INFLUENT GATE VALVE

The sewage collection system terminates at the plant in a 48-inch influent pipe. The very first piece of equipment in the plant is a large sliding gate valve which can be used to stop the flow of wastewater into the plant. This valve is only for extreme emergencies that threaten the integrity of the plant. The Wastewater Treatment Facility represents a multi-million-dollar investment. If it became necessary to use the gate valve, the sewage would be chlorinated and diverted directly to the Tioghnioga River. This valve has not been used in over twenty years, despite several extreme high-flow events, including the January 1996 flood, which caused influent flows four times the plant’s nominal flow.