Rosethorne WWTP is located in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, just west of New Orleans. The plant was constructed in the mid-1990s with a design capacity of 400,000 GPD. Today, the average daily flow through the plant is approximately 250,000 GPD. During Hurricane Katrina, in 2005, the plant suffered considerable damage to its mechanical infrastructure, and even after repairs, its effluent was unable to comply with regulatory discharge permit requirements since the storm.
In March 2010, plant administrators made the decision to talk with Reliant Water Technologies about a bio-remediation product that might assist the plant in meeting its discharge requirements. The company introduced Sewper Rx, a poly-microbial bio-remediation product to the plant’s management team, explaining how the product would be applied, setting goals and timetables, and committing to meeting the permit requirements if the plan was followed. After discussions with Parish administrators and budgeting for the project, it was determined that Sewper Rx should be tried.
Prior to the initial treatment, in late March of 2010, typical effluent BOD was in the 25 mg/l to 40 mg/l range and TSS effluent was being reported in the 35 mg/l to 50 mg/l range (Figure 1). Discharge limits were then, and still are, 10 mg/l for BOD and 15 mg/l for TSS. The initial treatment consisted of a total of 50 lbs of Sewper Rx, distributed between the aeration basin and the secondary clarifiers. Within 30 days an improvement in water quality was noted, but the plant was still marginally above its BOD and TSS limits. Water quality improvement continued into May and by the end of that month the plant effluent tested within the BOD discharge limit, but the TSS was just above its 15 mg/l limit that month. A small maintenance dose of Sewper Rx, or 50% of the initial treatment amount, was added at the end of May. Finally, in June 2010, just over 2 months after the initial Sewper Rx treatment, the plant’s effluent test results fell within the State’s BOD and TSS effluent limits, with a 4 mg/l BOD and 11 mg/l TSS(Figures 2 & 3).
Since June 2010, Rosethorne Plant personnel add a maintenance dose of Sewper Rx every 45 to 60 days and effluent BOD and TSS concentrations now typically run in the single digits. Plant administrators are pleased with the performance of Sewper Rx and have realized that for no more than $4,000 per year they will be able to keep the Rosethorne plant within the State’s outfall permit requirements.
The universal microbial cometabolism provides us with an effective approach to remove man-made xenobiotics. However, the cometabolic bioremediation of toxic organic compounds has not been widely initiated due to the obscure underlying fundamentals in the studies or applications of microbial cometabolism. This review summarizes the current research trends in mechanistic understanding of microbial cometabolism, especially with regard to its potential applications. The crucial factors including key enzyme, enzyme...
Wineries traditionally treat their wine process wastewater with aerobic (aerated) ponds to biologically degrade the biochemical oxygen demand (BOD). The treated wastewater from these ponds needs to have a BOD of 40 ppm or less (depending on the location of the winery) before the winery can discharge the water to the vineyards for irrigation. The discharge level of 40 ppm as well as the restriction of standing water in an irrigation field is regional dependent and is regulated by the Regional Water Quality Control...
In 1997 the North Buffalo Water Reclamation Facility in the City of Greensboro could not consistently meet their winter permit limit for ammonia-nitrogen. They decided to try a full scale demonstration of Integrated Fixed Film/Activated Sludge (IFAS) using a new fabric media called BioWeb. IFAS technology adds a high surface area synthetic media directly into the aeration basins of a conventional activated sludge plant. The additional media yields an attached growth bacterial population that increases the total...
Filamentous foam, the dispersion of gas bubbles that creates a dense brown scum layer on the surface of activated sludge basins and secondary clarifiers, is caused by the predominance of mycolic acid-containing actinomycetes, such as Gordonia amarae (formerly Nocardia amarae) and the filament Microthrix parvicella. The accumulation of foam causes a variety of operational, safety, and aesthetic problems in wastewater treatment plants. Current approachesfor controlling foam include: operational adjustments, (e.g....
The water reclamation plant at Mt. Dora, Florida
had an odor problem at the headworks collection
well. Several pump stations in the community send
their water to this location. The discharge of the
various lines is random. At times one line may be
discharging water while other lines are idle. At other
times multiple lines are discharging. There are
periods of no water discharge at various times
during the day. As a consequence, hydrogen
sulfide (H2S) levels vary greatly from hour to hour
and even from...
In 1980, Los Angeles began exploring alternatives to control the
H2S concentration in the digester gas produced at the Hyperion
Waste Water Treatment Plant (WWTP), which treats nearly 420
MGD, wastewater generating over 475 tons of raw sludge per
day. The digester gas H2S concentration had to be controlled so
that the SOx emissions from the on-site combustion of the gas
could be kept within acceptable regulatory limits, allowing the
gas to be burned on-site to generate steam for heat or electricity
or...
Untitled Document
Before selecting a
denitrification filter,
designers should
compare all
available systems
and assess their
performance to date
With the development of total
maximum daily loads for nutrient
discharges, many wastewater
treatment plants (WWTPs) face
stringent nutrient limits. Deep-bed denitrification
filters that remove nitrogen and solids are
a proven technology for treating wastewater to
meet low total nitrogen (TN) limits. A variety...
Saint-Malo is an extremely attractive and popular seaside resort on the north coast of Brittany in France. Covering 1,400 hectares, the local population of 50,000 increases to 120,000 in the tourist season. One of the distinguishing features of this part of the Channel coast is a very high tidal range – 14 meters from low to high, with a potential impact back through the sewer network. Combined together, these factors make the effective operation of the sewer system and effluent quality particularly important....
Measurement of oxygen uptake rates in activated sludge processes is essential to their satisfactory operation. Traditionally, oxygen uptake rates (OUR) have been determined by using a dissolved oxygen probe to measure the change in dissolved oxygen in a BOD bottle. While this method is rapid, it provides only a snapshot, at a single point in time, of the oxygen uptake rate reaction in a treatment plant. Much more can be learned about the operation of a treatment plant by measuring the oxygen uptake rate over a...
Whole effluent toxicity (WET) testing has evolved into a critical element of many National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits issued to both industrial and municipal dischargers. Over 6,500 dischargers to both fresh and salt waters are required to conduct toxicity tests to determine if their effluent might be potentially toxic to organisms in the receiving system. While commonplace for many permits, WET tests (and subsequent activities if toxicity is detected) are often poorly understood by...
The State of Biosolids in America
TAKING the pulse of biosolids management practices in the United States yields a combination of hard data and valuable insights. Between survey responses and telephone conversations, state biosolids coordinators around the country paint an overall picture of progress with the beneficial use of biosolids, along with a dose of reality about political, economic and regulatory pressures that may hamper future advances. The year 2000 was certainly an interesting one in the annals of...
Abstract
Increasing dependence on chemicals and rapid developments in chemical technology have practically triggered the growth of chemical industries in India. Globally, Basel convention guidelines are available for transboundary movement of hazardous wastes. However, at the national levels, health damage, resources losses and ecological impairment due to hazardous wastes indiscriminate discharges are a reality. In India, there are over 16,000 units of big and small Pharmaceutical industries alone. Quantities...
1.1 Scope and Objectives
A small number of viable options are presently available for the bleaching of wood pulp (delignification and brightening) during the manufacture of pulp and paper. The use of chlorine dioxide (ClO2) in the bleaching process has largely superceded the earlier use of Cl2, or elemental chlorine, in the majority of North American pulp mills: It was discovered over a decade ago that the previous widespread use of Cl2 contributed to the production and subsequent release to the environment of...
ABSTRACT
As water and sewer costs are expected to increase over the next decade, membrane technology will continue to be a viable and economical option in the recovery and reuse of water. This paper describes the mechanism of membrane effected separation (specifically reverse osmosis, ultrafiltration and microfiltration), membranes commercially available, membrane element configurations, and how complete membrane systems are designed. The paper also discusses case histories of a variety of proven applications,...
Geographic Information Systems (GIS) hold great potential as a tool for managing environmental site remediation data. While noting the location of contaminated sites in GIS is commonplace, GIS has played only a minor role in review and analysis of chemical data gathered during an investigation or monitoring activity. The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Site Remediation Branch (NJDEP SRP) has undertaken a project making the use of GIS for this purpose a reality within their organization. Through...
Problem:
A new residential golfing community wanted to prevent odor emissions from the local wastewater treatment plant from affecting the lifestyle of its residents.
Solution:
Flat structural-fabric covers were installed over the treatment plant`s aeration tanks and primary clarifiers.
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According to Environmental Business International Inc., the US environmental services industry is a $178.3 billion a year industry representing approximately 115,400 firms which employ 1.2 million individuals. While no industry can expect to totally avoid change, no other industry has seen as much change in such a short period of time.
Environmental consultants and contractors face numerous challenges in today’s competitive and volatile market. To perform and financially survive, one must constantly integrate...
The treatment of industrial effluent from the paper manufacturing facilities in British Columbia is a major concern because the effluent is discharged into prime salmon habitat in the marine environment (Cross, 1994). High levels of biological oxygen demand (BOD) in the effluent reduce the dissolved oxygen (DO) available to species in the marine environment. In 1988, the Federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans reviewed the levels of DO and total suspended solids (TSS) that are discharged in the effluent...
Biofilters are the odor control system of choice at composting facilities. Despite similar capital costs, the biofilters are generally less costly to operate than chemical scrubbers. The key to keeping operating costs in check, however, is to get the maximum use out of the biofilter media, thus avoiding the time and money needed to do media replacements.
Allen Boyette, senior engineer and manager of the Cary, North Carolina office of E&A Environmental Consultants, Inc., tackled the topic, “Building Longevity...
As a growing resort community, Newport, OR, wanted to find a way to minimize odors from its downtown wastewater treatment plant. The city installed structural-fabric covers on its secondary clarifiers as part of the solution.
Download the full article in pdf format (103 Kb)
Introduction
Pollution Prevention Guidelines to provide technical advice and guidance to staff and consultants involved in pollution-related projects. The guidelines represent state-of-the-art thinking on how to reduce pollution emissions from the production process. In many cases, the guidelines provide numerical targets for reducing pollution, as well as maximum emissions levels that are normally achievable through a combination of cleaner production and end-of-pipe treatment. The guidelines are designed to...
Introduction
Pollution Prevention Guidelines to provide technical advice and guidance to staff and consultants involved in pollution-related projects. The guidelines represent state-of-the-art thinking on how to reduce pollution emissions from the production process. In many cases, the guidelines provide numerical targets for reducing pollution, as well as maximum emissions levels that are normally achievable through a combination of cleaner production and end-of-pipe treatment. The guidelines are designed to...
The main advantage of in situ treatments is that they allow ground water to be treated without being brought to the surface, resulting in significant cost savings. In situ processes, however, generally require longer time periods, and there is less certainty about the uniformity of treatment because of the variability in aquifer characteristics and because the efficacy of the process is more difficult to verify.
Physical/chemical treatment uses the physical properties of the contaminants or the contaminated...
Australian Country Spinners, a wool spinning and dyeing company, has implemented a range of cleaner production initiatives that have improved the process efficiency and achieved significant cost savings. Over a three year period the company achieved a 44 per cent reduction in water usage and a 26 per cent reduction in chemical usage, per kilogram of processed yarn. These gains translated to savings in excess of $1.1 million.
Background
Australian Country Spinners Pty Ltd (ACS), one of Australia`s largest yarn...
` In order to determine the impacts of a particular discharge on ambient water quality, it is usually necessary to model the diffusion and dispersion of the discharge in the relevant water body. The approach applies both to new discharges and to upgrading of existing sources. This note provides guidance on models that may be applicable in the context of typical Bank projects.`
Introduction
Mathematical models can be used to predict changes in ambient water quality due to changes in discharges of wastewater. In...
In general, no single technology can remediate an entire site. Several treatment technologies are usually combined at a single site to form what is known as a treatment train. A system diagram of a common treatment train for halogenated VOCs is illustrated below. A ground water pumping system is used to pull contaminated water from the subsurface. The VOC contaminated water is pumped to a liquid phase granulated activated carbon (GAC) adsorption system. The GAC system removes VOCs in the water and the effluent is...
For the purposes of this document, radionuclides should be considered to have properties similar to those of other heavy metals.This does not imply that all radionuclides are heavy metals, but that the majority of sites requiring remediation of radioactively contaminated materials are contaminated with radionuclides that have similar properties. Like metals, the contaminants of concern are typically nonvolatile and less soluble in water than some other contaminants. However, the solubility and volatility of...
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