Wastewater Treatment Plant Improvements

Cochran has partnered with the City of Farmington to modernize and optimize its wastewater treatment system through a series of strategic improvements at both the East and West Wastewater Treatment Plants. These projects have enhanced treatment capacity, increased energy efficiency, improved operational reliability, and positioned the City’s wastewater infrastructure to support continued residential, commercial, and industrial growth.

At the East Wastewater Treatment Plant, Cochran helped the City overcome a significant regulatory challenge that threatened future development. After repeated high-flow events led to a Missouri Department of Natural Resources (MoDNR) moratorium on new construction, Cochran conducted a comprehensive evaluation of the facility and successfully demonstrated that the plant could safely operate at a higher permitted capacity. Through the re-rating process, the plant’s capacity was increased from 2.0 to 2.75 million gallons per day, allowing the City to lift the development moratorium while avoiding an estimated $5 million treatment plant expansion.

Building on that success, Cochran designed Phase I improvements that modernized the plant’s aeration and mixing systems using an advanced Jaeger Oxystrip® retrievable diffuser system with automated dissolved oxygen controls. The energy-efficient system continuously monitors oxygen levels and adjusts blower operation based on real-time demand, reducing energy consumption while maintaining optimal treatment performance. The project included new blowers, diffusers, mixers, piping, electrical systems, and controls, with Cochran providing engineering design, bid administration, construction administration, and project oversight through completion in 2023. Cochran is also currently leading the design of new headworks screen replacements to further improve plant performance.

At the West Wastewater Treatment Plant, Cochran is designing a comprehensive upgrade to the aeration and mixing systems serving multiple treatment basins. The improvements include new high-efficiency blowers, automated dissolved oxygen controls, advanced diffuser technology, and a modern jet mixing system that will improve treatment efficiency while reducing operating costs. Cochran is also providing surveying, demolition planning, mechanical and electrical engineering, construction administration, materials testing, and inspection to support successful project delivery.

Together, these projects demonstrate Cochran’s expertise in wastewater treatment planning, regulatory compliance, and process optimization. By combining innovative engineering solutions with practical operational improvements, Cochran has helped the City of Farmington increase treatment capacity, improve energy efficiency, avoid significant capital expenditures, and build a more resilient wastewater system capable of serving the community for decades to come.