Enhanced Biological Phosphorus Removal at the Marquette Area WWTP 2012 MWEA Administrators Conference Frankenmuth, Michigan
Enhanced Biological Phosphorus Removal at the
Marquette Area WWTP
2012 MWEA Administrators Conference
Frankenmuth, Michigan
Outline
• the City and the plant
• Tankage, a good candidate.
• Process Specifics and Control
• Conditions to watch for
• Performance Summary: Chapter 1 and Chapter 2
Marquette Area WWTP
• Original construction 1953
• Secondary Treatment upgrade 1978
• Second, Secondary Treatment upgrade 2008
• Discharge
• Flow Rate
Selected Permit Limits
Phosphorus 1.0 mg/L
Ammonia (seasonal) 10 mg/L daily max
CBOD5 / TSS (varies seasonally)
17 mg/L / 30 mg/L
D.O. 4.0 mg/L
History of the Bio-P Tanks
• Original construction 1953: primary clarifiers, 2 x 115,000 gallons
• New Purpose: modified UCT bio-P tanks
• Cartoon illustrations
To aerationbasins
RAS
PrimaryEffluent
RAS
Z-1Z-2Z-3
Z-4 Z-5 Z-6
• 6 Baffled zones
• 3 RAS addition points
• Cut a RCR hole in the wall
To aerationbasins
RAS
PrimaryEffluentMixer
MixerMixerMixer
Mixer Mixer MixerMixerMixer
Mixer Mixer
Pump
RAS
Z-1Z-2Z-3
Z-4 Z-5 Z-6
• 1 High Volume Submersible pump
• 6 Mixers
• 1 ORP probe
To aerationbasins
RAS
PrimaryEffluentMixer
MixerMixerMixer
Mixer Mixer MixerMixerMixer
Mixer Mixer
Pump
RAS
Z-1Z-2Z-3
Z-4 Z-5 Z-6
UCT Enhanced Bio-P system
To aerationbasins
RAS
FromPrimariesMixer
MixerMixerMixer
Mixer Mixer MixerMixerMixer
Mixer Mixer
Pump
RAS
Bio-P Configuration Min Anaerobic, Max Anox.
Anaerobic Zone, Anoxic Zone
Flow Diagram
Bio-P Process
Anaerobic ConditionP Release
Anoxic Condition
Denitrification
Aerobic Condition
Phosphorus Uptake
ORP
OxygenCondition
0 mg/L DOConcentration
0 –~8 mg/L
DO
ORP, -500 mV
To +1000- mV
Anoxic Condition
Anaerobic Condition
Aerobic Condition
OxidizersFree elemental oxygen, O2NO3…any other type of oxidantReducersBiomass, ML bacteria
What ORP tells us
• Denitrification is complete
• Anaerobic conditions will exist, phosphorus will be released.
• Assumptions
– Influent strength sufficient to support release
– AS aerobic conditions will uptake
Phosphorus Removal Mechanisms
• Chemical coagulation
– Chemical sludge
– Bound up, dead end
• Biological uptake
– Phosphorus rich W.A.S.
• This can come back to haunt you!
Problematic Encounters
• Clarifier Collector Failures
• WAS tank aeration diffuser failure
• Root control
Marquette Area wastewater Treatment Plant
Impact of Root Control on
Final Effluent Phosphorus and Ammonia Concentrations
0.00
2.00
4.00
6.00
8.00
10.00
12.00
14.00
16.00
6/1/
2011
6/8/
2011
6/15
/201
1
6/22
/201
1
6/29
/201
1
7/6/
2011
7/13
/201
1
7/20
/201
1
7/27
/201
1
Co
ncen
trati
on
, m
g/L
Total-P
NH3-N
Ro
ot
Co
ntr
ol 6/2
2 -
6/2
5
Marquette Area Wastewater Treatment Plant
Effluent Phosphorus Concentration
July 2011 - December 2011
0.00
0.50
1.00
1.50
2.00
2.50
3.00
3.50
4.00
4.50
5.00
7/15
/201
1
7/22
/201
1
7/29
/201
1
8/5/
2011
8/12
/201
1
8/19
/201
1
8/26
/201
1
9/2/
2011
9/9/
2011
9/16
/201
1
9/23
/201
1
9/30
/201
1
10/7
/201
1
10/1
4/201
1
10/2
1/201
1
10/2
8/201
1
11/4
/201
1
11/1
1/201
1
11/1
8/201
1
11/2
5/201
1
12/2
/201
1
12/9
/201
1
12/1
6/201
1
12/2
3/201
1
12/3
0/201
1
Date
Eff
luen
t P
ho
sp
ho
rus C
on
cen
trati
on
, m
g/L
Total-P
Marquette Area Wastewater Treatment Plant
Effluent Phosphorus Concentration
July 2011 - December 2011
0.00
0.50
1.00
1.50
2.00
2.50
3.00
3.50
4.00
4.50
5.00
7/15
/201
1
7/22
/201
1
7/29
/201
1
8/5/
2011
8/12
/201
1
8/19
/201
1
8/26
/201
1
9/2/
2011
9/9/
2011
9/16
/201
1
9/23
/201
1
9/30
/201
1
10/7
/201
1
10/1
4/201
1
10/2
1/201
1
10/2
8/201
1
11/4
/201
1
11/1
1/201
1
11/1
8/201
1
11/2
5/201
1
12/2
/201
1
12/9
/201
1
12/1
6/201
1
12/2
3/201
1
12/3
0/201
1
Date
Eff
luen
t P
ho
sp
ho
rus C
on
cen
trati
on
, m
g/L
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
Total-P
Ferric Chloride
Summary
• Incredibly power biological tool…but
• Beware of non aerated ML sludge potential
• Be wary of keeping any excess WAS
• Added complexity: Increased likelihood of permit violation
• Have a Hair Trigger response with chemical addition
• Sidestream load equalization and ferric chloride addition to the process
• Layperson understanding of process.