Wastewater treatment is essential for a city’s public health statistics, environmental impact and economic stability. Municipal managers must balance aging infrastructure, tight budgets and updated regulations to provide high-quality wastewater treatment services to their cities. Finding a reliable, long-term partner is essential to adapt to changing technology and regulatory requirements.
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Modern Challenges in Municipal Wastewater Management
City managers face several modern challenges in wastewater management.
Outdated Facilities and Systems
Constant operation means facilities often lag in updates, as they require significant time and resources. However, outdated systems can lead to many problems, such as water contamination, which can cause cities significant financial hardship. Aging facilities are also prone to failure, leading to incidents that require extensive cleanup and a greater financial burden.
Persistence of Forever Chemicals
Wastewater contains many forever chemicals, which are toxic substances that persist in water and contaminate local sources. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are one example of these long-lasting chemicals. Microplastics and pharmaceuticals are also present in wastewater, requiring advanced treatment solutions to prevent contamination. These chemicals are harmful to both the surrounding environment and public health.
EPA Regulations
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency enforces several regulations that wastewater treatment facilities must follow to prevent violations. It outlines nutrient discharge limits in the Clean Water Act (CWA) section 402 and the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) § 122.1(b). These regulations also require permits for discharging pollutants into water. City managers must be aware of these rules, as the penalties for noncompliance include fines or criminal prosecution in some cases.
Climate Change
A final modern challenge is damage to facilities caused by extreme, climate change-related weather. Intense flooding and dangerous wildfires harm wastewater facilities, especially outdated ones. City managers must seek resilient designs that can withstand these new conditions and prevent extensive repairs after severe weather.
Criteria for Evaluating Wastewater Partners
City managers must look at several criteria when evaluating wastewater partners. Compliance, technology, cost and adaptability are all valuable considerations to ensure the quality and resilience of the services.
Proven Regulatory Compliance
The EPA outlines general regulations, but partners should also be familiar with city and state laws, as these sometimes differ. Fines and prosecution are potential consequences for violations. The partner should act as a consultant, anticipating and planning for future regulatory changes. Laws may become stricter as climate change and sustainability concerns evolve, and managers must be aware of these shifts.
Ability to Utilize Advanced Technology
Technology evolves across every industry, and wastewater management partners must keep pace with the latest innovations. One key technology is membrane bioreactors, which are more compact than traditional systems and remove pollutants and bacteria from water. UV disinfection is another pollutant-removal tactic that uses ultraviolet-C (UV-C) irradiation to reduce chemical levels in wastewater. Reliable partners should have these advanced nutrient removal systems.
Total Cost of Ownership
Good partners should offer products and services that go beyond the initial cost to make the entire facility resilient and sustainable. The total cost of ownership includes long-term energy consumption, labor expenses, chemical use and maintenance. The company should also have flexible financing and partnership models to accommodate varying budgets, especially since city managers often face strict budgets.
Adaptability to Future Changes
As the industry develops and populations grow, a reliable partner must have an adaptable plan for municipal wastewater facilities. Its offerings should be subject to change as conditions shift, showcasing scalability and adaptability. A flexible plan prevents cities from being locked into an outdated system.
Top Wastewater Treatment Companies by State
Most wastewater treatment companies serve only select cities and states, while others cover multiple regions and have broader outreach. The following businesses are separated by state for quick scanning.
- Best for Cities in Virginia: USP Technologies
USP Technologies offers wastewater treatment services in Virginia and Canada. It provides products for other plants and utilizes a three-step method, including a process assessment, a best-fit technology selection and a tailored treatment approach. It practices a consultative technique for meeting compliance rules, developing programs tailored to the designated city’s specific requirements. Its assessments and modeling support the company’s consulting role.
USP Technologies utilizes many technologies, but the most notable is the use of hydrogen in bulk quantities or transfer containers for odor and corrosion control. Another prominent technology is SulFeLox®, which is a nonhazardous iron solution that controls hydrogen sulfide (H2S) in wastewater collection systems. The services are cost-effective, and USP Technologies offers sustainable and efficient programs to enhance systems’ adaptability.
Key Features
- Three-step method
- Meets the designated city’s specific requirements
- Cost-effective
- Best for Cities in California: Perc Water
Perc Water offers wastewater treatment services in California and across the United States. It has helped design over 60 facilities, saving on costs and increasing efficiency. The company has a specialized activated sludge process that is environmentally safe for wastewater treatment.
It offers several services, including design, infrastructure development, alternative project delivery, construction management, and operations and maintenance. It also provides concessions and asset management, advisory and consulting, public-private partnership and permitting. Perc Water has a long-standing relationship with California Regional Boards, showcasing its compliance.
Key Features
- Designed over 60 facilities
- Activated sludge process
- Compliant with California Regional Boards
- Best for Cities in Delaware: Stantec
Stantec offers wastewater services in New Castle County, Delaware, but also has a global outreach system. The service is compliance-focused, avoiding local fines and other potential penalties. Its technology is advanced, including features like densified activated sludge and biological nutrient removal.
The company’s services are cost-effective for tight city budgets. It also practices optimized resilience, offering solutions for wastewater treatment that are adaptable and scalable as the industrial landscape changes.
Key Features
- Global outreach
- Compliance-focused
- Optimized resilience
- Best for Cities in Nebraska: MAC Water Technologies Inc.
MAC Water Technologies Inc. provides wastewater treatment services to cities in Nebraska and nationwide. It operates an engineering-based business model to align with clients’ needs, which is especially important for municipal managers. The facility has over 100 global original equipment manufacturing (OEM) agreements and distributor contracts.
Potential clients can receive a free assessment of current water and wastewater treatment measures. Its equipment comes from over 22 countries, and it has experience completing projects in those nations, as well. The facility has developed custom chemical solutions that are safe for Nebraska’s environment. It works with many industries, including rural municipalities.
Key Features
- Engineering-based business model
- Over 100 OEM agreements
- Free assessment of current facilities
- Best for Cities in Ohio: The Great Lakes Construction Co.
The Great Lakes Construction Co. provides installation, replacement and expansion of water and wastewater treatment plants in Ohio. It aims to meet the client’s needs, so they should align with compliance requirements to prevent penalties. The company helps maintain existing technology to limit massive reworkings and extensive downtime.
The team maintains high-quality services while operating under strict budgetary controls, a notable perk for city managers. After the initial construction or reconstruction is complete, the company performs regular maintenance to prevent larger issues and to be more environmentally sustainable.
Key Features
- Maintains existing technology
- Strict budget controls
- Regular maintenance
- Best for Cities in Montana: Snow Crest Chemicals
Snow Crest Chemicals provides wastewater treatment services to cities in Montana and Wyoming. The team comprises well-trained professionals who serve as consultants to their clients. Some of the company’s products and services include heavy-metal reduction formulations, on-site service and recommendations and GRAS-approved products. It also provides organic and inorganic coagulants, emulsions and dispersions, dry and solution flocculants, and custom coagulant blends.
The company is a member of the Association of Water Technologies and is located in Billings, Montana. It offers free consultations to interested clients and uses advanced technology to deliver clean water back into the environment. The website provides a phone number and email to contact it directly.
Key Features
- Well-trained professionals
- Member of the Association of Water Technologies
- Free consultations
- Best for Cities in Tennessee: Grasslands Environmental
In Tennessee, Grasslands Environmental offers wastewater treatment services to the Midwest and Midsouth regions of the United States. Its services comply with local and state municipalities, and its technology includes preventive jetting programs, drain line maintenance and various blockage clearing.
The cost depends on the service, so the company conducts an initial review to provide cities with an accurate estimate. After the project is completed, it provides services on a regular schedule to keep waste at a manageable level. It disposes of toxic substances sustainably to avoid harming the environment.
Key Features
- Complies with local and state municipalities
- Preventive jetting programs
- Sustainable toxic substance disposal
- Best for Cities in Illinois: Aqua
Aqua provides water and wastewater treatment services across multiple states, including through its Aqua Illinois branch. It utilizes safe, updated technology and features licensed treatment operators, experts, scientists and engineers. The company works with the Illinois Commerce Commission and the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency to ensure compliance and safe practices.
Aqua’s Illinois branch has aided 13 wastewater treatment facilities and 30 public water systems. It provides services to 14 counties in Illinois and to counties in other states. The company consistently improves its infrastructure to stay up to date with the latest enhancements. Aqua also aims to surpass federal regulations and optimize its clients’ operations.
Key Features
- Team of licensed treatment operators
- 13 wastewater treatment facilities
- Aims to surpass federal regulations
- Best for Cities in Texas: Supreme Water Filtration
Supreme Water Filtration primarily offers home services to Texas residents, but it also has expertise in wastewater treatment and could be a viable option for city managers. Clients can customize the company’s services to meet compliance requirements.
Its technology possesses water softening, salt-free alternatives and American-made water treatment capabilities. City managers can request a free water consultation, and Supreme Water Filtration will provide long-lasting options while keeping price in mind. To promote adaptability, the company offers a five-year warranty on most services and products.
Key Features
- Customizable services for compliance
- Free water consultation
- Five-year warranty on services and products
Comparison Table for Wastewater Treatment Companies
The following table outlines each wastewater treatment company’s key features for a quick comparison.
| Companies | Compliance | Technology/Services | Adaptability |
| USP Technologies | Full compliance with regulations | Odor and corrosion control and SulFeLox® | Sustainable and efficient programs |
| Perc Water | Works with California Regional Boards | Activated sludge process and an extensive design process | Environmentally-safe practices |
| Stantec | Compliance-focused | Densified activated sludge and biological nutrient removal | Optimized resilience with scalable solutions |
| MAC Water Technologies Inc. | Over 100 global (OEM) agreements and distributor contracts | Engineering-based business model | Developed chemicals with Nebraska’s environment in mind |
| The Great Lakes Construction Co. | Meets the client’s needs to match compliance | Improves existing technology | Maintenance requirements and environmentally sustainable |
| Snow Crest Chemicals | Member of the Association of Water Technologies | Advanced technology | Safely returns water into the environment |
| Grasslands Environmental | Complies with local and state municipalities | Preventive jetting programs, drain line maintenance and blockage clearing | Routine service and sustainable practices |
| Aqua | Aims to surpass federal regulations | Most updated technology and enhancements | Works with the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency |
| Supreme Water Filtration | Customizable services to meet requirements | Water softener systems, salt-free alternatives and American-made water treatment products | Five-year warranty for most products and services |
Methodology for Choosing Wastewater Treatment Companies
The wastewater treatment companies were selected based on their key features and availability in each state. The rankings were chosen according to each one’s offerings and similar statewide lists.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common questions city managers may have when seeking a wastewater treatment partner.
What if a state is not on this list?
Several of these companies serve multiple states and cities, so a location may actually be included. City managers should go to the company’s webpages and see if their state is covered.
How can city managers determine if their current wastewater treatment system is underperforming?
Beyond permit violations, other signs include rising operating costs and increased odor reports.
How can a smaller municipality with a tight budget afford a major system overhaul or a top-tier service partner?
Explore external funding opportunities. Some states offer low-interest loans, as well.
What are the most common hidden costs to watch for in a wastewater service contract?
Emergency repairs are the most unexpected, but vague administrative and management fees are also worth watching out for.
How can city managers calculate and compare the total cost of ownership between different bidders?
They should ask for a proposal over a certain time period, outlining all major costs throughout, and then compare each proposal.
Choose the Right Wastewater Treatment Partner
Choosing a wastewater treatment partner is a long-term investment for cities. Municipal managers should consider compliance, technology, adaptability and cost when making the decision. The companies outlined above are a good starting point.
