Activated Sludge Clarifier Repairs

At the Orange County Sanitation District’s (OCSD) Plant No. 2, Garney advanced aging wastewater treatment infrastructure to serve the demands of one of the nation’s most populated water and wastewater districts. Tasked with demolishing and replacing six outdated secondary activated sludge clarifiers, Garney installed state-of-the-art chain and flight equipment, creating operational efficiencies.

Unlike the older rectangular system, which relies on gravity alone, the new chain-and-flight system keeps the process flowing smoothly by constantly clearing out settled solids. With the streamlined, chain-driven mechanism, OCSD will cut costs and boost the output of treated water—a necessity for Orange County’s ever-growing population.

Serving 2.6 million people and treating 185 million gallons per day (MGD) of wastewater, OCSD Plant No. 2 is vital to the region’s health and safety. When the time came to replace the clarifiers, the team ensured uninterrupted service while half of the clarifiers were offline. With expert planning and teamwork, Garney worked closely with OCSD staff to maintain plant operations while coordinating seamless shutdowns and installations.

This successful upgrade modernizes OCSD’s infrastructure and ensures long-term reliability, enabling the district to meet future demands while delivering greater efficiency, cost savings, and cleaner water for the millions who rely on it.