Customer: Odin Construction Solutions, Inc.
Challenge: To quickly provide temporary wastewater treatment for a disaster relief man camp
Solution: 100,000 GPD mobile wastewater treatment plant
In early 2019, AUC provided a temporary wastewater treatment solution for a large disaster relief base camp serving the Paradise area of Butte County, California. The 5-acre camp housed 2,200 disaster relief workers after the Camp Fire, the most devastating wildfire in California’s history, which destroyed more than 153,000 acres and 18,000 structures, and claimed at least 85 lives.
To sustain recovery operations, the base camp, operating from February 2019 through January 2020, included workforce housing with 1,100 showers, 2,500 sinks, a full commercial kitchen and dining facility, a recreation area, an administrative office, and a convenience store.
AUC Group, which excels at rapid deployment of temporary steel wastewater treatment plants, installed a 100,000 GPD temporary plant designed for fast installation and removal, but with the performance to support continuous camp operations.
The plant, which met strict California environmental regulations, included coarse screening, aeration, sludge holding, secondary clarification, and disinfection, housed in a set of rectangular steel tanks sized for compact deployment. The system also incorporated a manual bar screen, bleach liquid feed disinfection, an effluent flow measurement system, and local control panels for the clarifier and blowers. Piping, aeration blowers, diffuser drops, stairs, and access bridges were supplied as part of the complete package.
Because the camp had a defined operational window, AUC structured a fixed-fee rental term with an optional weekly extension charge. This flexible arrangement enabled Odin to align costs with actual use and avoid committing capital to infrastructure in the long term.
AUC managed the offloading, installation, and eventual removal of the treatment units. By handling multiple stages, from delivery to dismantling, AUC minimized the logistical burden on Odin’s project team and reduced coordination requirements. The wastewater treatment plant operated reliably throughout the camp’s service period, ensuring that sanitation needs were met without interruption.
Key Takeaways for Future Deployments
Modular wastewater treatment systems, paired with AUC financing options like rental, leasing, or BOO agreements, closely fit multiple needs of emergency response and remote workforce housing. With rapid deployment capability and removal services, AUC can help public agencies, contractors, and relief organizations meet urgent infrastructure needs without long-term commitments.
Contact AUC Group to learn more about modular treatment solutions for disaster recovery or virtually any short-term project.
