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our resource.

Water Pollution Control Center

The Water Pollution Control Center was established in1960 to meet the community’s expanding need for safe wastewater treatment.

The original plant consisted of a barminutor, raw sewage pumping, grit removal, pre-aeration, primary settling, and chlorination before final discharge to Lake Erie. Design average flow through the plant was 3.4 million gallons per day.

The treatment facilities were upgraded and expanded in 1972 to provide for separate pumping of domestic and industrial wastes, grit removal, pretreatment of industrial wastes, primary settling, activated sludge secondary treatment, and chlorine disinfection of the treated effluent. Provisions for thickening, digestion, and mechanical dewatering of the sludge with disposal to an on-site monofill were also included. The design average flow was 5.25 MGD.

In 1983, the diaphragm plate and frame filter press was completed for sludge dewatering prior to disposal on-site and in 1995 an ultraviolet light (UV) disinfection system replaced chlorine. The current plant design is rated at 6.5 MGD average daily flow with a maximum storm flow of 12 MGD. In 2010, the plant received an average of 4.7 MGD or 73% of the design flow. During wet weather events, the plant has taken up to 12 million gallons without upset. This represents 250% of the average daily flow.

The influent waste stream consists of a combination of domestic and industrial sewage.  The two major industrial contributors are Lubrizol and Ford.  Industrial flow for 2010 was estimated to be 20% of the plant’s total flow. The Avon Lake Water Pollution Control Center also serves northern sections of Avon.  Initial flow is being received from the Lorain County Rural Wastewater District (LORCO), sections of Eaton and Carlisle Townships and the surrounding area.

To comply with the Ohio EPA, the Utility has discontinued using its on-site monofill and now hauls its dewatered wastewater and water plant sludge to a solid waste landfill. Further plant renovations and improvements will be required to accommodate additional flows from the service area and solids from the Avon Lake water plant as the demand for quality water and wastewater treatment increases. A study is now underway to determine the present and future needs of Avon Lake’s Water Pollution Control Center and to develop a master plan for achieving them.

Stephen Baytos IV
Water Pollution Control Center Manager

Avon Lake Municipal Utilities: Hired to WPCC Manager position, July 2012. Experience: Assistant Superintendent, Elyria Wastewater Pollution Control Plant, 2007-2012; Plant Foreman, Clean Harbors Chemical and Hazardous Material Response Services, handling chemical spills and releases of all types in liquid, solid, semi-solid and gas forms, 2001 and 2002; Environmental Engineering Consultant, Sanborn, Head & Associates, Inc., 2002 – 2006. Licenses: Ohio EPA Class III Wastewater Operator License; Class IV Application has been accepted pending approval; Certified Hazardous Wastewater Operator. Associations & Designations: Waste water instructor for Operator Training Committee of Ohio; Member Water Environment Federation; co-authored presentation, “Recycled Flows and How to Treat Them.” Education: BS Environmental Science from Youngstown State University.