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Bruce Bartel, NEW Water Nathan Cassity, Donohue

Optimization in Practice: Case Studies from NEW Water’s

Phosphorus and TSS Optimization Plans

WWOA, 51st Annual Conference October 2017

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Outline

Background

Phosphorus Optimization

TSS Optimization

Future/Ongoing Optimization

Acknowledgments NEW Water

• Phil Mentink

• Pat Wescott

• Jake Becken

• Bill Oldenburg

• Aaron Eichhorst

• Matt Hooker

• Jon Strandberg

• Corey Evers

CPE Services

• John Esler

• Tim Miller

Donohue

• Andrew Dow

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Background

2014 permit renewal

Combined permit for Green Bay Facility and De Pere Facility

Part of Lower Fox River TMDL

Included mass allocation limits for P and TSS

Included 9 year compliance schedule

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Background

NEW Water’s Permit Compliance Reports

Operational Evaluation

Report Due: June

2015

Status Report #1

Due: June 2016

Status Report #2

Due: June 2017

Operational Evaluation

Report Amendment

Due: Dec 2017

Pre-Compliance Alternatives

Plan Due: March

2018

Status Report #4

Due: June 2018

Final Compliance Alternatives

Plan Due: Dec 2018

We are here

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Green Bay Facility (GBF)

Design: 49 MGD Current: 32 MGD

Primary Clarifiers

North Aeration

Basins

North Final Clarifiers

South Final Clarifiers

South Aeration Basins

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De Pere Facility (DPF)

Design: 10 MGD Current: 8 MGD

Tertiary Filters

Aeration Basins

Intermediate Clarifiers

Final Clarifiers

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Phosphorus – Combined DPF + GBF

6-month Average Limit: 68 lbs/day

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TSS – Combined DPF + GBF

Monthly Average Limit: 2,404 lbs/day

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Optimization Strategy

Overall Strategy:

Optimize Biological Performance

• Minimize Soluble Phosphorus Discharge

• Minimize Biological Causes of Poor Settling

Identify/Evaluate Potential Clarifier Performance Improvements

Adapt to R2E2 Changes

• Use Biological Optimization and Trouble-Shooting Tools

• Use Supplemental Chemical Polishing as Needed

Optimize Solids Removal (Minimize TSS and TP)

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Phosphorus Optimization

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P Optimization Highlights

Facility Modifications (Aeration Basin Selectors)

Aeration Basin Profile Sampling

Phosphorus Speciation Data Collection

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Facility Modifications

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Selector Sizing Modifications

Phosphorus Action Item (GBF)

Goal: Measure phosphorus performance impact of increasing selector size (additional zone)

Original selectors:

• North Plant Basins: 1 zone each, 2 mixers per zone

• South Plant Basins: 1 zone each, 1 mixer per zone

Selector Additions:

• North Plant Basins: Additional larger zone, 4 mixers each

• South Plant Basins: Additional larger zone, 2 mixers each

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Selector Sizing Modifications

North Plant

South Plant

NEW

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Measuring Facility Modification Impacts

Modified and Un-Modified Basin Operating Simultaneously

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North Complex Performance

Modified Basin Put in Service

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South Complex Performance

Modified Basin Put in Service

2

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Aeration Basin Profile Sampling

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Basin Profile Sampling

Phosphorus Action Item (GBF)

Goal: Develop EBPR trouble-shooting tool

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

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0 200 400 600

Soluble Phosphorus

(mg/L)

Basin Length

P Release: Endogenous

Activity

P Release Ratio: Selector P/Influent P

Parameters of Interest:

• Soluble P

• Ammonia

• Nitrate/Nitrite

• Alkalinity

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December Phosphorus Profiles

1 2 Middle End

1 2 Middle

End

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January Phosphorus Profiles

1 2 Middle End

1 2 Middle

End

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December Nitrogen Profiles

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January Nitrogen Profiles

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Phosphorus Speciation

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Phosphorus Speciation Background

Phosphorus Optimization Action Item

Goals:

• Prioritize strategies for improved phosphorus removal based on the forms of phosphorus in the effluent (soluble vs. particulate, reactive vs. non-reactive)

• Measure impacts of upgrades or piloted improvements

• Document phosphorus speciation profiles in collection system and among industrial contributors to identify potential source reduction priorities

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Phosphorus Speciation Background

Red fraction: Difficult to remove

Dark blue: Conversion to PP

Dark green: Settle/filter

Light green: Settle/filter

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July 2016 Effluent Speciation

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Significant Industrial User Speciation

SIU Focus, 3 Days of Composite Sampling:

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SIU Next Steps

Talk with top contributors (SIUs) to determine sources of phosphorus

Identify pollution prevention strategies for phosphorus reduction

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Clarifier Field Testing

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Clarifier Testing Background

TSS Optimization Action Item

Goal: Identify hydraulic improvements through field testing to improve clarifier performance (TSS performance)

Results of testing used to identify potential clarifier improvements

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Clarifier Field Evaluation

CPE Services

John Esler – founder and president

Specializes in clarifier field evaluations

Author of Field Testing Chapter 7 WEF MOP FD-8

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Green Bay Facility Clarifiers

South Plant

Clarifier #4

North Plant

Clarifiers #5 & #6

#5 #6

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Field Tests

Conducted in April 2016

Timed to fall during elevated spring flows

Dye Tracer Tests

Drogue Current Tests

Dispersed/Flocculated Suspended Solids (DSS, FSS)

Vertical Solids Profiles

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Dye Tracer Tests

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Dye Tracer Tests

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Dye Tracer Tests

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Drogue Current Measurements

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Drogue Current Measurements

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Vertical Solids Profiles

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North - Dye Tracer Test Results

Imbalance in launders

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North - Dye Tracer Test Results

North Plant Clarifier No. 5: Outside weirs favored at elevated flow

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Drogue Current Measurements

North Plant Clarifier No. 5 at elevated flow: strong density currents

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Identified Performance Characteristic

Supporting Field Test Data

Potential Improvement

Density currents: short-circuiting

• Drogue current

measurements

• Dye testing results

• Increase centerwell

diameter to 20-25%

• Reduce centerwell depth

• Install energy dissipating

inlet

• Install mid-radius cylindrical

baffle

Out-of-balance launder: short-circuiting

• Dye testing results

• Replace launders in Clarifier

No. 6

Inboard launder: short-circuiting at perimeter

• Dye testing results

• Replace launders with

launders attached to outer

wall

Potential Improvements – North

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Bruce Bartel, NEW Water Nathan Cassity, Donohue

Optimization in Practice: Case Studies from NEW Water’s

Phosphorus and TSS Optimization Plans

WWOA, 51st Annual Conference October 2017