A Story of Regulatory Success

How the Town of Cary and Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Partnered with NC DEQ/DWR and EPA to Improve Analytical Standards for Thermally Dried Biosolids

NC AW W A/ W EA Conference 20 17Presented by: Kelly Spainhour – Tow n of Cary, South Cary W RF

Chris Shamel - W inston-Salem/ Forsyth County Ut ilit ies

Legacy Biosolids Opt ions

Digester

Biological Treatment

Landfill Land Application

Drying Bed

Composting

Fuel

W hy Biosolids Drying?

Alternatives such as land application can be challenging in urban and suburban areas. Thermal Drying reduces biosolidsvolume.Class A, Exceptional Quality Product.Applied virtually free of site and use

restrictions.

W inston-Salem – Archie Elledge W W TP(Permit ted at 30 -MGD – Convent ional Treatment )

W inston-Salem – Muddy Creek W W TP(Permit ted at 21-MGD Convent ional Treatment )

W inston-Salem – Dew atering & Drying Facilit y

Andrit z Rotary Drum Dryer

Dryer System Process Schemat ic

Dryer Build ing and Storage Facilit y

South Cary W RF – 1 Dryer Serves 2 Plants

North Cary W RF – Overview(Permit ted at 12.0 -MGD Advanced BNR Treatment , ADF of 7-MGD)

South Cary W RF – Overview(Permit ted at 12.8-MGD Advanced BNR Treatment , ADF of 5.5-MGD)

South Cary W RF Biosolids Dryer(Andrit z DDS-40 , Rated at 5,742 Dry Tons/ Year)

South Cary WRF’s AndritzRotary Drum Dryer has been in operation since 2006Centrifuge dewatering Centrifuge/Dryer also receives solids

from North Cary WRFProcesses 3,500 dry tons/yearPelletized productClass A, Exceptional QualityNutrient content of 5-4-0 in Enviro Gems

with 1.5% iron.

South Cary W RF – Andrit z Rotary Drum Dryer

W estern W ake Reg ional W ater Reclam. Fac.(Permit ted at 18-MGD Advanced BNR Treatment , ADF of 5-MGD)

W estern W ake RW RF – Belt Dryer Overview

W estern W ake RW RF – Kruger Belt Dryer(Pellet izing added for improved f inal p roduct qualit y)

Kruger Belt Dryers 2 Train

ConfigurationRated at 5,135

Dry Tons/YearEnd Product is

Dry StrandsPelletizing

improves bulk density

Dry Biosolids Benef icial Reuse

Pelletized heat dried biosolids are marketed through Soil Plus for beneficial reuse.Potential uses are as fertilizer and organic

soil conditioner for agricultural and forestry applications.

Compliance Challenge w it h Analyt ical Methods for Dry Biosolids

EPA 50 3 Regulat ions

EPA’s 503 Regs.– National policy on biosolidsand sewer

sludge disposal.– Adopted in 1993.

Focus on Traditional BiosolidsDisposal

Heat Drying Options are Relatively New– Class A, Exceptional Quality Product– Virtually free of site and use restrictions– Applied freely as organic soil amendment

or fertilizer

Heat Dry Biosolids Are A Stab le Product

What is the Problem?–Compliance Monitoring –Outdated Regulations–Sample Preservation and Hold Time

Requirements

A Federal regulatory compliance challenge

W hat is t he Compliance Challenge?

Four Critical Elements of ComplianceAcid Preservation Total Solids Analysis pH Analysis Fecal Coliform

Biosolids Terminology

Non-Aqueous? Not the best terminology. Liquid: ability to flow naturallySemi-solid: pliable without ability to flow

naturallySolid: non-pliable

Biosolids Analyt ical Prep Methods

Non- existent preparatory methods for nutrient analyses.Data qualifiers on monitoring reports. Legal defensibility of data.Outdated regulations prevent full

compliance with CWA program requirements in 40 CFR Part 136.

Partnership Model t o Solve t he Compliance Challenge

New Approach: Forg ing a Partnership

Cary and Winston-Salem/Forsyth CountyNC Dept. of Environmental QualityEPA

Develop ing our Compliance St rategy

Meeting on June 22, 2016.Discuss a Common Point of ViewMeeting Conclusion: a Federal regulatory

problemApproach EPA to find a solution

Kelly and Chris Go to W ashington

Participants: Cary, Winston-Salem/Forsyth County, NC DEQ/DWR Lab Certification, Non-Discharge Permitting, and Regional Offices.Meeting conclusion –outdated regulations

prevent full ability to comply with CWA requirements for biosolids analyses.EPA eager to assist in helping us to achieve

our compliance goals.

Recommendat ions – A Path Forw ard

Formal Regulatory updates may take years to executeEPA ATP Process is a better option

How to Navigate ATP Process Approval

EPA ATP for Limited Use - 40CFR Part 136.5Apply through NC DEQ/DWR Lab

Certification SupervisorSubmitted to EPA by NC DEQ/DWR Lab

Certification Program SupervisorATP for Limited Use is for Regional or

NPDES Permit specific approval

Current Status

Kelly Spainhour (Town of Cary) and Dana Satterwhite (NC DEQ) working together to compose new Methods for non-existent nutrient analysesNew Method Development and Validation

Utilizing EPA 821-B-16-001 Under EPA’s Alternative Test Procedure ProgramNo acid preservation 24 hold time at ambient for coliform

and pH analysis 7 day hold time at ambient for TS analysis

How do w e Def ine Success?

Partnership approach

Working together – regulated and regulatory to accomplish compliance goals

Path toward National Approval

Quest ions?

For more informat ion, contact :Kelly Spainhour, South Cary W RF Lab Supervisor

919.779.0 697, kelly.spainhour@townofcary.org

Chris Shamel, W inston-Salem/ Forsyth County336.397.7678, chrisss@cit yofws.com

Dana Sat terwhite, NC Dept . of Environmental Qualit y919.733.390 8, dana.sat terwhite@ncdenr.gov