Stricter effluent nutrient limits pose a dilemma for clean-water plant teams: How to comply with the new permit, and at what cost?
Major plant upgrades to drive down nitrogen and (especially) phosphorus can cost millions of dollars and may be out of reach for facilities serving small communities, especially those with lower-income populations that can’t easily absorb a big rate increase.
The U.S. EPA has compiled a study on efficient and cost-effective approaches for nutrient removal, looking to help communities find ways to meet stricter limits, or simply contribute to better watershed quality, without undue financial burden.
Through its National Study of Nutrient Removal and
