West Point wastewater upgrades: Meeting net-zero energy goals
Comprehensive planning to upgrade West Point’s Target Hill wastewater treatment plant helps the US Army in its goal to strengthen water and energy resilience on its installations
The US Military Academy West Point in West Point, New York is one of the most prestigious military academies in the world, yet its water and wastewater infrastructure is outdated. Building on over a decade of support to West Point’s water and wastewater programs, Ramboll has provided comprehensive planning, including concept and design, to upgrade the Garrison’s Target Hill wastewater treatment plant (WWTP).
Upgrades focus on innovative and sustainable solutions
The program includes a 50-year planning horizon, state-of-the-art treatment technologies, net-zero energy goals, hauled waste receiving and enhanced digester gas production, and phased sustainability elements. Because West Point was a designated pilot installation for the US Army’s Net Zero sustainability initiative, energy consumed in operating the new WWTP will be partially offset through alternative energy systems. Additionally, Garrison food waste will be diverted from landfill to the WWTP’s anaerobic digestion system, a greener solution that also boosts gas production.
• Specifically, the upgrades at Target Hill (2.3 mgd average daily flow rating) include:
• Screening and grit removal renovations (7.5-mgd peak)
• Replacement of the influent pump station
• Retrofit of aeration tanks for influent flow equalization
• New primary filtration (and primary sludge pumping)
• New step-feed/plug-flow biological treatment reactors and secondary clarifiers (and aeration blower system, RAS/WAS and secondary scum pumping)
• New solids dump station (including food waste and fats-oils-grease receiving and pretreatment)
• Anaerobic digestion upgrades and expansion
• Combined heat and power
• New mechanical sludge thickening and dewatering
• New control building and laboratory
• Process control system and SCADA
Given the complexity of the facility upgrade and associated SCADA system modifications, Ramboll is also providing inspection and start-up assistance to American Water through construction.
Collaboration progresses project toward economic, environmental and educational goals
Ramboll is leveraging its knowledge of West Point and privatized utility and design-build experience in collaborating with the US Military Academy, American Water, and the project’s general contractor (NE Remsco) to re-configure and phase upgrades within West Point’s budget and overall water and wastewater capital improvement plans.
Successful permitting efforts have included local, state and federal floodplain management; an environmental assessment; and New York State, county and NYSDOH right-to-build permits – including the plant’s SPDES Permit, Endangered Species Act compliance, and Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan. Other permitting has included soil erosion and sedimentation control plans, a hazardous materials survey and abatement plan, WWTP facility registration, and Government Title V permit modifications.
The program also incorporates educational components, such as involvement with US Military Academy cadets and environmental engineering coursework.
All upgrades at Target Hill are expected to complete by October 2023. In addition, Ramboll will also provide construction-phase services, including engineering and inspection.