Wiconisco Township

Dauphin County, PA

Carbon Sequestration and Riparian Habitat

In an effort to comply with Pennsylvania's nutrient reduction goals for the Chesapeake Bay Tributary Strategy, Wiconisco Township's Supervisors approved of a unique solution at their Wastewater Treatment Plant outside of conventional treatment technology under the direction of Brinjac Engineering, Inc.

This project proposes the use of "Floating Islands" as an alternative to conventional treatment technology. These Floating islands, based on hydroponics and constructed wetlands, are a natural treatment process which is environmentally friendly and is effective at removing nitrogen species through the interaction of microbes primarily in the root zone area.

A total of three islands will be installed into the 0.112 MGD Wisconisco Township aerated facultative lagoons to assist with remediation of nitrogen and phosphorous to comply with the upcoming PA Chesapeake Bay Tributary Strategy. Each island is 25 x 25 and consists of a matrix which floats and living plants on the islands which provide the nutrient removal.

The floating islands also recycle the wastewater via solar pumps onto the island and down through the matrix establishing bacteria and thereby acting like a trickling filter or tertiary filter. The floating islands treat the sewage with both of these mechanisms.

Additionally, a recurring annual cost of algae control is reduced through the application of this floating island as nutrients for the algae growth are removed from the water column, algae is reduced and or eliminated.