Ongoing Partnership Since 2012
Since 2012, J-U-B has been helping the City of Blackfoot systematically upgrade their wastewater treatment plant. Our efforts at the WWTP began with a comprehensive facilities planning study. The city has several significant industrial users that contribute nearly two-thirds of the organic loading to the facility. Our facility plan, along with a local limit’s evaluation, provided the city with the tools it needed to renegotiate the permitted discharges from the significant industrial users and lower the organic loading to the facility. We also assisted the City in reviewing its draft NPDES discharge permit and provided technical input during negotiations with the Environmental Protection Agency.
Securing Funding and Implementing Upgrades
Following the facility planning effort, we prepared an Environmental Information Document, which was used to secure funding from several agencies for construction projects. Our design and construction services for the Phase 1 and Phase 2 upgrades included the following improvements:
• New influent interceptor, including a 60-inch bore under Interstate 15
• New headworks with screening, grit removal, odor control and treatment, and septage receiving
• New fine bubble aeration and distribution piping
• Retrofitting the intermediate pump station
• New secondary clarifier
• Ultraviolet (UV) disinfection system
• Anaerobic digester upgrades including repairing a fixed lid, replacing a floating lid, and replacing worn or damaged digester safety components
Planning for Future Growth
In 2024, J-U-B prepared an updated facility plan to address growth while balancing the impacts from significant industrial dischargers. Our long-term master planning included site master planning, considerations for alternative treatment technologies as space constraints arise, recommendations for implementing enhanced nutrient removal and biological phosphorus removal, solids handling upgrades for the anaerobic digesters, and side stream treatment for nutrient management.
