Dec. 2024 Raleigh Water Employee Newsletter

Resource Recovery Division

(8) Programs (3) Offsite Facilities (128) Remote Pump Stations Contributed by: Patricia Creech, Olivia Joyner, Lisa Joseph, and the Management and staff of the Resource Recovery Division

Operations (602): Wastewater, Biosolids & Gas Treatment Systems Contributed by: Nathan Howell

The Resource Recovery Division Operations staff focuses on improving public health, protecting the environment, and promoting sustainable water management by effectively removing contaminants from wastewater before it is returned to natural water systems or reused for various purposes. The key objectives of Operations are: 1. Pollution Reduction : Removing harmful substances such as debris, pathogens, chemicals, heavy metals, and nutrients from wastewater to prevent pollution of water bodies, soil, and the air.

2. Public Health Protection : Ensuring that treated wastewater is safe for reuse or release, thereby protecting communities from waterborne diseases and other health hazards. 3. Resource Recovery : Encouraging the reuse of treated water, recovery of valuable resources (like energy, phosphorus, nitrogen, and biogas), and reducing reliance on fresh water for irrigation, industrial use, and even potable water. 4. Sustainability and Innovation : Implementing advanced treatment technologies (such as biological treatments, membrane filtration, and UV disinfection) to increase treatment efficiency and reduce environmental impact. 5. Energy Efficiency : Incorporating energy - efficient practices to make wastewater treatment facilities self - sustaining, for example, by harnessing biogas for energy production. This also reduces our carbon footprint and greenhouse gas emissions.

(pictured above: Hwy 50 pump station) 6. Regulatory Compliance : Meeting state and federal environmental standards and regulations to safeguard water quality.

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