Modernization and Upgrade of the Newtown Creek Wastewater Resource Recovery Facility

Our history has been intertwined with the development and achievement of world class sanitary infrastructure in the City of New York. Throughout this history, Greeley and Hansen has worked side by side with the City in developing award-winning wastewater treatment at the Newtown Creek, Wards Island, Coney Island, Hunts Point, Oakwood Beach, 26th Ward, Tallman Island and Bowery Bay Wastewater Resource Recovery Facilities over the years.

In this project, Greeley and Hansen completed design, office services during construction, and construction management services as the Prime Consultant for the modernization and upgrade of the 310 MGD Newtown Creek Wastewater Resource Recovery Facility.  The WRRF was upgraded from a modified aeration process to full secondary treatment. The upgrade provides an enhanced modified step-feed process designed to provide treatment for an annual average flow of 310 MGD and a peak weather flow of 700 MGD, for compliance with New York State standards for treatment of wet weather flows and planning for a design year of 2045. The facility has been designed to be resilient to future sea level rise and to process food waste and generate renewable gas that will be fed to the grid. Modernizing this plant for secondary treatment has improved water quality and marine life, and has provided innovative architectural features to enhance the plant’s appearance, as well as a new Riverwalk to give the community access to the waterfront.

The scope of the $4B upgrade program included new or significantly upgrade pump stations, headworks for grit and screening, new residual facilities and sludge handling, state of the art egg-shaped digesters, secondary biological treatment, new chlorination facilities, technology transfer and training of operators, and proactive community engagement.

Project Highlights: 

• Upgraded to existing wastewater treatment facility systems to meet full, high-rate secondary treatment 
• Treatment Enhancement Program that include large scale pilot testing 
• Master Planning, Design, Construction and Commissioning Phase Services 
• Regulatory and Consent Order Management 
• Existing Plant Renovation and Design in an urban area 
• Egg-shaped Digesters 
• Innovative approach to redirect flow without a plant shutdown 
• Waterfront revitalization and community engagement