US City to Upgrade Wastewater Plant

Visalia in the US state of California is to upgrade its wastewater plant to increase the amount of water that can be recycled and help reduce the need for pumping groundwater.

The plant will use GE membrane bioreactor technology to reduce nitrates in the effluent discharged into nearby Mill Creek and provide an additional source of water to the city.

Water discharge requirements limit the flow to 20 million gallons per day from the plant, which is two million gallons below its rated capacity.

The upgraded plant will be able to process 22 million gallons a day with a provision of future expansion to 26 million gallons.

The upgrades are expected to cost $60m and be complete by 2013.