M Focus on: Waste & Recycling
Water Reuse Project preserves precious Oklahoma resource
By JODI MARLIN | The Municipal
Nine years ago, the Lynn Lane Wastewater Treatment Plant in Broken Arrow, Okla., was using 220,000 gallons of potable water per day in its processes. Through a new sustainability process called the Water Reuse Project, it has gone from using 70 million gallons of potable water, total, in 2020, to only 11.1 million gallons in 2021. That’s an 84% decrease year over year, which is saving the city between $60,000 to $96,000 annually. Facility Manager David Handy has been at Lynne Lane since 2012. During most of that time, potable water was being utilized in all processes, including chlorination disinfection, biosolids processes and wash-down 30 THE MUNICIPAL | AUGUST 2022
cleaning practices. “We were the largest user of potable water in the city,” Handy noted. Water use regulations were adopted eight years ago in Oklahoma. Since then, the practice of water reuse at wastewater
ABOVE: David Handy, facility manager, has a vision to increase the level of sustainability in the plant’s processes. In addition to re-use of non-potable water, he’d like to see more public acceptance of biosolids reuse. (Photo provided by Lynne Lane Wastewater Treatment Plant)
treatment plants is something a few facilities have obtained permits to engage in, and others are looking closely at the possibility. The Lynn Lane plant made it happen by building a top station and is now pulling treated water into the plant for wash-down and disinfection purposes — including keeping the biofilter wet and in screen wash and compactor use.
