In 2025, Dover Township’s Wastewater Treatment Plant Employees will start their annual cleaning of one of the six (6) Biological Nutrient Removal Oxidation Ditches (BNR) at Dover’s Wastewater Treatment Plant. This is the process used to treat any wastewater that enters Dover Township’s plant. The process combines air with microorganisms in the wastewater. When air is removed from the process, the bugs are forced to use chemically bound oxygen. This process aids in the removal of nutrients, phosphorus, and nitrogen in the wastewater. The microorganisms, cycle through the plant until they reach oxygen rich waters, and the process begins again.
Oxygen is added to the wastewater via mechanical aerators. The aerators are a critical part of the operation process at our wastewater plant. Each year, one (1) oxidation ditch is taken out of service to have the aerators cleaned. This cleaning is mostly necessary due to the buildup of “flushable” wipes and other debris that gets deposited into the sewer system. While they may be labeled “flushable”, they absolutely should not be. Flushable wipes do not break down and wreak havoc on equipment at our wastewater plant. When the aerators build up with this debris, it lessens the ability for oxygen to be produced. It also adds excessive wear which causes the aerators to break.
Please be mindful when using “flushable” wipes. Avoid flushing them down the toilet, but instead throw them in the trash can.
This is an extremely expensive cleaning not only for Dover Township, but also for all rate payers.
