
Water Authority of Dickson County (WADC) Wastewater Treatment Operations consist of: three National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permitted wastewater treatment plants – the Fairview Wastewater Treatment Plant (FWWTP), the Jones Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant (JCWWTP), and the White Bluff Wastewater Treatment Plant (WBWWTP); one State Operating Permit (SOP) permitted Wastewater Treatment Facility – the Love’s Travel Stops & Country Store Decentralized Wastewater Treatment Facility (LWWTF); a federally approved Pretreatment Program; and, the skilled team of employees that it takes to run each on an ongoing basis.
Wastewater Treatment Facilities
WADC's Wastewater Treatment Plants are oxidation ditch systems that discharge to specific tributaries that each eventually flow into the Harpeth River. The treatment plants consist of:
- Bar screens
- Grit chambers
- Oxidation ditches
- Clarifiers
- Digesters
- Disinfection using concentrated bleach
- Dechlorinatlon
WADC operates the plants using standard operating procedures, consistent with oxidation ditch theory and sound activated sludge methodology. Each facility consistently produce a clear, sparkling effluent that reliably meets discharge permit standards. Sludge is wasted as appropriate from the treatment plants with both FWWTPs and WBWWTPs directed to JCWWTP for further treatment and eventual incorporation into the N-Viro Soil™ produced at JCWWTP. The plant dewaters and lime stabilizes its waste biomass to produce N-Viro Soil™ that is given to local residents for natural fertilization of land. Dickson County farmers using N-Viro Soil™ report two- to ten-fold increases in crop production, as compared with commercial fertilizers.
Fairview Wastewater Treatment Plant
FWWTP has a design capacity of 0.46 MGD. The facility sets on a 10.45 acre secluded tract in Fairview near Flat Rock Branch, into which final effluent is discharged. FWWTP was constructed in 1990 by the City of Fairview who owned and operated it until its Water and Wastewater Department consolidated with WADC in 2006. The workforce at FWWTP includes two WADC employees.
Jones Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant
JCWWTP has a design capacity of 4 MGD. The facility sets on a 42 acre tract in Dickson bordered the length of one side by Jones Creek, into which final effluent is discharged. JCWWTP was constructed in 1970 and had a major upgrade in 1994. The workforce at JCWWTP includes seven WADC employees.
Love’s Travel Stops & Country Store Decentralized Wastewater Treatment Facility
LWWTF has a design capacity of 0.015 MGD and is located at 2971 Highway 48S in Dickson. LWWTF features a septic tank, recirculating sand filter and drip irrigation system. The system is very cost effective, environmentally protective, and especially suitable for locations that are some distance from WADC’s centralized wastewater collection system.
White Bluff Wastewater Treatment Plant
WBWWTP has a design capacity of 0.5 MGD. The facility sets on a 5.35 acre tract in White Bluff near Trace Creek, into which final effluent is discharged. WBWWTP was constructed in 1968 (and had a major upgrade in 1992) by the Town of White Bluff, who owned and operated it until its transfer to WADC January 1, 2015. The workforce at WBWWTP includes two WADC employees.
Pretreatment Program
WADC's Pretreatment Program is responsible for enforcing Federal, State, and Local
environmental regulations authorized by the Clean Water Act in relation to the
Pretreatment Program. This includes monitoring and inspection of all Significant
Industrial Users (SIUs) within WADC's coverage area to prevent the introduction of
pollutants into the WWTPs which will interfere with the operation of a WWTP, including
interference with its use or disposal of municipal sludge, and, to prevent the
introduction of pollutants into WWTPs which will pass through the treatment works or
otherwise be incompatible with such works. WADC currently has 12 permitted Industrial
Users in the Pretreatment Program.
Fats, Oils, and Grease (FOG) Management Program
Another segment of the Pretreatment Program is the FOG Management Program.
Through the FOG Management Program the Pretreatment Division oversees Food
Service Establishments (FSEs) or other commercial businesses that may have the
potential to negatively impact the collection system via fats, oils, or greases.
FSEs discharging to the WADC collection system are subject to the program and related
design standards, procedures, or guidelines. The purpose of this program is to protect
the WADC collection system, pumping stations and treatment works from the discharge
of excess FOG by ensuring that FSEs are in compliance with the requirements of the
program. WADC currently has over 100 FSEs (or other commercial users) in the FOG
Management Program.