Town of Canton, Connecticut - Plant Description

In 1965 the Town of Canton constructed a sewage treatment facility designed to treat an average of 375,000 gallons per day. Sewage treatment at that time consisted of the settling of solids, grease and scum collection, partial removal of soluble wastes and disinfection of the effluent wastewater with chlorine gas prior to discharge into the Farmington River. The solids collected were stored in two tanks called digesters. After being reduced in volume by bacteria, the sludge from the digesters were land applied. This facility served the town well past its 30 year design life.

As the years went by there were new and more stringent regulations from the State of Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection. At the same time there were increasing wastewater flows to the facility, and the Farmington River became an important source of recreation. Around 1987 the Canton Water Pollution Control Authority recommended expanding the plant to better serve the community and to protect the environment.

Although there were revisions to the initial proposal to upgrade the wastewater treatment facility the Canton Water Pollution Control Authority recommended increasing the capacity to 800,000 gallons per day. Construction for the upgrade was completed in the early 1990’s.

The facility operates under a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination Series Permit issued by the State of CT Department of Environmental Protection. The Canton Water Pollution Control Facility operates under a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit issued by the State of Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). The WPCF staff operates and maintains 4 sewage-pumping stations and approximately 22 miles of sanitary sewers. The overriding goals of WPCF staff are to operate these facilities in a cost effective and efficient manner while maintaining them in a manner to preserve their long-term asset value.

Three well trained and experienced personnel including a Superintendent, a Chief Operator and Operator III staff the plant. Plant staff are certified and licensed in both treatment plant and collection system operation and maintenance. Two of the staff are certified in Laboratory analysis. Staff continually participates in continuing education to stay abreast of the ever-changing rules and regulations in the environmental field.

The Canton WPCA has service agreements with The Towns of Avon and Burlington for the treatment of wastewater from their respective towns, and a service agreement with the Town of Farmington for the treatment of wastewater from the Secret Lake area.

In 2004 the Canton Water Pollution Control Facility received the United States Environmental Protection Agency Region One Excellence award for Operations and Maintenance of its facility. In 2005 the Canton Water Pollution Control Facility received the National Clean Water Act second place award for Operations and maintenance excellence.