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Wastewater Treatment Plant

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The Saco Wastewater Treatment Plant is a secondary or biological treatment facility licensed to treat an average daily flow of 4.2 million gallons per day (MGD). The plant is located on Front Street next to the Saco Yacht Club.

The original plant was built in 1971. We had a major upgrade in 1988 that increased our capacity from 1.57 MGD to 4.2 MGD. Since 1988, we have completed a number of significant capital improvements at the plant such as:

• Replacing the roof of the WWTP;
• Replacing the aeration system;
• Adding a Dechlorination Facility;
• Replacing the heating system and removal of the underground fuel tanks;
• Extending the WWTP outfall line 700 feet in the river and;
• Replacing the gaseous chlorination system with a safer liquid chlorination system;

The city has also expanded its service area in the last ten years to include the Ferry Road and beach areas and Route One. These two projects were added twelve new pump stations and increased the collection system by 25%. The additional homes and businesses have increased our sanitary flow by 300,000 to 400,000 gallons per day.

The total cost of wastewater related projects conducted in the last ten years exceeds 25 million dollars.

The department has a full time staff or eight that are responsible for:

• Transporting of wastewater to the WWTP via pump stations;
• Operating and maintaining the plant and 28 pump stations;
• Treating of wastewater prior to discharge to the Saco River;
• Planning, coordinating, and implementing portions of the Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) Program and;
• Billing and collection of user fees.

The focus of the staff in the next few years will be:

• Implementing the CSO Master Plan as required by the DEP & EPA;
• Completing the replacement of the secondary clarifier damaged in the October 96 storm;
• Modifying the biological operation of the plant to optimize nutrient removal (mainly nitrogen) beyond current permit requirements.