Sustainability Archive » Environmental Improvement

Quantifying the Environmental Benefits of Real-Time Control in a Sewer Collection System

justin — Fri, 20 May 2011 16:47:04 +0000

The City of Indianapolis Department of Public Works (DPW) constructed eleven real-time
controls (RTC) in the operation of the collection system between 1995 and 2004 to reduce
combined sewer overflows (CSO). These eleven RTC facilities are part of the Early Action
Projects (EAP) to reduce CSO frequency and volume. In 2009, DPW completed a hydraulic
performance evaluation of each RTC facility using a computer hydraulic model simulation of
RTC operations, and successfully quantified their environmental benefits in CSO volume
reduction. This evaluation helped DPW to demonstrate the feasibility of utilizing RTC in the
collection system to reduce CSOs. This evaluation of the RTC facilities provided a basis for
DPW to further investigate additional CSO control projects that can utilize RTC. This technical
paper provides a case study on quantifying the environmental benefits of RTC in a large sewer
collection system.

A Life Cycle Assessment Approach to Biosolids Management

justin — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 20:21:13 +0000

In the wastewater treatment industry there is a gap between the financial analysis and the environmental impact analysis that municipalities can utilize to make sustainable decisions. A Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) provides a holistic, “cradle–to-grave” analysis within the defined system boundaries, allowing decision-makers to meet the “triple bottom line” goals. LCA is a unique tool that provides a means to fill this gap and quantify the environmental impacts, assisting a facility in selecting the appropriate technology to manage its biosolids. In addition to the traditional life cycle cost comparison, an LCA compares carbon footprinting, eco-toxicity, and green-house gas emissions, among other environmental impact categories of importance to a particular facility. It provides an accurate accounting of different, often conflicting, environmental parameters. For example, LCA would be a useful tool to quantify impacts in the case of membrane technology for wastewater treatment, which provides higher effluent quality but consumes significantly more energy than an activated sludge process. Source: WEFTEC Proceedings 2009

Increasing plant capacity while improving effluent quality and decreasing energy costs

caitlin — Wed, 26 May 2010 20:52:35 +0000

A way to increase plant capacity without adding new tankage, improve effluent quality and decrease energy costs. These improvements will extend service life, add cost reductions in energy savings, chemical reductions and allow efficient sludge disposal. Providing alternatives to teaming up with neighboring community to construct a new joint treatment plant. Achieved this through: Providing new liquid sludge truck loading station, Installed new WAS gravity belt thickening and handling facility, and Converted 2-stage activated sludge process to single-stage. Source: WEFTEC Proceedings 2009 Facility Optimization Trifecta: Capacity Increase, Effluent Quality Improvement and Energy Reduction.

2.5 MGD, Single-stage Activated Sludge Wastewater Treatment Plant