T. E. Maxson Wastewater Treatment Facility
After touring the wastewater treatment facility,
we will tour the EARTH Complex in general. For the summary and description
of this portion of the
tour, I will again use the numbering system and refer to the aerial map
pictured on the right. We will drive using vans on the remainder of the
tour.
The EARTH Complex is located on 4500 acres of land in South Memphis near the Mississippi River (14). This site was chose years ago for its natural topographic characteristics. The site is near the Mississippi River, which is downstream from the rest of the city. This provides a natural (free) flow of water in this direction due to gravity without the need for pumping.
Our first stop will be at the sludge lagoon (3). The lagoon pictured on
the left is used as a disposal site for primary sludge and waste activated
sludge (as described on the WW treatment page). It is held in these 
lagoons for over a year. At present, one lagoon is covered with a huge
plastic tarp. During degradation of sludge, methane gas is captured and
then piped to nearby TVA for energy source usages. The remainder of the
lagoons are not covered and release methane directly back into the atmosphere.
In the past, sludge from these lagoons was combined with yard wasted to create mulch that was used by the Memphis Park Commission, but due to new EPA standards, this is no longer an option.
Agricultural and sod farming demonstration areas (5, 8,
9) are also part of the EARTH Complex. These areas use the sludge
and compost created on site to test growth rates of crops and grasses.
A recycling center (12) diverts glass, aluminum, paper and other recyclables from the landfill.
Wildlife Preservation and Bird Sanctuary areas (6, 13)
are set aside to preserve the natural habitat for many types of wildlife.
Memphis is located along the "Mississippi Flyway and many ducks and geese
use the complex as a stop over point on their migratory trip in the spring
and the fall. The Black Neck Stilt (the bird pictured in the EARTH
Complex logo) is a rare shore bird that can be found at the complex and
is a favorite for bird-watchers traveling to Memphis from all over the
country. The Complex is the only breeding site for the stilt in this area.
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T. E. Maxson Wastewater Treatment Facility, City of Memphis, Division of Public Works in Cooperation with City Beautiful (1990).
Graphics:
Aerial Map, T. E. Maxson Wastewater Treatment Facility, City
of Memphis, Division of Public Works (May 15, 2003).
Photos:
Black Neck Stilt, Salt
Grass Flats, as Retrieved from the World Wide Web, (May 15, 2003).
*Remaining photographs, Thomas, Donna (May 2003).
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