The Wayne County operates the treatment facility for the Downriver System.  Originating in 1929, the facility has been expanded in 1939, 1962, 1969, 1972, and 1986.  In 1993, a Consent Decree judgment was reached requiring additional plant expansions, this time from 100 MGD to 225 MGD, which was performed under multiple design packages.

HRC designed Pump Station No. 5 in 1929, which served as the Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) to the City of Wyandotte and Ecorse Township.  In 1938, HRC designed the original WWTP which provided 30 MGD of primary treatment, disinfection and solids incineration.  HRC helped expand the WWTP and collection system in 1962 to 75 MGD to serve the needs of the growing Downriver system.  In 1969, HRC again expanded the WWTP to 100 MGD and chemical feed was added for phosphorus removal.

By this time, the Clean Water Act required secondary treatment for all wastewater treatment plants and HRC designed the Secondary Treatment Expansion and Solids Handling Facilities in 1972.  This brought the WWTP into full compliance with the Act and also provided the advanced sludge thickening, dewatering and incineration complex.  Two additional secondary clarifiers designed by HRC were added in 1986, to meet more stringent NPDES Permit requirements.  Under the Federally mandated Consent Decree requirements, HRC provided design services in the 1990s for new solids handling, UV disinfection, and renovations to provide capacity for wet weather flows to 225 MGD.

HRC innovations included:

• Unique covered Primary Clarifiers and patented high rate Secondary Clarifiers
• Largest UV system in the United States
• First sludge cake pump installation in Michigan
• First influent screening system of its type in the world

HRC continues to provide engineering services to serve the needs of the Downriver Wastewater Treatment Facility under a general engineering service contract.