Wastewater Treatment
RK&K delivers expert engineering services for small, medium, and large municipal wastewater treatment facilities. Our work spans new construction and complex retrofits, supporting public health and environmental goals through innovative, reliable, and cost-effective solutions.
We design systems using physical, chemical, and biological processes for both liquid and sludge treatment. Our approach is tailored to meet discharge permit requirements and site-specific needs, rather than applying a one-size-fits-all solution. This ensures optimal performance and long-term value for our clients. Our experience ranges from the 0.04 MGD Elk Neck State Park WWTP to the 180 MGD Back River WWTP in Baltimore, MD.
RK&K has led numerous upgrade projects across the Chesapeake Bay watershed, helping facilities meet evolving water quality standards. Our early projects focused on Biological Nutrient Removal (BNR), while recent work meets the more stringent Enhanced Nutrient Removal (ENR) goals.
Most of our wastewater projects involve upgrading existing facilities. These retrofits require careful planning and execution to maintain operations during construction and navigate site constraints.
Our retrofit services include:
- Construction sequencing plans to ensure uninterrupted plant operation
- Evaluation of footprint, hydraulics, electrical service, and site access
- Strategic placement of new infrastructure to avoid conflicts with underground utilities, stormwater systems, environmental areas, and future expansion zones
- Assessment of tank reuse, building repurposing, and cost-effective rehabilitation versus replacement
- Minimization of bypass pumping and integration of additional unit processes for nutrient removal
RK&K remains at the forefront of wastewater treatment innovation through active participation in:
- Water Environment Federation (WEF)
- International Water Association (IWA)
- Local member associations in MD, PA, DE, DC, VA, TN, GA, NC, FL, and WV
We regularly present our work on nutrient removal and sludge processing at national and regional conferences, sharing insights and advancing best practices across the industry.
