Reduced operating costs, increased treatment capacity and a new economic development tool, are among the benefits of a new bioreactor at the Yakima Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant operated by the City of Yakima.
A ribbon cutting ceremony and tour of the facility will be held on Thursday, October 24th at 10:30 AM at the Regional Treatment Plant located at 2220 East Viola.
The nearly $7 million dollar project allows waste from Yakima fruit processors to be treated separately from domestic wastewater. The result is a savings of $10,000 per month in electrical costs, increased treatment capacity to handle domestic waste and a new tool for keeping and attracting businesses that produce high sugar wastewater. In additional to fruit processors, some of those businesses might include breweries, wineries and cider presses. The new bioreactor also creates methane gas as a by-product and the gas will help reduce energy costs at the treatment plant.
A lawsuit and odor complaints forced the treatment plant to stop using a nearby industrial spray field in 2003 and shifted treatment of the high sugar content fruit processing waste into the treatment plant. Although the plant effectively treated the waste, it was a costly process due to the amount of electricity required to power 300 HP blowers to grow the microbes needed to break down the sugars.
The primary financing for construction of the bioreactor came from low interest loans made through the Washington State Public Works Trust Fund.
Contact: Wastewater Division Project Manager David Schneider– 249-6854
Communications & Public Affairs Director Randy Beehler – 901-1142