Used Face Masks And Gloves Clogging Sewers
Submitted by the Rensselaer County Legislature
The COVID-19 epidemic is taking a toll on the equipment at the Rensselaer County Sewer District.
Over the last several weeks, there has been a sharp uptick in the number of face masks, rubber gloves, and cleaning wipes in the waste stream. These objects can get caught in the filtration equipment and cause serious jams and equipment failure.
The County Legislature has invested over $80 million dollars over the last decade to make upgrades to the sewer plant and its six pump stations. These pump stations have been completely overhauled with efficient pumps and motors, new generators, and upgraded screening equipment to catch debris in the wastewater. It is these new bar screens that capture, and filter out larger objects, but sometimes masks, gloves and wipes make it through. These items tend to clump up and jam the working mechanisms of plant equipment, and often result in decreased performance or equipment failure.