The United States Section of the International Boundary and Water Commission (USIBWC) reports that primary sedimentation tank (PST) No. 5 at the South Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plant (SBIWTP) has resumed operations.
Due to excess flows into the plant from Mexico and solids overloading the primary treatment plant and damaging all tanks in early 2023, the PSTs were taken out of service then, according to the commission.
The commission says PSTs were designed to remove solids from the influent wastewater with three of the five required to be in operation for proper wastewater treatment.
The commission also said a channel gate was inserted to stop flow into PST No. 1 which along with PST No. 2 are beings isolated in preparation for cleaning that will begin next week.
The return of PST No. 5 should see an improvement in the effluent water quality discharged from the plant, said the IBWC.
Following cleaning and rehab of two additional PSTs, the comission looks to regain compliance with water quality standards at the plant in August 2024, once all three PSTs are back in operation, they said.
Cleaning and rehab of a second and third PST is expected to be completed for both units to return to service in July.
This story was generated with assistance from AI and was reviewed by a member of our publication.
