Glessen WWTP
Bergheim, Germany
A conventional activated sludge plant for municipal wastewater treatment is retrofitted by using membrane bioreactor technology. The bioreactor and other parts of the infrastructure are incorporated into the new process design. The plant capacity is increased. Stringent discharge criteria are met. After several steps of start-up the plant is in full operation since spring 2008. The efficiency of the treatment process is optimised. In this case study retrofitting the existing CAS as an MBR was beneficial in several ways:
(a) Technologically the membrane filters replace the secondary clarifier and, by increasing the biosolids concentration, the plant capacity was increased significantly without building a new bioreactor.
(b) Economically the cost of building a new second WWTP could be saved.
(c) Ecologically a substantial increase in the nutrient removal and the hygienic effluent quality was achieved. This is an important precautionary measure in the water protection area. It can be said, that MBRs can offer a viable and efficient option for the retrofitting of existing CAS. Source: WEFTEC 2009 Proceedings
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Posted: August 27th, 2010 | Filed under: Waste Water Treatment | Tags: Avoided Building Additional Plant, Cost Savings, Environmental Impact, Increase in Nutrient Removal, Increased Plant Capacity, Optimized Treatment Process | No Comments »
Muddy Creek Watershed
Rockingham County, Virginia
The TMDL implementation in the Muddy Creek watershed demonstrates many benefits of adaptive management concept and follow-up monitoring. The parallel TMDL research studies help address key technical issues (e.g. uncertainty analysis and critical condition) and bridge TMDL implementation with TMDL development efforts. These benefits from long-term TMDL implementation in the Muddy Creek watershed include:
- It allows for water quality improvements to be recorded as they are being achieved, as stream monitoring continues to occur;
- It helps to ensure the most cost effective practices are implemented initially and allows for the evaluation of the adequacy of the TMDL in achieving the water quality standard;
- It provides a measure of quality control, given the uncertainties which exist in any water quality model used during TMDL development;
- It is designed to address multiple water quality problems within a watershed whenever possible to gain the best efficiency;
- It provides a mechanism for developing public support.
With successful completion of implementation from TMDL development effort, Muddy
Creek watershed community has been well on the way to restoring impaired waterbodies
and enhancing the value of this important natural resource. Source: WEFTEC 2009 Proceedings
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Posted: August 27th, 2010 | Filed under: Stormwater, Water Treatment | Tags: Cost Savings, Environmental Impact, Quality Control | No Comments »
City of Tallahassee’s Underground Utilities
Tallahassee, Florida
Implementing an Environmental Management System program and achieving ISO 14001:2004 certification is a significant goal. Once achieved it becomes a milestone in the ongoing continual improvement management structure. This case study focuses on the EMS program in the City of Tallahassee’s Wastewater Treatment before and after certification, and how it provides the basic structure for future improvement programs. EMS program provides the basis for Utility Management. It does not end with achieving ISO 14001:2004 certification. It takes effort to maintain the program, but the benefits achieved far out weigh the efforts required. As a management system, it can help provide the structure needed to support management through reorganizations and maintain effectiveness during other major changes, such as the AWT project described herein. EMS is also the basis for integrating other Utility Management programs and makes them easier to implement. Past, Present and Future EMS provides the basis for continual improvement. Source: WEFTEC 2009 Proceedings
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Posted: August 27th, 2010 | Filed under: 50k-100k, Waste Water Treatment | Tags: Cost Savings, Environmental Impact, Maximize Sustainability | No Comments »
Camden County Municipal Utilities Authority
Camden, New Jersey
The Camden County Municipal Utilities Authority (CCMUA) operates an 80 million gallon per day wastewater treatment plant in Camden, NJ. The wastewater treatment plant, one of the largest in the State of New Jersey, is located within 100 yards of a residential neighborhood, known as the Waterfront South section of Camden City. Therefore, optimizing the wastewater treatment plant’s odor control performance is an absolute necessity to ensure that the plant does not interfere with the quality of life of the residents of Camden City. In addition, Camden City is one of the very poorest cities in the United States, and Waterfront South is the poorest neighborhood within Camden City. Therefore, it is even more morally imperative that the CCMUA do its utmost to not only, at a minimum, prevent causing adverse impact to its neighbors but also go beyond that and try to improve the residents’ quality of life in any way reasonably possible. This paper will demonstrate:
(1) that the CCMUA decided that implementing environmental justice, through the social mission described above, would be a core corporate objective for the organization.
(2) how the CCMUA used its Environmental Management System (EMS) to optimize odor control performance at the treatment plant, and
(3) how the CCMUA also implemented several other initiatives designed to improve the quality of life for the residents of Camden City. Source: WEFTEC 2009 Proceedings
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Posted: August 27th, 2010 | Filed under: 500K-1M, Sanitary Sewer, Stormwater, Waste Water Treatment | Tags: Cost Minimization, Environmental Impact, Improved Customer Relations, Maximize Sustainability, Optimization of Odor Control Performance, Optimization of Water Quality Performance | No Comments »
Palm Bay Utilities Department
Palm Bay, Florida
This paper describes the development of an Environmental Management System (EMS) named “GreenWay” to achieve strategic objectives and cost savings. The City of Palm Bay Utilities Department developed in an 18 month period an EMS that culminated in a third-party recommendation for ISO 14001:2004 certification without a major or minor deficiency. On August 4, 2008, the Palm Bay Utilities Department (PBUD) became the first water and wastewater utility in the state of Florida (public or private) to be ISO 14001:2004 registered. The Utilities Department also became the first water and wastewater utility in the nation to achieve independent registration of an EMS for all aspects of its organization immediately following an initial audit. Within one year of becoming certified, Palm Bay’s Water and Sewer Improvement Bond Rating was raised from an ‘A-’ to an ‘A’ acknowledging better resource management and lower investment risk in part due to an EMS. Source: WEFTEC 2009 Proceedings
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Posted: August 27th, 2010 | Filed under: 100K-500K, Waste Water Treatment, Water Treatment | Tags: Cost Savings, Environmental Impact, Maximize Sustainability | No Comments »
23rd Avenue Wastewater Treatment Plant
Phoenix, Arizona
Monitoring of influent loading and plant operating conditions, together with a real-time feedforward control model, allows dissolved oxygen (DO) set-points to be matched in real time to the influent loading. Adjusting DO set-points based on load results in a significant reduction in aeration energy. This paper discusses the monitoring technology, and optimization and control techniques used in an energy savings project at the 23rd Avenue Wastewater Treatment Plant (23rd Avenue WWTP) in Phoenix, Arizona. The plant treats an average of 48 MGD using an MLE process, with a goal of complete nitrification. Load-based feed-forward control of dissolved oxygen in an activated sludge wastewater treatment plant can provide measurable and consistent energy savings through reduced aeration requirements without jeopardizing effluent quality. In the case presented here, aeration energy savings were in the range of 11% to 18%, despite constraints on the controller that prevented it from lowering the DO set-point below an operator defined limit. At Phoenix 23rd Avenue WWTP this represents a savings of 2000 MWh per annum and a carbon footprint reduction of 1,400 metric tons. The results are consistent with savings achieved using the same control methods at plants in different climate zones (Liu, 2003). Source: WEFTEC 2009 Proceedings
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Posted: August 27th, 2010 | Filed under: 100K-500K, Waste Water Treatment | Tags: Cost Savings, Energy Savings, Environmental Impact, Plant Optimization, Reduced Carbon Footprint | No Comments »
California
In 2001 California spent 18,600 Gwh per year only on agricultural and water pumping (http://www.energy.ca.gov / electricity/ consumption_by_sector.html). In addition, pumping is widely used in power industry, HVAC, etc. Considering that each kw*hr of energy saving causes 0.537kg of carbon emission reduction, decrease of energy usage helps not only to improve the bottom line but also leads to reduction of carbon footprint. A new methodology has been developed for pump stations optimization. The methodology uses simultaneously generalized reduced gradient and genetic algorithms. The methodology allows optimization of any combination of constant speed and variable speed pumps. Implementation of this methodology at one pump station yielded reduction of energy usage as much 25% that was equal to more than $50,000 a year. Source: WEFTEC 2009 Proceedings
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Posted: August 27th, 2010 | Filed under: Sanitary Sewer, Stormwater | Tags: Cost Savings, Energy Savings, Environmental Impact, Reduced Carbon Footprint | No Comments »
United Utilities
United Kingdom
This paper will describe the results achieved by applying a Model Predictive Control (MPC) system to an Activated Sludge Plant (ASP) in the UK, with the objective of reducing energy consumption, whilst maintaining compliance within permitted environmental standards. Installation of the MPC system was initially an R&D project to assess if the suppliers performance expectations were valid. The successful outcome of the trial allowed the project to move to a permanent installation assessing the benefits over a longer period. During the R&D Phase the system demonstrated a high availability with an average of 20% energy reduction and peaks of 40% energy reduction when compared to conventional control. To date the system has reliably demonstrated energy savings and offers the potential to contribute significantly to United Utilities objective to reduce its Carbon emissions by 8% by 2012 if the benefits are replicated across the companies asset base of large ASP’s. Source: WEFTEC 2009 Proceedings
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Posted: August 27th, 2010 | Filed under: 50k-100k, Electric, Sanitary Sewer, Stormwater, Waste Water Treatment, Water Treatment | Tags: Cost Savings, Energy Savings, Environmental Impact, Reduced Carbon Footprint | No Comments »
Southwest WWTP and Dillman Road WWTP
Conroe, Texas and Bloomington, Indiana
Studies conclude the aeration process in an activated sludge wastewater treatment plant consumes 40 to 60 percent of a plant’s power usage. With the dramatic impact of the aeration process on the overall operational expenses of a plant, the last three decades has seen increased focus on the design, implementation, and operation of high efficiency single-stage centrifugal blowers and aeration control systems. State and local agencies offer a variety of funding options that favor energy-minded aeration systems due to the increased global emphasis on energy conservation. This paper will discuss the different types of high efficiency single-stage centrifugal blowers used in wastewater treatment plants, along with blower and aeration system control methodologies to maximize the overall aeration process efficiency. In addition, this paper will detail two case studies where alternative funding options allowed the implementation of high efficiency single-stage centrifugal blowers and aeration control systems, which yielded significant energy and operational savings. Source: WEFTEC 2009 Proceedings
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Posted: August 27th, 2010 | Filed under: <50K, Waste Water Treatment | Tags: Cost Savings, Energy Savings, Environmental Impact, Plant Optimization, Reduced Carbon Footprint | No Comments »
Malabar Wastewater Treatment Plant
Trinidad and Tobago
Sustainable wastewater solids management constitutes a serious challenge to the overall initiative of improvement of the wastewater systems by the local authorities in Trinidad and Tobago. The solids treatment approaches must be focused on the effectiveness of the processes and its durability. The selected approach must also integrate local and regional settings, as well as current and future environmental limiting conditions. It is concluded that the proposed process of solar drying will allow measurable scientific, environmental and economic benefits. Based on the analysis of the local weather conditions and estimated solids production rate of 17,600 tonnes per year, a total of 6 solar dryer cells covering an area of 7,450 m2 are required. The biosolids produced from the process is expected to have a minimum solids content of 70% and to have a significant vector attraction reduction. This fully automated and simple technology will enable minimum operator’s attention. Source: WEFTEC 2009 Proceedings
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Posted: August 27th, 2010 | Filed under: Waste Water Treatment | Tags: Cost Savings, Energy Savings, Environmental Impact, Reduced Carbon Footprint, Reduced Solids | No Comments »