Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 68.46
Liaison Lisa Kilgore
Submission Date March 20, 2015
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.0

Cornell University
OP-28: Wastewater Management

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 0.00 / 1.00
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Total wastewater discharged:
474,897,720 Gallons

Wastewater naturally handled:
0 Gallons

A brief description of the natural wastewater systems used to handle the institution’s wastewater:
---

The website URL where information about the institution’s wastewater management practices is available:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:

Cornell Wastewater is treated by the Ithaca Area Waste Water Treatment Facility (IAWWTF). The IAWWTF was designed to remove phosphorus, biological oxygen demand and solids. The plant also removes most non-conventional pollutants as well. A federally mandated industrial pretreatment program prevents non-conventional pollutants from entering the wastewater system in amounts greater than the plant can treat.

Wastewater treatment incorporates: preliminary screening, primary clarification, biological treatment, chemical phosphorus removal, chlorination for disinfection and de-chlorination. Anaerobic digestion is used to stabilize biosolids, which are then dewatered and land-filled. The anaerobic digestion process produces biogas (65-70 % methane) that is purified and then burned to generate electricity and hot water.


Cornell Wastewater is treated by the Ithaca Area Waste Water Treatment Facility (IAWWTF). The IAWWTF was designed to remove phosphorus, biological oxygen demand and solids. The plant also removes most non-conventional pollutants as well. A federally mandated industrial pretreatment program prevents non-conventional pollutants from entering the wastewater system in amounts greater than the plant can treat.

Wastewater treatment incorporates: preliminary screening, primary clarification, biological treatment, chemical phosphorus removal, chlorination for disinfection and de-chlorination. Anaerobic digestion is used to stabilize biosolids, which are then dewatered and land-filled. The anaerobic digestion process produces biogas (65-70 % methane) that is purified and then burned to generate electricity and hot water.

The information presented here is self-reported. While AASHE staff review portions of all STARS reports and institutions are welcome to seek additional forms of review, the data in STARS reports are not verified by AASHE. If you believe any of this information is erroneous or inconsistent with credit criteria, please review the process for inquiring about the information reported by an institution or simply email your inquiry to stars@aashe.org.