Enhancement Ponds

Figure 9. One of the enhancement marshes.

The enhancement marshes of the Arcata Wastewater Treatment Plant are responsible for removing some of the pollutants that remain from the other secondary treatment systems. Biological processes remove some levels of nitrogen, phosphorous, and heavy metals. By using enhancement marshes, the Arcata Wastewater Treatment Plant is able to forgo the use of machines and chemicals that would normally have to be used to achieve the same result.

Pipes

Figure 12. The pipes to and from the marsh under the water.

Two pipes carry water to and from the enhancement marshes. The pipe attached to the bottom side of the footbridge (Figure 12.) carries water to the enhancement marshes. The lower one, seen south of the bridge, carries water from the enhancement marshes to the chlorination facility. In Figure 12, the return pipe can be seen as a lighter line to the bottom left of the bridge. During a low tide the pipes can be seen under the bridge.


Update 2014

google earth image of Enhancement Marshes

The Enhancement Marshes of the Arcata Wastewater Treatment Plant are all currently in working order. They also continue to hold aesthetic and recreational value to the community.

On two visits to the site I encountered several walkers, joggers and bird watchers. Additionally, there appears to be abundant wildlife and biodiversity within these marshes.

In an interview at City Hall, Julie Neander said that the City of Arcata is still conducting research on whether UV radiation, rather than Sulfur dioxide, is an appropriate method of dechlorination for water coming out of the Chlorine Contact Basin into the Enhancement Marshes and Arcata Bay. Currently, effluent from the the chlorine contact basin is divided into two streams, one portion being discharged directly into Humboldt Bay and the other being discharged into the system of enhancement marshes (EPA 1993) (see flow diagram for more info).

Enhancement Marsh Flow diagram [1]


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