Wastewater Treatment Plant

The purpose of the Big Rapids Wastewater Collection System and Treatment Plant is to protect public health, preserve the environment and enhance the quality of life for area residents.  The entire Wastewater system serves an 11 square-mile area, which encompasses 3 political jurisdictions:  City of Big Rapids, Big Rapids Township, and Green Charter Township.  Each jurisdiction owns and operates their own wastewater collection system, which includes gravity sewers, pumping stations and force mains.

The City of Big Rapids owns and operates the Publicly-Owned Treatment Works (POTW), known as the Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP).  The WWTP is designed to effectively treat a maximum hydraulic flow of 2.4 million gallons per day (2.4 MGD).  Although the Plant can handle this “hydraulic” water load, including temporarily-higher flow spikes, continuous treatment is practical with typical daily flows of 1.0 to 1.2 MGD.  Plant operation provides preliminary treatment, biological activated sludge treatment, reduction of solids, phosphorus and ammonia, and final effluent disinfection.  Other processes include aerobic sludge digestion, sludge de-watering, stabilization, storage, and eventual land-application of stabilized biosolids.