The Philadelphia Water Department selected STV to lead engineering services for a major revitalization of the effluent service water system at the Southwest Water Pollution Control Plant (SW-WPCP), one of three facilities that manage wastewater treatment for the city and surrounding communities. The upgrade will fully replace decades-old underground service water piping and equipment to boost operational reliability, sustainability and energy efficiency for a plant that treats an average of 150 million gallons of wastewater per day and handles peak wet-weather flows well above that.
What challenges will STV address?
The existing effluent service water system is outdated and has reached the end of its useful life, reducing operational flexibility and increasing maintenance demands across a sprawling 90-acre facility. The project must integrate replacements within a fully functioning treatment plant, balance hydraulic performance needs and improve energy performance without disrupting essential wastewater processing that protects public health and water quality.
What solutions is STV delivering?
STV’s scope includes hydraulic analysis, system planning and design for the complete replacement of aging underground service water piping, design and specification of new service water pumps with variable frequency drives to improve energy use, upgraded SCADA controls for better operations flexibility and a condition assessment of the existing elevated steel storage tank. These improvements will enhance dewatering, process cleaning and maintenance operations throughout the SW-WPCP campus.
How will this project improve the plant and community?
Replacing the effluent service water system will strengthen plant resilience, increase energy efficiency and reduce long-term maintenance burdens. By enhancing reliability and operational flexibility at a critical wastewater facility that serves millions of residents, the project supports environmental protection goals, reduces infrastructure risk and contributes to cleaner waterways in the Philadelphia region.
Key Stats and Accolades
- Covers a 90-acre wastewater treatment campus serving the city’s southwest region
- Improvements include new underground piping systems, energy-efficient pumps with VFDs, upgraded SCADA, and elevated tank assessment
- SW-WPCP handles ~150 MGD average flow and higher wet-weather volumes
