12 Years of Reliable, Chemical-Free Phosphorus Removal with Newterra’s Argos SBR System

CHALLENGE

When St. Clair County, Illinois began to grow, so did the pressure on local infrastructure. For the Stookey Township Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP), that meant confronting two compounding challenges: a rising population and increasingly stringent EPA phosphorus discharge regulations.

With limited space, a tight municipal budget, and a mandate to reduce phosphorus below 1.0 mg/L, township officials needed a solution that could do more with less. And they needed it to last.

SOLUTION

A Smarter System for a Growing Community

Newterra delivered a system designed for long-term performance and simplicity: the Argos® Sequencing Batch Reactor (SBR). It offered more than just regulatory compliance—it offered lasting peace of mind.

Key features of the Argos SBR system include:

• Four independent SBR basins, each equipped with surface-mounted Aire-O2 Triton® aerator/mixers for efficient aeration and mixing.
• Walkable, float-mounted aerators that automatically adjust to water levels and enable safe, easy maintenance—no need to drain tanks.
• High system reliability, helping operators consistently meet key discharge parameters with minimal upkeep.
• Low maintenance demands, with basic tasks like motor greasing required only twice a year—saving time and labor.
• Chemical-free phosphorus removal, maintaining discharge levels averaging ~0.85 mg/L for over 12 years—well below EPA limits, and without using alum.

The system’s compact footprint and straightforward operation made it an ideal fit for a township that needed a robust solution without overcomplicating its operations.

RESULTS

Twelve years later, the Argos SBR system hasn’t just held up—it’s quietly excelled. For the operators at Stookey Township, success didn’t come with fanfare. It came with the absence of problems.

“It’s gone well — it still feels like a new plant. Not having to drain the basins to clean diffuser heads is a big plus.” — Tim Algier, Plant Manager

That kind of stability isn’t common in small-town wastewater infrastructure, especially under tightening EPA regulations. But the Argos system has delivered:

• No alum. No chemicals. Phosphorus levels average around 0.85 mg/L—consistently under the 1.0 mg/L EPA limit for over a decade.
• No scrambling. Dissolved oxygen levels remain high (8–10 mg/L), keeping biological treatment healthy and reliable.
• No surprises. Mixed Liquor Suspended Solids (MLSS) stay steady at 2,500–3,500 mg/L, showing stable process control.
• No sludge issues. TSS levels stay well below limits, consistently under 5 mg/L—far beneath the 30 mg/L threshold.

Just as importantly, the plant runs with minimal oversight. Routine tasks—like greasing motors or conducting visual checks—are infrequent, quick, and easy. The team spends more time keeping things running smoothly and less time reacting to problems.

For Stookey Township, success wasn’t just about meeting numbers. It was about making sure the system stayed out of the headlines, off the emergency repair list, and on track—every day, for years. And that’s exactly what it’s done.