Wastewater Department

The Newton Falls Wastewater Treatment Plant uses Rotating Biological Contactors (RBC’s) to achieve secondary treatment requirements. The RBC’s are preceded by Bar Screens, Grit Chambers, Aeration Tanks, and Primary Settling Tanks. Secondary Settling Tanks, Chlorine Contact Tanks, and a Dechlorination System follow the RBC’s. The plant uses Anaerobic Digesters and Drying Beds for Sludge Handling. A Belt Filter Press was purchased in 1999 to vastly improve sludge handling.

The Collection System consists of Collector and Trunk Sewers, Pump Stations, and Ejector Stations. The system is primarily made up of Combined Sewers, which during wet weather overloads the system causing bypasses in the system and at the Plant. Upgrades of Pump Stations are increasing the systems efficiency and therefore sending more water to the plant, where upgrades are being considered.

The Position – The Wastewater Treatment Superintendent is a full-time, hourly working supervisor’s position, appointed by the City Manager and working under the direct supervision of the City Manager or an assigned supervisor. The Wastewater Treatment Plant Superintendent is responsible for:

• Efficient operation & maintenance of the City’s Wastewater Treatment Plant, associated lift stations, and the sanitary sewage collection system, including the scheduling & supervision of the work performed by the Wastewater Treatment Division of the Public Works Department;
• Provides assistance & supervision to plant operators;
• Oversees, directs & manages the daily operations of the Wastewater Treatment Division’s personnel, equipment, facilities, projects & programs;
• Investigates customer complaints, as assigned;
• Assists in designing & planning systems or facility maintenance & improvement projects;
• Establishes & supervises a systematic program for cleaning the entire sanitary sewer collection system;
• Assists in the development of the City’s annual budget.

The Current Wastewater Treatment Superintendent – John J. Nemet is a lifetime resident of Newton Falls. He graduated in 1976 and attended Youngstown State University. Previous to his employment by the City, he was employed for 14 years as operations Manager of Executone Information Systems, an interconnect telecommunications company. He was hired by the city of Newton Falls in the spring of 1992, where he started at the Water Treatment facility as a plant operator. After 5-years he transferred to the Wastewater Department as a Plant Operator, and became foreman of the facility in the summer of 1998. John holds a Class III Water Supply EPA license and a Class IV Wastewater Works license that he received in 2005. He currently resides in Newton Township with his wife and one sons.