Waste Water

The West Bay County Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant, also known as Bay County Wastewater Treatment Plant (Bay County WWTP), is a secondary treatment facility utilizing the activated sludge process to clean the water. All water receives treatment and is recycled by discharging into the Saginaw River.

As an introduction to the detailed unit process descriptions, the following is a description of the treatment system listed in the following categories:

Preliminary Treatment – Equalization Basins – Primary Treatment

Secondary Treatment – Post treatment – Solids Handling

Preliminary Treatment

Equalization/Storage Basins

Primary Treatment

Secondary Treatment

Post Treatment

Solids Handling

Solids removed during the wastewater treatment process are either recycled to farm field to utilize the fertilizer and organic values or disposed of at the landfill. Any of the sludge removed during primary or secondary treatment are treated in the anaerobic digester system. This system is a biological process that stabilizes the solids by reducing the volatile organic contents of the sludge and destroying viruses that could be present. The majority of the sludges stabilized are recycled on farm land by subsurface injection of this by-product. All solids recycled are tested in accord to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) guidelines and reported annually to the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ). The Bay County WWTP has over 2 million gallons storage capacity for recyclable sludge. The Bay County WWTP will also dewater and dispose of sludges in the local landfill during times of limited storage ability. This process requires Bay County WWTP staff to process the sludge through a belt press for dewatering and trucking such solids to the landfill.

Job Opportunities

The Bay County Department of Water & Sewer (BCDWS) is seeking resumes from qualified persons for an Electrical/Electronic Technician at the West Bay Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant. This is a full-time union position. The normal schedule for this position is Monday thru Friday, 7:00am to 3:30pm.

Qualifications include: A valid Michigan driver license with clean driving record. A Class CDL B license with N endorsement and air brake endorsement, or ability to obtain such license within 6 months of hire; training and testing will be paid for by BCDWS. Experience working with electronic systems preferred. Experience in engineering and electrical work strongly preferred.

The annual salary for this position starts at $57,532 and progresses to $66,102 over 24 months based on the 2025 fiscal year wage scale. Excellent fringe benefits include Blue Cross Blue Shield health insurance plans, 13 paid holidays, paid sick and vacation, a defined benefit pension plan, and licensing/tuition reimbursement. A full description of the requirements and responsibilities of this position can be viewed at www.baycountydwsmi.gov .

Resumes will be accepted until the position is filled.

Attn: Keri Christian, Accounting & HR Manager
3933 Patterson Rd., Bay City, MI 48706

The Bay County Road Commission and Bay County Department of Water & Sewer are equal opportunity and drug testing employers.

Home

A tap water sample was collected in August 2023 and tested for PFAS. No PFAS was detected in the sample. PFAS has never been detected in our water since sampling was started in 2018. More information about PFAS can be found at www.baycountydwsmi.gov/water-testing/ .

The Bay Area Water System 2024 Water Quality Report is now available.

Minutes

The Bay County Department of Water and Sewer bi-weekly meeting with the governing body of the Bay County Board of Road Commissioners minutes are available below.

EmploymentBid Postings

No bids at this time.

Links

Water System Advisory Council

Do you find the health, safety, and welfare of our drinking water important to you? Do you have time to volunteer for a position that will help influence the public education and awareness of drinking water consumed by Bay County residents? Do you want to help your community in the effort to eliminate the presence of lead in the drinking water? If you answered yes to any of these questions you’ll want to continue reading.

The Bay County Road Commission Board has established the Water System Advisory Council (WSAC) as required by the State of Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) with recent changes to the Michigan Safe Drinking Water Act, 1976 PA 399. The WSAC will consist of five (5) members, all of which are appointed to the Council by the Board. One position of the five is required to be that of a local resident that is a consumer of our water system and has an interest in the health, safety, and welfare of our drinking water. This position cannot be filled with a person that works in the industry within our service area. Additionally, this position cannot be held by a person that is affiliated with a corporation that is associated with our industry, governmental or otherwise.