"A Unique Approach for Assessing the Capacity of a Biological Nutrient Removal Facility"
Tom DeBusk, Xin Yang, and George Lee
Proceedings of the 72nd annual conference and exposition of the Water Environment Federation (WEFTEC '99), New Orleans, LA. October 9-13, 1999.
ABSTRACT:We performed a process audit of a biological nutrient removal wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) using a novel suite of in situ, on-line instruments. These instruments measure the times required to complete the nitrification and denitrification processes within the bioreactor. We subsequently compared these times with the hydraulic retention times for the oxic and anoxic zones under a range of current and projected hydraulic loadings. We found that at a flow of 5.0 MGD (167% of permitted capacity), there is adequate detention time within the bioreactor to safely complete the critical nitrogen removal processes. As a confirmation of our in situ measurements, we ran a computer simulation of the facility, which also revealed bioreactor capacity in excess of 5.0 MGD. As a result of this audit, we are now working with the WWTP staff to develop operational protocols that will be useful for "high capacity" operations.