Doris Cellarius and I recently visited the Hassayampa Golf Course Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) on 11/20/02. The tour was conducted by Kit Jackson of US Filter and Tom Speakman II, the Golf Course Superintendent was there as well. Below is a description of the facilities.

Although the Aquifer Protection Permit lists the City of Prescott as the permittee and therefore the apparent responsible party, we were assured that the Desert Troon Co (DT), the owner of the Golf Course, was the responsible party for the WWTP. The company has tried unsuccessfully to get the name changed on the permit. DT leases the WWTP from the city and contracts with U.S. Filter to operate the plant. The purpose of the plant is to provide treated effluent for irrigation of the golf course.

US Filter provides a full time staff of about four (no one is there at night) and the chief operator is Ray St. John. Kit Jackson (928-636-9299), located in Phoenix or Chino Valley, provides oversight and visits the plant about twice per week.

The plant has a nominal capacity of 740,000 gpd but operates well below that because of insufficient sewage in the summer and also lack of need in the colder months. DT accesses raw sewage at The Mile High Lift Station near the Mile High Middle School. A second lift station, called Fairway or Conifer Ridge, lifts the sewage to the WWTP. This second lift station is acknowledge to have caused odors that have disturbed nearby homes, in and out of Hassayampa. US Filter has installed a chemical masking agent at the lift station about three months ago, and they believe the problem is solved. No odors were observed during our visit to the lift station.

In brief, the WWTP is conventional Activated Sludge followed by sand filtration, ultraviolet light for disinfection and aerated pond storage. There is initial equalization and screening, but no grit removal or primary clarification. The Activated Sludge process provides secondary treatment and the sand filters provide polishing (tertiary treatment). These processes seem fairly typical of wastewater reuse systems in Arizona. The WWTP does not have sludge or biosolids handling facilities; excess sludge from the activated sludge system and I assume the sand filtration backwash are returned to the City sewerage system for processing at Sundog Ranch WWTP. During colder months raw sewage is processed in excess of irrigation demand to keep the biological system healthy. This excess treated effluent is returned to the City sewerage system.

The plant sends its required monitoring samples to a lab in Phoenix. The plant itself has limited analytical capability, only that which is needed for process control such as DO and pH.

Kit Jackson said that the plant always meets its permit requirements. Doris has what appears to be a current copy of the permit. Their reported monitoring results could probably be obtained from ADEQ if necessary. The permit to my surprise does not have a nitrogen limit. Tom however does occasional nitrogen monitoring for fertilization control.

My impression based on this limited inspection is that the WWTP is probably being run very well. Kit Jackson seems knowledgeable, accessible and accommodating. If we were to do stream sampling, they would be interested in cooperating with us although no specifics were mentioned.

If you have any questions feel free to email Prescott Creeks with questions.

John Zambrano