Wastewater Treatment 101: How Lennox, South Dakota, Keeps Our Waterways Clean.
In Lennox, South Dakota, beneath our streets runs a system working to manage something most of us don’t think about—wastewater. Understanding how wastewater is treated not only reveals the importance of this process but also shows how it keeps our community and environment healthy. Here’s a straightforward look at how Lennox handles this essential task with the help of a Sequencing Batch Reactor (SBR) system.
What Is Wastewater?
Wastewater is any water that has been used and contaminated, whether it’s from your bathroom, kitchen, or laundry room. it’s a mix of sewage, chemicals, and other pollutants that, if left untreated, could wreak havoc on our local waterways potentially contaminating drinking water sources, harm aquatic life, and spread diseases. The pollutants in wastewater can disrupt ecosystems, leading to the depletion of oxygen in water bodies, which affects fish and other aquatic organisms. Treating this water is crucial to make sure our rivers and streams remain clean.
The Treatment Process:
Preliminary Treatment: The first stop for wastewater is the treatment plant, where it passes through automated and stationary screens that catch large debris like rags, flushable wipes and plastic. In addition to screening, grit removal is another critical part of preliminary treatment. Grit includes sand, gravel, and other small, dense particles that, if not removed, can cause significant wear and tear on the treatment equipment.
Secondary Treatment with SBR System: Lennox uses a newer technology called a Sequencing Batch Reactor (SBR) system for the secondary treatment. In this process, wastewater is treated in batches, rather than continuously. The SBR system alternates between filling, aeration, settling, and decanting phases. Microorganisms break down organic matter during the aeration phase, and the subsequent settling phase allows the remaining solids to separate from the water. This system is efficient, flexible, and usually preferred due to its small footprint as opposed to a continuous flow system.
Disinfection: Before the treated water is released back into long creek, it goes through a disinfection stage to eliminate any remaining harmful microorganisms. In Lennox, we use ultraviolet (UV) light for this process. Unlike chemical disinfectants such as chlorine, UV light is a physical process that effectively destroys the DNA of bacteria, viruses, and other pathogens, rendering them harmless. UV disinfection is a safe and environmentally friendly method that doesn’t introduce any harmful byproducts into the water.
Release: As some may know, the outfall—or release point—of our treated water is located just south of the bridge over Long Creek on Highway 44. As an avid fisherman, it’s important to me that when I see kids fishing near the outfall, I can be confident that the treated water is not only clean and safe for aquatic life but also free from pathogens and diseases harmful to humans. Our treatment process, including UV disinfection, ensures that the water we release into Long Creek meets the highest standards of safety and quality.
In Conclusion
Wastewater treatment might not be something we think about every day, but it plays a huge role in keeping Lennox safe, and vibrant. It’s all part of our commitment to protecting our environment and ensuring that Lennox remains a great place to live, and grow.
