upgrading lagoons to remove phosphorus nitrogen

Upgrading Lagoons To Remove Ammonia, Phosphorus & Nitrogen

Date: August 27th, 2014Industry – Convention Center Room C112Time: 2:10 – 2:40 pmTodd LatchawNelson Environmental Inc.www.nelsonenvironmental.com

Nutrient Removal

PhosphorusTotal Nitrogen

Ammonia

BOD TSS

Nitrogen ‐What’s in a name?

NH4‐N – AmmoniumNH3+N – Ammonia (Unionized or free ammonia) TAN – Total Ammonia Nitrogen (NH3‐N + NH4‐N)NO2‐N and NO3‐N ‐ Nitrite and Nitrate as Nitrogen TKN – Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen (TAN + Organic N) TN – Total Nitrogen (TKN + NO2‐N + NO3‐N)

Measured “as N” so that Nitrogen balances work

What is Nitrification?

The oxidation of ammonia to nitrate by two separate groups of organisms.

Ammonia – oxidizing bacteria (AOB) oxidize ammonia to nitrite.

Nitrite‐ oxidizing bacteria (NOB) oxidize nitrite to nitrate.

Nitrifying organisms are not floc formers. They consequently depend on being “Trapped” in heterotrophic floc to prevent being washed out of suspended growth systems.

Nitrifying organisms are able to attach to fixed media effectively.

Nitrification

Suspended Growth – Activated Sludge (Mechanical Plant) Mixing energy keeps organisms in suspension

Attached Growth

Organism are fixed to a media surface (rock or plastic)

Water is brought in contact with the bacteria on the media

Nitrification

Rock ‐ SAGR process Plastic ‐ RBC

Cold climate nitrification facts

Stops at temperatures below 5°C in conventional treatment

Full nitrification requires

temperatures at 8‐10 °C

“Nitrification precedes Total

Nitrogen removal”

Lagoon effluent in Canada is typically < 1oC

for 3 to 5 months

Nitrification occurs once

cBOD levels are low

(Back end of a lagoon system)

Lagoons – Abandon or Upgrade?

Upgrade Lagoons – Optimize existing infrastructure

• Low capital / O&M Costs

• Low operational complexity

• Low‐tech vs. high‐tech

Upgrade?

Abandon?

Abandon Lagoons ‐ Construct mechanical plants

• High capital / O&M Costs

• High operational complexity

• High‐tech vs. low‐tech?

SAME EFFLUENT QUALITY!

Aerated or Facultative Lagoons

(BOD & TSS Removal)

SAGR(Nitrification)

AN‐SAGR(Denitrification)

Tertiary Filtration (TP Removal)

CBOD, TSS and TP levels to 5/5/0.3 mg/lTotal Ammonia levels to 1 mg/l Total Nitrogen levels to 5 mg/l

Treatment process

InfluentAerated or Facultative Ponds

CBOD/TSS removal

Effluent

Continuous discharge lagoons with TAN & TP Removal

SAGRNitrification/BOD & TSS Polishing & Disinfection

Tertiary FiltrationTP removal

Influent Anoxic PondDenitrification

Effluent

Total Nitrogen & TP Removal

Tertiary FiltrationTP removal

Aerated or Facultative Ponds

CBOD/TSS removal

ANSAGR Denitrification

SAGR NitrificationBOD & TSS Polishing & Partial Disinfection

Recycle

What is a SAGR?

Fully aerated coarse gravel bedreactor.

Stable dense rock media which is not susceptible to temperature shock

Designed for cold water treatment (0.5°C)

The SAGR removes ammonia through nitrification and provides BOD/TSS polishing & disinfection

Submerged Attached Growth ReactorPrimary FeedSecondary

Feed

Zone 1

Zone 2

Collection Chamber

SAGR Performance Data

Parameters SAGR Influent Averages(mg/L)

SAGR Effluent Averages (mg/L)

Removal

cBOD 47 2.1 95.5%

TSS 30 1.3 95.7%

TAN 24.9 0.12 99.5%

TKN 32.5 1.8 94.5%

FC (cfu /100 ml) 253000 13.5 99.99%

Average water temperature (°C)

0.3 1.0

University of Manitoba Third Party Winter Operation Verification Data

(JANUARY 13 – APRIL 21, 2010)

Project Examples

SAGR for nitrification

Two (2) cell facultative lagoon(Continuous Discharge)

Mentone, Indiana

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

TAN (m

g/L) & Tem

p (°C)

Influent and Effluent TAN

Influent TAN Effluent TAN Influent Temp

Flow to Zone 1

Flow to Zone 2

Summer Feed point

NPDES Permit Requirements:‐ cBOD5 = 25 mg/L, TSS = 70 mg/L‐TAN = 9.6/10.4 mg/L (summer/winter)

Lagoon Effluent Feed point

Mentone, Indiana Data

Disk filter with alum addition for TP removal


Two (2) cell controlled discharge lagoon converted into a three (3) cell continuous discharge aerated

lagoon

Glencoe, Ontario

Glencoe, Ontario SAGR

Glencoe, Ontario

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

TAN (m

g/L) & W

ater Tem

p (°C)

Glencoe SAGR Data: Influent & Effluent TAN

Influent SAGR TAN Effluent SAGR TAN Water Temp (°C)

Permit Requirements:‐TAN = 3 mg/L Design flow = 0.46 MGD (1746 m3/day)

Design Flow1172 m3/Day(0.456 MGD)

UV Disinfection


Compressed media algae filter

Single cell facultative lagoon

Lamar, MO (upgraded facility)

Cold Temperature Effluent Averages

cBOD5 2.8 mg/L

TSS 3.8 mg/L

TAN 0.19 mg/L

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

TAN (m

g/L)

Lamar SAGR: Influent and Effluent TAN

Effluent TAN Water Temperature (°C)

Effluent Requirements:‐ TAN = 1.3/2.8 mg/L (summer/winter)

Lamar, MO Data

Design Flow2910 m3/Day (0.770 MGD)

UV Disinfection

Sand filters with alum addition for TP Removal


Two (2) cell aerated Lagoon (replaced existing SBR)

Long Plain First Nation, MB

Cold Temperature Effluent

cBOD5 1 mg/L

TSS 4 mg/L

TAN 0.03 mg/L

TP 0.014 mg/L

Fecal Coli form <3 MPN/100 ml

Total Coli form 23 MPN/100 ml


0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

TAN (m

g/L) & Tem

p (°C)

Long Plain SAGR: Influent & Effluent TAN



Balcarres, SK

UV disinfection


Partial mix aerated lagoon located with impermeable floating baffle

curtain

Cold Temperature EffluentParameter SAGR Effluent

cBOD5 1 mg/L

TSS 6 mg/L

TAN 0.02 mg/L

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

20

TAN (m

g/l)

Balcarres: SAGR Effluent TAN

SAGR Effluent TAN

Balcarres, SK


UV disinfection

Four (4) cell Horizontal flow SAGR for nitrification

Two (2) Partial mix/Settling aerated Lagoons with impermeable baffle

curtain

Kingsley, Iowa

Kingsley, IA

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

TAN (m

g/L)

Kingsley SAGR: Influent & Effluent TAN

SAGR Influent TAN SAGR Effluent TAN

System Startup

Kennard, Indiana

Two (2) SAGR modules for nitrification

Three (3) Cell aerated Lagoon(continuous discharge)

Kennard, IN

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

50

TAN m

g/L

Kennard, IN: SAGR Influent & Effluent TAN

Raw Wastewater Effluent SAGR TAN

Is the system compatible with future upgrades?

Total Phosphorus Removal Total Nitrogen Removal

OPTAER Phosphorus Removal

OPTAER Phosphorus Removal

Rapid and slow mix tanks for reaction

Small footprint, low backwash, high performance tertiary filters.

Removes suspended solids as small as 5 microns and can be configured for flows as low as 25,000 GPD.

Blumenort SAGR TN Pilot

Started up December 2012System design and sizing is based on the Lloydminster &U of M study

Sand Filter for TP Removal & Polishing

Denitrification Module


Aerated Lagoons

Blumenort TN Pilot (Year 2)Year 2 of Operation:

Start-up Mid- August 2013Performance:

Effluent TN = 4.75 mg/L Effluent NO3

- < 0.25 mg/L Detection Limit

Effluent NO2- < 0.25 mg/L

Detection Limit

SAGR process provides nitrification to < 1mg/L ammonia at 100% design flow SAGR process provides nitrification to < 1mg/L ammonia at 100% design flow

Consistent BOD/TSS <5/10 mg/L

(lower with tertiary filtration) Consistent BOD/TSS <5/10 mg/L

(lower with tertiary filtration)

Specifically designed for cold water applicationsSpecifically designed for cold water applications

Phosphorus <1 mg/l (or <0.1 mg/l if required)Phosphorus <1 mg/l

(or <0.1 mg/l if required)TN removal to effluent levels <10 mg/l

are viableTN removal to effluent levels <10 mg/l

are viable

Your lagoons are likely paid for so use themYour lagoons are likely paid for so use them

Conclusion

Questions?

www.nelsonenvironmental.com

upgrading lagoons to remove phosphorus nitrogen

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