Hopkinsville, Kentucky

Hopkinsville Water Environment Authority (HWEA) undertook a renovation and expansion of its wastewater treatment plant to enhance service reliability and accommodate future community growth. The Ardurra team partnered with HWEA to design the facility upgrade, expanding capacity to 9.0 MGD biological treatment with 28.0 MGD peak flow capability.

The project encompassed extensive improvements throughout the treatment process: a new influent pumping station with coarse screening; upgraded headworks featuring fine screening and grit removal; an anaerobic zone with submersible mixers for enhanced biological phosphorus removal; complete renovation of existing oxidation ditches with fine bubble aeration and submersible mixers; a new 110-foot diameter final clarifier; and modernization of the return activated sludge pumping station and chemical feed facilities. The plant now features permanent peracetic acid disinfection systems for reliable effluent treatment.

Biosolids management was significantly enhanced with two 750,000-gallon aerated prestressed concrete holding tanks and new screw press dewatering equipment. The project also included a modern operations and laboratory building to support plant staff and compliance monitoring.

Smith Contractors, Inc. successfully delivered this $46 million project, achieving substantial completion in 2025.