Owens Crossroads Wastewater Treatment Facility – Alabama
0.99 MGD Sequencing Batch Reactor (SBR) Upgrade with Jet Aeration
Industry: Municipal Water & Wastewater Treatment
Location: Owens Crossroads, Alabama
Application: Secondary Wastewater Treatment
Technology: Sequencing Batch Reactor (SBR) with Jet Aeration
Provided by: ClearStream Engineering
Project Overview
The Town of Owens Crossroads, Alabama undertook a major upgrade to its municipal wastewater treatment facility to increase capacity, modernize aging infrastructure, and improve overall treatment performance. The project replaced the existing SBR system with a new 0.99 million gallon per day (MGD) Sequencing Batch Reactor, incorporating advanced jet aeration technology to enhance biological treatment efficiency.
The upgraded facility was designed to reliably meet stringent effluent discharge requirements prior to releasing treated water into a nearby creek, supporting regulatory compliance, environmental protection, and long-term operational sustainability.
Engineering Challenge
The project presented several key challenges, including the need to deliver high-performance secondary treatment within a limited physical footprint while minimizing system complexity. In addition, the Town required a solution capable of maintaining consistent treatment results without continuous on-site operator oversight.
Reliability, automation, and ease of operation were critical design drivers to ensure dependable performance for a small municipal utility with limited staffing resources.
ClearStream Engineering Solution
ClearStream Engineering applied its experience in compact wastewater treatment design and automated process control to deliver a fully integrated SBR system optimized for unattended operation. The upgraded system utilizes jet aeration assemblies to provide efficient oxygen transfer and complete basin mixing, improving biological activity while reducing maintenance requirements associated with mechanical aeration equipment.
An automated PLC-based control system coordinates aeration, mixing, decanting, and transfer functions, reducing operator workload and ensuring repeatable treatment performance across varying influent conditions. High-efficiency blowers and submersible pumps were selected to maximize energy efficiency and long-term reliability.
Results
The Owens Crossroads SBR upgrade is currently in the commissioning phase and being prepared for full operational service. Early performance indicators confirm the system meets design specifications for treatment capacity, automation, and process control, positioning the facility for reliable compliance and efficient operation well into the future.
Equipment Highlights
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Sequencing Batch Reactor (SBR) system
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Jet aeration assemblies
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High-efficiency blower system
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Submersible transfer and decant pumps
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PLC-based automated control system
Resources and Related Links
Owens Crossroads Wastewater Treatment Facility – Alabama
Equipment in this Case Study
>> ClearFlo SBR
>> ClearFlo Jet Aeration System
>> ClearFlo Continuous Loop Reactor Systems