Evaluation of Onsite Sodium Hypochlorite Generation at the Blue Plains Advanced Wastewater Treatment Plant

District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority (DC Water)
Washington, DC

Due to potential risks associated with transportation and handling of liquid chlorine, the District
of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority (DC Water), switched to the use of liquid sodium
hypochlorite as the disinfecting agent at the Blue Plains Advanced Wastewater Treatment Plant
(AWTP). The escalating cost of bulk purchased sodium hypochlorite prompted DC Water to
commission a study to evaluate disinfection alternatives that: 1) are compatible with existing
treatment processes; 2) meet all plant effluent disinfection requirements; and 3) reduce life cycle
costs of disinfection.
The study involved a detailed technical, economic and non-economic evaluation of the feasibility
of constructing and operating an onsite sodium hypochlorite generation facility in lieu of bulk
purchase. Economic analyses included capital and O&M costs, life cycle costs over a 30-year
time horizon, and sensitivity of price of bulk sodium hypochlorite and salt, electric power cost,
debt service on life cycle costs.

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Posted: May 20th, 2011 | Filed under: 100K-500K, Waste Water Treatment | Tags: Capital Savings, Improved Plant Reliability, O&M Cost Savings | No Comments »

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