Presented by: Rich Grant, PE

21st Century Biofilm Reactors “TREATING FOR TROUT”

Northport/Leelanau Township Wastewater Treatment Facility

A Revitalizing Story: importance of collection The Technology; intro Benefits & Costs

Operations Energy Green

Robust; glacier country Stewardship

Concepts

Project Issues Small lots with old/failing

drainfields (or no system) Locally high groundwater table Poor draining soils Steep slopes Health Dept. not approving

on-site wastewater disposal

Service District Village of Northport Leelanau Township (portion) REUs- 450 Residential & 215

Institutional & Commercial

Project Background

Wastewater Treatment Facility Design 132,000 gpd 20-yr Avg. Day Design Flow

Design Influent Wastewater Strength Design: 275 mg/L BOD-5 & TSS 34 mg/L NH-3, 46 mg/L TKN 8 mg/L Total Phosphorus

Effluent Limits (Groundwater Discharge Venting to Surface Water)

0.3 mg/L Total Phosphorus 30 mg/L BOD-5 (8 mg/L) Total Nitrogen (treatment goal;

not effluent limit)

Project Background

Treatment Processes: Influent Fine Screening Pre-Anoxic Basin/Influent Equalization Moving Bed Biological Reactors (MBBRs) Cavitation Air Flotation (CAF) Effluent Equalization/Settling Basin Tertiary Filtration (Sand Filters in Series) Chemical Storage/Feed (Ferric Chloride) 2nd Treatment Basin (Future 2nd MBBR

reactor) Storage/Stdby Biosolids Storage Basin Rapid Infiltration Basins for final

discharge

Project Background

MBBR

Northport WWTP Site Plan

Highly polished effluent before discharge at R.I.B.s

Entirely Gravity Flow Hydraulic Design

Dual Polishing Filters, In Series

Rapid Infiltration Basins (RIBs)

3 New RIBs at Base of Hillside

2 Ex. Facultative Lagoons

Re-Constructed to Serve

as RIBs

MBBR: Moving Bed Biofilm Reactor (see also “IFAS”)

Technology: Norway for 1992 Lillehammer Winter Olympics

Attached growth system; similar to trickling filter, RBCs

Biofilm grows inside free-floating plastic media carriers in the tank(s)

Biofilm acclimates to operating conditions,

with reactors for anoxic & aerobic treatment

MBBR Process Description

MBBR with

Biofilm Inside Carriers

50% to 90% smaller footprint required for the same treatment as conventional activated sludge

Reduces mixing energy required

Aeration design is due to oxygen demand not mixing requirement

MBBR is Energy Efficient

Source Mark Steichen, et al “Carbon Footprinting of Wastewater Treatment Technologies”

MBBR is “Green”

Smaller “carbon footprint” lifecycle

Current DEQ standards for “green” show the Northport WWTP Project meets the definition of a "Categorical GPR Project” under

1) "Energy Efficiency" guidelines "use of improved technologies & practices to reduce energy consumption of water quality

projects” “use energy in a more efficient way” MBBR blower energy used for dual purposes, mixing and aeration. Smaller reactor = less energy for mixing Mixing energy = aeration energy (not typical of conventional RAS) MBBR biofilm carriers provide increased oxygen mass transfer efficiency, Increased Transfer Efficiency = reduced aeration and energy requirements. 2) "Environmentally Innovative" guidelines, " ... demonstrating new and/or innovative approaches to delivering services or managing water

resources in a more sustainable way.”

MBBR “Green Business Case”

Cost Comparisons For Various Performance

Example 25mgd WWTP

Source: “When is IFAS the Right Choice?” Johnson et al, Black & Veatch WEFTEC 2006

MBBR is “Innovative” MDEQ

Northport is first full-scale MBBR in Michigan

ACEC/MI – Honorable Conceptor Award for Engineering Excellence

National ACEC recognition award

GPS-x Process Modeling Dynamic process modeling at design phase, demonstration to DEQ

Maintain Heat

Address Oxygen Depletion Failures (others)

Advantage of Free Carbon Source

Pre-Anoxic Basin Tri-Fecta

Maintain Heat

Traditional Nitrification Cut-off: 50-55F

This Project: Consistent Nitrification/De-Nite to 38F

MODFLO

Modeling

Required

Complex GW Flows

Best available project site located on a hillside

Wetlands bordering bottom of hillside & surrounding area

Adjacent ex. facultative lagoons property donated to Village to incorporate with new WWTF

Loamy or clay soils a challenge for groundwater discharge

Installation and prove-out of infiltration/collection trenches

Site Challenges

Prior Owner Left Some Impacted Groundwater

Accumulation in Solar-Energy-Mixed Pond

Land-Applied at Agronomic Rates

Biosolids Reuse – Fertilizer Product

… important for discharge in Northport Creek Watershed

Millpond stocked annually with trout for the Derby

Some trout remain … and Northport Creek is so-designated

Preferred temperatures: 52-62F summer

Low nutrients

Low BOD

High D.O.

Treating for Trout

Trout like the typical Michigan Groundwater temperatures!

… Not required, but highly recommended

Highly recommended, given venting location to Northport Creek

Highly recommended , for groundwater quality, nitrates control

Included in the Design Year ‘Round with Cold Weather Operations

Classic Activated Sludge Performance: TYPICALLY LIMITED TO 50F

Consistent Performance This MBBR

At 38F !

1.4 mg/L Ammonia avg

6.8 mg/L TIN avg

30F Nitrification/De-Nite

… important for discharge in Northport Creek Watershed

Secondary + Tertiary Treatment

RIB Discharge to Groundwater, polishing and cooling in-ground

Groundwater Venting to Surface Water

Natural Polishing & Cooling

Northport WWTF & Collection System Operations & Maintenance Provided by OMI, Inc.

Lead Operator - Mark Huggard

District Manager – Chris Keister

Operation Manager - Scott Blair

Operations Overview

BOD Concentration in Effluent

Phosphorus Concentration in Effluent

Nitrogen Concentration in Effluent

Phosphorus Concentration in Monitoring Wells

Ammonia in Monitoring Wells

TIN Concentration in Monitoring Wells

Questions?

Treating for Trout

Cold Weather Treatment - Trout favor Michigan Groundwater temperatures!

Contact : Rich Grant, PE 800-494-5202

21st Century Biofilm Reactors “TREATING FOR TROUT”

Northport/Leelanau Township Wastewater Treatment Facility

Small MBBR with Nite/De-Nite Dual-Filtration, Site Issues, POTW

MBR, 2x the Curve, POTW

MBBR

MBBR High BOD POTW

MBR High BOD Commercial

MBBR Capital Cost Economies of Scale