At the treatment plant, the water is cleaned and disinfected to a quality required by the state and federal agencies, then released into Bayou Meto, which travels further downstream into the Arkansas River.

The Dr. J. Albert Johnson Regional Treatment Facility is an advanced-secondary, wastewater treatment plant permitted for an average annual flow rate of six million gallons per day (mgd).

• Primary Pumps:  Wastewater is collected at a primary pump station where it is lifted to the plant Headworks by three (3) 60" diameter enclosed screw pumps.
  
  
• Headworks:  Wastewater is coarse-screened through two mechanical bar screens and degritted in two (2) swirl-type grit chambers at the Headworks.
  
  
• Intermediate Pumps:  Wastewater is mixed with return sludge and lifted to the aeration basins by three 72" diameter enclosed screw pumps located at the intermediate pump station.
  
  
• Aeration Basins:  The aeration basins are three (3) oval, oxidation ditch type channels operated in parallel (or series) in the activated sludge extended aeration mode. The contents of each basin is mixed and aerated by four horizontal, brush-type rotor aerators to facilitate biological activity.
  
  
• Clarifiers:  Aeration basin effluent is then divided between three 85" diameter clarifiers equipped with rapid sludge removal type mechanisms.
  
  
• Solids Management:  Excess biological sludge is gravity-thickened and conditioned with polymer before being placed on drying beds for dewatering. The present sludge management method involves disposal in a sludge-only monofil.

LABORATORY

The Utility maintains an on-site laboratory where wastewater testing is performed to assess plant performance and monitor permit compliance. Laboratory personnel are trained to perform specialized testing to ensure the quality of the water (effluent) being discharged into the Bayou Meto.