Owls Head Water Pollution Control Plant Improvements to Meet PlaNYC Energy and Greenhouse Gas Reduction Goals

The Owls Head Water Pollution Control Plant (WPCP) is a 120 million gallon per day (MGD) secondary level treatment facility serving Brooklyn, New York. As part of a city-wide environmental sustainability program, extensive renovations are being made to minimize fugitive greenhouse gas emissions, maximize the utilization of biogenic gas produced during the anaerobic digestion of wastewater sludge, and conserve energy that is consumed during the wastewater treatment process. Two projects are in progress. One project will provide supply side improvements to collect digester gas (digas) and produce usable electrical energy and heat while the second project provides demand side improvements by reducing the energy requirement associated with process aeration of the activated sludge process.These projects are being carried out by the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) in cooperation with the New York Power Authority (NYPA). When completed, the projects will have the net result of a 76% reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, a 75% reduction in utility-provided electrical consumption, and operating cost savings of over 1 million per year.