The Sni-A-Bar Wastewater Treatment Facility is an extended-aeration activated sludge plant that provides wastewater treatment services to approximately half of Blue Springs and the entire City of Grain Valley.
Wastewater is water that has been used in homes and businesses through sinks, toilets, washing machines, dishwashers and other plumbing fixtures. On average, one person uses approximately 100 gallons of water each day.
The facility uses both mechanical and biological treatment processes. Mechanical treatment relies on equipment such as pumps, motors and screens to move wastewater through the plant and remove debris. Biological treatment uses naturally occurring bacteria to consume and break down organic matter in the wastewater.
Sni-A-Bar treats an average of approximately four million gallons of wastewater per day and is designed to handle peak flows of up to 36 million gallons per day. The facility contains more than 200 pumps and motors that must be regularly inspected and maintained.
Before treated water is discharged into Sni-A-Bar Creek, it passes through a filtration system consisting of nine filters, each rated to process up to four million gallons per day. Ultraviolet light is then used to disinfect the water and reduce harmful microorganisms, including E. coli.
The quality of the treated water leaving the facility, known as effluent, is regulated by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The facility must meet established water-quality limits before effluent can be released into Sni-A-Bar Creek.
The facility operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, with a dedicated staff of four employees. A Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition system continuously monitors plant operations and includes more than 400 alarms that can notify staff of equipment problems or changing conditions, including during evenings, weekends and holidays.