The City’s Advanced Wastewater Treatment Plant (AWWTP) collects wastewater from the City of Lancaster and portions of Manheim, Lancaster, East and West Lampeter, Upper Leacock, West Earl, Manor, and Pequea Townships and Strasburg Borough. Upon collection and arrival at the AWWTP, wastewater is physically treated through screening and primary clarification where inorganic and organic solids are removed.

 

Biological treatment of wastewater follows primary clarification. This treatment of wastewater further removes organic material as well as ammonia nitrogen and phosphorus. Final clarification then separates the mixture of wastewater and active biological solids. The majority of biological solids are reused to treat incoming wastewater but a portion of these biosolids are disposed of by reducing the water content and landfilling. Chlorine and Sodium Bisulfite disinfect and dechlorinate the wastewater, respectively. After dechlorination, the processed wastewater is discharged to the Conestoga River. The rated capacity of the AWWTP is 29.73 million gallons per day.