Rockaway WWTP Recovery Efforts in the Aftermath of Hurricane Sandy

The Rockaway Water Pollution Control Plant (WPCP) is one of fourteen (14) wastewater treatment facilities operated by the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). The plant is located in southeast New York City on a narrow peninsula between the Atlantic Ocean and Jamaica Bay that was inundated by the storm surge and coincident high tide that occurred on October 29, 2012. Loss of utility power and flood conditions resulted in a complete shutdown of the 45-mgd wastewater treatment facility that is designed to produce disinfected secondary effluent. This case study will describe the impacts of the flood, organization for the recovery effort to bring the plant back on-line, the actions undertaken, and lessons learned from this unfortunate situation that might be applied to other facilities to improve their resiliency in the event of another disaster.