Environmental Center Combines Nature With Cromaglass
Montour Preserve is a wildlife habitat established by PP&L, Inc., to demonstrate for the public how nature's animals, plants, and water interact to complement one of our nation's most efficient electric power producers.

Among over 200,000 visitors a year are groups of children from 20 school districts, clubs, and others of the public who are invited by PP&L, Inc., to tour this environmental center located in North Central Pennsylvania near the town of Turbotville and within eyesight of the large coal fired electric generation plant.

Officials from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources joined with PP&L, Inc., to dedicate a major addition to the Preserve's visitor's center. Expansion was made possible through a $186,000 grant from the State assisted by Montour County, which also funds programs at the center. Included with the expansion is office space for the North Central Pennsylvania Conservancy, a key element to natural conservation in the State. Operations of the center are directed by Kevin Drewencki, Land Management Superintendent.

An adjunct to the environmental demonstrations is a new wastewater treatment and recycling system. Designed in conjunction with Cromaglass Corporation engineering staff; this system, based on sequential batch reactor processes, is able to overcome the varying wastewater flows found in a facility such as the Montour Preserve whereby large groups of people attend two or three times per week. This type of use generates biological as well as hydraulic surges that have been proven to be processed efficiently through the use of Cromaglass Systems.

PP&L , Inc., purchased a Cromaglass 3,000 gpd capacity system following design by the PP&L, Inc., engineering and technical services group directed by Mr. Paul LeMenager, P.E., Senior Engineer, Civil and Environmental Programs with offices at corporate headquarters in Allentown, Pennsylvania. This total wastewater recycling process includes special automatic backwash filters, disinfection, and final discharge to constructed artificial wetlands. The artificial wetlands consist of three cells of 18 ft. x 48 ft. each. Two of the cells contain crushed limestone obtained from the local area and the third is filled with bottom ash from the Montour power generating plant. Final design of the artificial wetlands specified several types of plant species transplanted from wetlands nearby. These are utilized to provide maximum nutrient uptake and final polishing of the treated effluent prior to release. Effluent volume will be substantially reduced by evapo-transpiration activity. From the wetlands water percolates to the existing groundwater table. A large reservoir, Lake Chillisquaque, located nearby is a man-made recreational lake built by PP&L, Inc., to supply emergency backup water for the coal-fired steam generating plant.

One of the more interesting features of the Montour Preserve wastewater recycling system is a "state-of-the-art" remote monitoring unit by which most aspects of water quality and performance integrity can be determined "at will" by engineering staff. Frank Lyter, senior engineer, PP&L's technical services group, designed the wastewater treatment plant remote monitoring system. This system is used as an educational display for the general public during their visits to the Montour preserve Environmental Center. The remote monitoring system is also used operationally to monitor, and in some instances, control the treatment system from about 100 miles away at company headquarters. Finally, it has the ability to historically track water levels, pump operation and alarms permit remote monitoring and troubleshooting.

These factors of design for the treatment system supplemented by effluent recycling through an artificial wetland were carefully considered by PA DEP when reviewing application for the required permit.

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