1990, 1999, 2004, 2008 (Sludge Improvement Project), 2011 (Energy Reduction Project), and  2014 began the $63 million Phase II Major Expansion which was completed and ready  for full operations on February 5, 2018. The new expansion has increased the flow capacity up to 17 MGD with a wet weather flow of 36 MGD.

The Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality (ODEQ) administers the issuance and enforcement of municipal discharge permits, known as Oklahoma Pollution Discharge Elimination System (OPDES) permits. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) however, maintains oversight rights for ODEQ’s water quality programs.

The City of Norman Water Reclamation Facility is required, as part of the OPDES permit to monitor effluent water quality discharged to Norman’s segment of the Canadian River (receiving stream). These monitoring reports are called Discharge Monitoring Reports (DMR) and are required monthly for treated effluent and annually for biosolids treatment and agricultural land application.

 

The Importance of the Wastewater Operator

The operator is considered the backbone of any water or wastewater treatment facility.  The amount of skill, training, critical thinking ability, decision making, and knowledge of  process control measurements are crucial to the success of any treatment facility.  Plant operators must know how to perform and interpret lab analysis in order to recognize problems within the treatment process and decide what corrective actions they will take.  Wastewater treatment plant operators also rely on computers to monitor  plant equipment, unit processes, lab results and for operations data entry.  Plant operators need to have knowledge of wastewater treatment analytical methods in order to be able to interpolate lab results properly.

The Water Reclamation Division requires all operators to possess at least a Class D WWT Plant Operator Certification.  Operators are required (as part of their routine duties) to perform basic lab analysis on a daily basis.  These basic lab tests consist of pH, dissolved oxygen, temperature, suspended solids, settleable solids, etc.  Operators are also cross-trained to perform USEPA and ODEQ required water quality analysis such as 5-day bio-chemical oxygen demand (BOD5), ammonia-nitrogen, anaerobic digester acids/alkalinity, suspended solids and total solids (%), activated sludge mix liquor suspended solids (MLSS) and activated sludge mix liquor volatile suspended solids (MLVSS) among other test.

Operators help meet our Federal and State required wastewater discharge and bio-solids monitoring regulation in addition to Quality Control and Quality Assurance testing.

 

Reclaimed Water System

Reclaimed Water System Facts:

  • Startup date: April 1, 2009
  • Supplies reclaimed water to Jimmy Austin Golf Course at the University of Oklahoma.
  • Supplies washdown water for Norman Water Reclamation Facility
  • Reduces water demand at the Water Treatment Facility and Water Supply.
  • Supplies millions gallons of reclaimed water per year for OU's Jimmy Austin Golf Course and Norman Water Reclamation Facility.
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Operator