During the first 150 years of the City of Memphis’s existence, all the wastewater generated by its citizens and businesses was dumped untreated into the rivers, creeks, and ditches in and around the community. This was one of the primary causes of the famous yellow fever epidemic in 1878. It was not until 1975 that the first attempt was made to treat the wastewater generated by the southern half of the City of the T.E. Maxson Wastewater Treatment Facility. Two years later in August of 1977, the M.C Stiles Wastewater Treatment Facility was completed and began serving the northern half of the City.
M.C. STILES WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITY
The Stiles Facility now serves over 300,000 people. The people, businesses, and industries in the service area generate approximately 100 million gallons of wastewater each day (MGD). The wastewater is conveyed to the facility, mostly by gravity, through hundreds of miles of lateral servers and interceptor sewers. Each sewer line converges with a larger line until, at last, one large interceptor sewer conveys the total sewage flow into the Stiles Facility. The interceptor sewer is about sixty feet below ground level when it enters the facility.
T.E MAXSON WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITY
This was one of the primary causes of the famous yellow fever epidemic in 1878. It was not until 1975 that the first attempt was made to treat the wastewater generated by the southern half of the City of the T.E.Maxson Wastewater Treatment Facility. Two years later in August of 1977, the M.C Stiles Wastewater Treatment Facility was completed and began serving the northern half of the City.
BIO SOLIDS HANDLING
Covered aerobic lagoons further treat the excess biological solids generated in the secondary treatment process. In the process, over about a year, the biological solids continue to digest producing bio gas, which is made up of carbon dioxide and methane. The remaining well-digested solids are debated using mechanical presses and places on a surface disposal site for further drying. The goal is to produce a stabilized product suitable for reuse. The bio gas is sold to a local industry and/or flared as necessary.
PRELIMINARY TREATMENT
A vast network of gravity sewers collects the wastewater which comes to the Stiles Facility. Many types of debris find their way into the sewer system along with the wastewater. Much of this debris could cause damage to the pumps and piping in the treatment facility. The wastewater passes through bar screens which remove the latter debris such as rags, sticks, cans, and even tires. Smaller inorganic debris, such as sand, gravel, is removed in this grit system. The lighter organic solids remain suspended in the wastewater and flow into the secondary treatment system.
USEFUL LINKS
WASTEWATER TREATMENT
MAINTENANCE & INSPECTIONS
FLOOD CONTROL
LIFT STATIONS
INDUSTRIAL MONITORING
STORMWATER MANAGEMENT
SARP10
FOG
CONTACT INFORMATION
125 N. Main Street – Room #620
Memphis, TN 38103
OFFICE:901-636-6762
FAX:901-636-7116
EMAIL: pubworks@memphistn.gov