Flow through the facilities in 2006 averaged 85.343 million gallons per day (mgd). This represents less than a one (1) percent increase from 2005 flow records. Of the flow processed during 2006, an average of 1.424 mgd of treated effluent was supplied to Public Service Electric & Gas Company (PSE&G) for use as cooling tower make-up water at its power generating facilities across the Hackensack River in Ridgefield. On November 11th, a peak flow of 220 mgd was treated without bypassing the facilities.

Safeguarding the health of Bergen County residents and improving the water quality of the Hackensack River continues as the BCUA’s primary objective. Daily influent carbonaceous biochemical oxygen demand (CBOD) concentration averaged 202 mg/l and after secondary treatment and disinfection was discharged at 13.1 mg/l, for a removal efficiency of 93%. Total suspended solids (TSS) removal was 91.3% based upon a yearly average daily wastewater influent concentration of 274 mg/l and 19.9 mg/l effluent discharge. A maximum daily average effluent concentration of 25 mg/l for CBOD and 30 mg/l of TSS as well as minimal removal efficiencies of 85% are required by the BCUA’s NJPDES permit.

Materials removed from wastewater are thickened, stabilized by anaerobic digestion, and stored in tanks before barging by a private contractor for further treatment and dewatering at the Passaic Valley Sewerage Commissioners (PVSC) treatment works in Newark, N.J. In 2006, approximately 63,875,000 gallons of Class B biosolids, at an average percent solids varying between three and six percent (3% - 6%) depending on the season, were transported by barge from BCUA’s water pollution control facilities. After application of the Zimpro® treatment process to further reduce pathogens and dewatering by belt press, the Class A biosolids were transported via railcars from PVSC to the EnCap properties in Lyndhurst, New Jersey.