Approximately $32.7 million is being spent to upgrade the sewer system in Erie County. That includes upgrades to the Southtowns Advanced Wastewater Treatment Facility in Blasdell, which will use roughly $20 million in American Rescue Plan money for upgrades to this largest of six county sewage plants. The plant serves Hamburg, Orchard Park, Boston and Eden.Â
Influent screws
The influent screws that pump raw sewage into the treatment facility and the effluent screws that pump the treated water into the lake will be upgraded. Joe Fiegl, deputy commissioner of Erie County division of sewerage management, explains the function of the screws and what the upgrades will be.Â
Sharon Cantillon / Buffalo News
Sewage comes in
This is one of the influent screws taking in the raw sewage.
Sharon Cantillon / Buffalo News
Conveyance channel
After being pumped into the building, the sewage goes down this conveyance channel to the aeration reactor that adds oxygen.
Sharon Cantillon / Buffalo News
Mixers adding oxygen
These are the motors of the mixers in the aeration reactor that adds oxygen to the sewage.
Sharon Cantillon / Buffalo News
Bioclarifier
After the aeration process, the sewage goes into bioclarifiers that separate the liquid from the solids. The solids settle to the bottom, the clarifier skimmer trap oils and greases that float to the top and the clear liquid goes on to the next process.
Erie County is preparing to spend $32.7 million of its first batch of American Rescue Plan money on county sewer system improvements, more than any other infrastructure spending category.
