Water Pollution Control Plant & Effluent Farm Division
History and Long Term Plans
HISTORY
Midland's Water Pollution Control Plant is located at the southeast corner of the intersection of Cloverdale Road and I-20. From 1930 through 1952, treatment consisted of Imhoff tanks followed by oxidation ponds and flood irrigation. The plant was relocated to the present site in 1951-52 and constructed to treat 3.2 MGD at a projected population capacity of 40,000.
By 1954, population was estimated at 38,000 and the plant was again overloaded. The plant was expanded in 1955, 1959, and 1965. Oxidation ponds and the flood irrigation system were both expanded almost yearly during the period from 1950 through 1965. In 1972, the plant was expanded to treat 6 MGD for an estimated population of 80,000.
By 1976, all flood type irrigation was stopped and in 1980, the TCEQ, formerly the Texas Water Commission (TWC), enforcement action prompted the City to add irrigation facilities at Spraberry. From 1980 to 1984, the plant was expanded to 15 MGD and twenty center pivot units on 2,000 irrigated acres were installed at Spraberry. In 1990, we added 700 irrigated acres at Spraberry.
In 1991, we exceeded 75% (11.25 MGD) of our permitted capacity of 15 MGD at the plant and under TCEQ rules, hired a consultant to design additional plant capacity in order to have expansion under construction when the flow exceeded 90% (13.5 MGD). Plant construction was started in September of 1996 and the Plant was placed in full operation in February 1999.
The new interceptor sewer along I-20 relieved sewer overloading conditions in the south part of Midland and allowed us to decommission the 50 year old Air Terminal Treatment Plant.
PRESENT AND FUTURE
The Plant will treat a design flow of 21 million gallons per day (MGD) for a projected population capacity of 130,000. The plant can be easily expanded to treat a design flow of 28 MGD for a population capacity of 173,000.
The Effluent Farm operation has enough acreage under irrigation to handle a plant average flow of 15-20 MGD. Additional acreage is permitted to handle current plant capacity.
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