Metropolitan Syracuse Wastewater Treatment Plant
Syracuse, New York
The 84.2 mgd Metropolitan Syracuse Wastewater Treatment Plant (Metro) has recently
undergone a major upgrade to provide advanced ammonia-nitrogen and phosphorus removal.
Seasonal limits for ammonia are 1.2 mg/L NH3 summer and 2.4 mg/L NH3 winter, and the limit
for phosphorus is a 12-month rolling average of 0.12 mg/L. Biological aerated filters (BAFs) by
Krüger were added for ammonia removal and the ballasted flocculated settling process,
ACTIFLO (also by Krüger) was added for phosphorus removal.
To address the increased biosolids produced at Metro, Environmental Engineering Associates,
LLP (EEA – a joint venture of Stearns & Wheler, LLC, O’Brien & Gere, and Blasland, Bouck &
Lee [now ARCADIS]) was retained to develop the necessary biosolids handling improvements.
The project includes:
• Replacing existing belt filter press dewatering system with high solids centrifuges
• Installing gravity belt thickeners (GBTs) to thicker WAS
• Provide sludge blend tanks to blend thickened primary sludge and thickened WAS prior to
digestion
• Provide a cogeneration system that utilizes digester gas to generate electricity and recover
heat.
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Posted: May 3rd, 2011 | Filed under: 100K-500K, Waste Water Treatment | Tags: Improved Digestion, Improved Sludge Drying, Nitrogen Removal, Phosphorus Removal, Plant Optimization, Reduced Odors | No Comments »
Camden County Muncipal Utility Authority
Camden, New Jersey
The Camden County Municipal Utilities Authority (CCMUA) operates an 80 million
gallon per day (MGD) pure oxygen activated sludge treatment plant located in Camden
City, N. J. Several years ago, the CCMUA was experiencing serious problems with its
biosolids handling facilities, resulting in reduced effluent quality, significant odor
problems and increased costs. In response, the CCMUA implemented an Environmental
Management System (EMS) to:
− optimize its water quality performance
− optimize its air quality performance
− minimize its costs
The EMS was a tremendous success for the CCMUA. By making judicious capital
improvements, and implementing operational changes as well, the CCMUA was able to
solve its biosolids management problem. This resulted in a significant improvement in
effluent quality, and a significant reduction in odor events. In addition, by implementing
the EMS, the CCMUA was also able to reduce its operating costs to such a degree that it
has held its user fee for twelve consecutive years with three rate cuts during that time
frame. This paper will outline the problems that the CCMUA faced initially, provide a
description of how the CCMUA developed an EMS and then explain in detail how the
CCMUA used its EMS to optimize its environmental performance and simultaneously
reduce its costs.
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Posted: May 3rd, 2011 | Filed under: 500K-1M, Sanitary Sewer, Stormwater, Waste Water Treatment | Tags: Environmental Impact, Improved Biosolids Management, Improved Customer Relations, Minimize Costs, Optimize Air Quality Performance, Optimize Water Quality Performancem, Plant Sustainability, Reduced Carbon Footprint, Reduced Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Reduced Odors | No Comments »
Blue Plains Advanced Wastewater Treatment Plant
Washington, DC
The objectives of this research were to evaluate several different enhanced or advanced digestion processes for their ability to minimize the risk for a sustainable Class A biosolids program. The two key risks that were considered were odors and increases in indicator bacteria density after dewatering. The four processes evaluated included thermal hydrolysis pretreatment, dual digestion, enhanced enzymic hydrolysis, and multi-stage thermophilic digestion. All of the processes were able to reduce the culturable density of indicator bacteria, fecal coliform, below the Class A limit of 1000 MPN/g DS. However, the thermal hydrolysis process appears to be the the process that best minimizes the risk of increases in fecal coliform densities after dewatering. The odorant production by the cake from the different processes were generally lower than conventional mesophilic anaerobic digestion processes with centrifuge dewatering, although were somewhat variable, and may present some risk of nuisance odors. The advantage of the thermal hydrolysis pretreatment is that high solids can be achieved with belt filter press dewatering that are equivalent to centrifuge dewatering. Belt filter press cakes have generally been shown to have lower odors and less likelihood of indicator bacteria increases in the cake which further helps the thermal hydrolysis process minimize risks related to odors and indicators. Source: WEFTEC 2009 Proceedings
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Posted: August 27th, 2010 | Filed under: 500K-1M, Waste Water Treatment | Tags: Optimal Digestion, Reduced Indicator Bacteria Density, Reduced Odors, Sustainable Waste Management | No Comments »
Dallas Water Utilities Southside WWTP
Dallas, Texas
The Dallas Water Utilities Southside WWTP (SWWTP) is rated for 110 mgd influent flow. Raw wastewater enters the SWWTP at Influent Pump Station C. Six bar screen channels, split three and three around a central dumpster area, discharge into two separate East and West influent pump wet wells. Parkson Aquaguard screens with 6mm openings are installed in each channel and designed to screen up to 80 mgd each. The original headworks configuration included six washer compactors, one under each bar screen head. Three washer compactors on each side discharged onto a conveyor running to the central dumpster area. The washer compactors quickly failed due to bridging of screenings and mechanical breakdowns. These units were taken out of service and abandoned after numerous repairs. Prior to the improvements, the screenings handling system produced strong odors from the putrefying screenings which required both dumpsters to be hauled out and dumped at the landfill three times per week, involving extensive labor to keep the odors down. The screenings conveyance improvements have resulted in significant positive results, not only in labor cost savings, but also the improvement in operator health and safety and morale. DWU operators and plant engineers have noticed a substantial reduction in labor hours to maintain the screenings handling system. It is estimated that the improvements to the handling of screenings at SWWTP save a minimum of 3 man-hours per day (1 man-hour/ shift). In addition, the morale of the plant staff responsible for operating the screens and screenings conveyance has greatly improved. One staff member reported that this project gave him dignity because the unpleasant task of collecting, conveying, and cleaning around the screens was demeaning. Cameras and instruments allow the operators to keep an eye on the process and are notified by alarms if there is an equipment problem. Foul odor reduction is another important outcome. The improvement to the atmosphere in the screenings room is so dramatically improved. Source: WEFTEC 2009 Proceedings
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Posted: August 27th, 2010 | Filed under: Waste Water Treatment | Tags: Environmental Impact, Improved Operator Health and Safety, Improved Plant Efficiency, Increased Cleanliness, Increased Employee Morale, Labor Cost Savings, Reduced Odors | No Comments »