A Constructed Wetlands A Constructed Wetlands to Enhance Final to Enhance Final

Treatment of Waste Treatment of Waste Water from a Poultry Water from a Poultry

Processing PlantProcessing Plant

J. B. HessJ. B. Hess11, J.P. Blake, J.P. Blake11, K.S. Macklin, K.S. Macklin11, T. , T. SmithSmith22, D. Toddes, D. Toddes22 and T. Esslinger and T. Esslinger22, ,

11Poultry Science Dept. Auburn University, Poultry Science Dept. Auburn University, AL and AL and 22Keystone Foods, Eufaula, ALKeystone Foods, Eufaula, AL

Poultry ProcessingPoultry Processing

Alabama – 1 Billion Birds/Year, Alabama – 1 Billion Birds/Year, 125 Million at any given time125 Million at any given time

Alabama – 26 Processing PlantsAlabama – 26 Processing Plants Processing – UsesProcessing – Uses

Lots of WaterLots of Water Sources – Municipal,Sources – Municipal,

WellWell

Poultry Processing Poultry Processing

Environmental IssuesEnvironmental Issues Water UsageWater Usage

– 4-9 Gallons/Bird4-9 Gallons/Bird

Waste DisposalWaste Disposal– Solids – OffalSolids – Offal– DAF SkimmingsDAF Skimmings– Liquids, BiosolidsLiquids, Biosolids

Keystone Foods EufaulaKeystone Foods Eufaula

Broiler IntegrationBroiler Integration 980,000 Broilers/Week980,000 Broilers/Week Primary Processing – 200,000 Primary Processing – 200,000

broilers/Daybroilers/Day Further Processing – Breading Further Processing – Breading

and Cookingand Cooking

Processing WasteProcessing Waste

Offal – DewateredOffal – Dewatered Skimmings – DewateredSkimmings – Dewatered

–FloculantFloculant Processing WastewaterProcessing Wastewater

–BiosolidsBiosolids

PretreatmentPretreatment

Rotary DrumRotary Drum– – – Large SolidsLarge Solids

Dissolved Air FlotationDissolved Air Flotation– – – Solids, Fats and OilsSolids, Fats and Oils

Products Go to RenderingProducts Go to Rendering– American Proteins – Cuthbert, GAAmerican Proteins – Cuthbert, GA– Recycled – Animal Feed, Biodiesel Recycled – Animal Feed, Biodiesel

PretreatmentPretreatment

RenderingRendering

American ProteinsAmerican Proteins Offal Picked Up ContinuouslyOffal Picked Up Continuously Pressure CookedPressure Cooked Animal Protein MealsAnimal Protein Meals Fats – Biodiesel,Fats – Biodiesel,

Animal FeedAnimal Feed

Modified Sequence Batch Modified Sequence Batch ReactorReactor

AnoxicAnoxic OxygenatedOxygenated

Secondary TreatmentSecondary Treatment

ClarifiersClarifiers Holding PondHolding Pond

BiosolidsBiosolids

From ClarifiersFrom Clarifiers Beneficial use PermitBeneficial use Permit Contract with FarmerContract with Farmer Spread on Hay FieldsSpread on Hay Fields

Constructed WetlandsConstructed Wetlands

Free Water Surface WetlandsFree Water Surface Wetlands 16 Cells – 3.2 Acres16 Cells – 3.2 Acres 55 Acre Site55 Acre Site 90% of90% of

WastewaterWastewater

Constructed Wetland Constructed Wetland CellsCells

11 Days Transit Time11 Days Transit Time First Six Cells – CattailsFirst Six Cells – Cattails

– Three Feeder LinesThree Feeder Lines Second Six Cells – CattailsSecond Six Cells – Cattails

– Three Feeder LinesThree Feeder Lines Four Cells – Four Cells – Wild RiceWild Rice,,

BulrushBulrush,, Cattails Cattails

and Giant Reedand Giant Reed

Plantings UsedPlantings Used

CattailsCattails Typha latifoliaTypha latifolia

Plantings UsedPlantings Used

BulrushBulrush ScirpusScirpus

Plantings UsedPlantings Used

Giant ReedGiant Reed Phragmites Phragmites

Plantings UsedPlantings Used

Wild RiceWild Rice Zizania aquaticaZizania aquatica

Plantings UsedPlantings Used

Water HyacinthsWater Hyacinths EichhorniaEichhornia Algae ControlAlgae Control Additional Nutrient RemovalAdditional Nutrient Removal Temporary - RemovedTemporary - Removed

Final Cleaning StepsFinal Cleaning Steps

Microscreens – RemoveMicroscreens – Remove

Plant MaterialPlant Material Rapid Infiltration BedsRapid Infiltration Beds Sand Infiltration BedSand Infiltration Bed

Additional OptionAdditional Option

Spray FieldsSpray Fields Adjacent to the Processing PlantAdjacent to the Processing Plant 221 Acres221 Acres Hay HarvestedHay Harvested Winter CropWinter Crop 10% of Total10% of Total

Nutrient ResultsNutrient Results

Targets Pretreatment Effluent

Biological MSBR Effluent

Wetlands Effluent

BOD 30 800 8 3.6

TSS 50 400 4 3.7

NH3 Summer

2.6 30 1.4 0.4

NH3 Winter

4.6 30 1.2

ConclusionsConclusions

Mechanical Waste Handling Mechanical Waste Handling Accomplishes Substantial Nutrient Accomplishes Substantial Nutrient RemovalRemoval

Constructed Wetlands Provides Constructed Wetlands Provides Final PolishingFinal Polishing

Constructed Wetlands Provides Constructed Wetlands Provides Additional Cleansing PotentialAdditional Cleansing Potential

A Constructed Wetlands A Constructed Wetlands to Enhance Final to Enhance Final

Treatment of Waste Treatment of Waste Water from a Poultry Water from a Poultry

Processing PlantProcessing Plant

J. B. HessJ. B. Hess11, J.P. Blake, J.P. Blake11, K.S. Macklin, K.S. Macklin11, T. , T. SmithSmith22, D. Toddes, D. Toddes22 and T. Esslinger and T. Esslinger22, ,

11Poultry Science Dept. Auburn University, Poultry Science Dept. Auburn University, AL and AL and 22Keystone Foods, Eufaula, ALKeystone Foods, Eufaula, AL