Arizona Water Challenge

Arizona’s Cave Creek plant was removed from service in November 2009. The plant is now being redesigned to improve efficiency and handle the town’s growing population. For this reopening project, a preliminary design and hydraulic profile were created, design flow rates were determined, recommendations for potential effluent uses were made, and overall economic evaluation of capital and operational costs were completed. Several design alternatives were made initially, and the final design was chosen based on an analysis of population, cost, environmental factors and efficiency. The major changes made to the plant include addition of several screens, a completely updated secondary treatment section and a different disinfection technique. Cost of implementation –including equipment, construction and installation, cost of maintenance, and total cost of electricity to run the plant –were the main factors in the cost analysis. Several recommendations for the treated wastewater effluent were made based on the water quality provided by the plant. This project will optimize the Cave Creek plant and provide a clean alternative method for providing freshwater to Arizona.