Autonomous bioaugmentation technology delivers rapid and sustainable results

Problem

The wastewater treatment plant in Pennsylvania’s Silver Spring Township (1.2 mgd design, 0.8 mgd average) serves a population of 18,000. The township wanted to save money while increasing plant efficiency and capacity to stay ahead of growing demand. Lower costs for aeration, biosolids handling and structure maintenance were also priorities.

Solution

The township chose a bioaugmentation technology from Enbiorganic Technologies for a 60-day trial. A single EBS-Di unit was set up by installer ABEL RECON in a lift station four miles from the treatment plant. The unit uses a customized active-state soil microbiology that is autonomously delivered into the collection system, in a process that generates and activates the microbiology. The microbes perform without oxygen and are highly adaptable.

RESULT:

Within 60 days, the technology achieved 23% biosolids removal, 63% total solids reduction, nearly 100% odor eradication and a significant reduction in FOG. The majority of the collection system downstream of the installation was cleaner; an existing biofilm was replaced with microbes in a very thin biofilm, which now treats the flow on its way to the plant. Issues with FOG and overflows in the treated section of the system disappeared. There was also a decrease in water consumption for biosolids handling. The township projected an $18 per ton cost reduction for biosolids management. 888-356-8333; www.enbiorganic.com

---

Mixing maximized at energy and recycling facility

Problem

Yorkshire Water’s energy and recycling Facility in Huddersfield, United Kingdom, needed to achieve total gas production of 22,192 normal cubic meters/day.

Solution

A mixing system from Landia was externally mounted on each of two 7,306-cubic-meter concrete digesters that contain thickened biosolids at up to 8% solids. The setup makes future servicing easy because there are no moving parts inside the tanks. Thick liquid is drawn from the bottom of the tank, where solids are chopped to accelerate digestion and prevent clogging of pipes and nozzles. Designed with a chopper pump and venturi nozzles, the digesters are comprehensively mixed to maximize gas production. The mixing system has low energy consumption and reduces health and safety issues such as working from height.

RESULT:

The sludge load to the digesters is now 24,000 total pounds dry solids per year or 65.753 pounds TDS of sludge per day, including up to a maximum of 11.880 pounds TDS per day of imported liquid sludge and 25.831 pounds TDS per day sludge cake. 919-466-0603; www.landiainc.com

---

Integrated solution implemented at new municipal drinking water treatment plant

Problem

The city of Wausau, Wisconsin, needed to address aging infrastructure at its water treatment plant. In 2017, the city hired a consulting engineer who contacted Kurita America for advice. Although the city’s drinking water met all regulatory safety standards, a tint of color remained. The city’s multiple wells varied in quality, requiring a robust solution.

Solution

The final filter design includes combined air/water backwash and Kurita America’s Simul-Wash for water savings. The Organix process provides color removal at the lowest cost of ownership when considering resin regeneration frequency versus granular activated carbon media replacement over the life of the equipment. Both systems are fully automated and include PLC-based controls. The equipment includes natural draft cascade-type aerators for iron oxidation and packed stripping towers to remove trichloroethylene and perchloroethylene from select wells. 

RESULT:

The method saves some 60,000 gallons of water per filter backwash versus conventional methods, cutting nonrevenue water by tens of millions of gallons annually. The color was also removed from the water. 866-663-7633; www.kuritaamerica.com

---

Blower replacement leads to 25% energy savings at West Coast wastewater facility

Problem

A West Coast wastewater treatment plant contacted Inovair about replacing its legacy positive displacement blowers for the sequencing batch reactor process. The plant needed blowers to handle frequent start/stops and deliver higher efficiency than the current blowers. Ease of installation was also important since plant staff members were managing the installation. The plant wanted to ensure availability of support and parts.

Solution

The Inovair team worked with the operator and a local energy company to help secure grant money based on the efficiency gains and energy savings. Installation of integrally geared centrifugal blowers was straightforward, including integration with the SCADA system.

RESULT:

The blowers delivering the desired efficiency and 25% energy savings, while handling multiple start/stop cycles. The plant experienced higher reliably and substantially lower operating costs. After running the blowers for a little over a year, the plant team purchased additional integrally geared centrifugal blowers to replace legacy high-speed turbo blowers. 855-466-8247; www.inovair.com

---

Aeration system used to prepare water for discharge

Problem

The Sidney, Ohio, Wastewater Treatment Plant receives significant industrial flow. To meet current and future treatment objectives, the community launched a project to increase capacity, reliability and safety. The process consisted of primary clarification, biological treatment, secondary clarification, UV disinfection, and post-treatment aeration. After installation of the UV system, there was insufficient pressure head to accommodate cascade aeration.

Solution

The staff looked for a solution with less maintenance, a smaller footprint, and a system to meet a desired level of redundancy and turn-down capability. They turned to a Mazzei Injector Company aeration system, which uses a pump to draw water from a small basin and recirculate it through a venturi injector. As the water passes through the injector, a vacuum is created, and atmospheric air is aspirated into the recirculation loop. This air/water mixture is discharged back into the basin through a nozzle manifold. Two venturi aeration systems were installed in parallel. The injectors are mounted above the water level, and the nozzle manifolds are secured to the basin floor.

RESULT:

After almost five years, the plant continues to meet its permit without adding to the daily staff responsibilities. The only maintenance has been hoisting the pump out of the basin once a year on its guide rail to replace its oil. There is no need to empty the basin for maintenance. 661-363-6500; www.mazzei.net