Partnering with POTWs to Use P2 to Achieve Industrial Phosphorus Reduction Cindy McComas University of Minnesota—MnTAP 612-624-4678 [email protected].

Partnering with POTWs to Use P2 to Achieve Industrial Phosphorus Reduction

Cindy McComas

University of Minnesota—MnTAP

612-624-4678

[email protected]

Point vs Non Point Phosphorus Sources--Minnesota River Basin

High flow

Non point 90 %

Point source 10 %

Low flow

36 %

64 %

Challenges Facing WWTFs

• Reduce phosphorus and other pollutant loading

• Prepare Phosphorus Management Plans

• Meet 1 mg/L limit

• Aging systems

Three Strategies for Phosphorus Reduction

• Industrial/commercial/institutional

• Residential education

• Removal at POTW

Industrial Assistance Approach

• Contact with POTWs in three basins: Upper and Lower Mississippi Rivers, Minnesota River

• Identify industrial phosphorus contributors

• Provide phosphorus reduction assistance to industrial contributors (site visits, interns, teams)

MnTAP, University of Minnesota

• Site visits

• Student interns

• Facilitated industry teams

• Resources for mercury elimination

Industrial Sources of Phosphorus

• Metal conversion coatings (prior to painting)

• Food processing and food waste

• Cleaning and sanitizing operations

Electrolux, St. Cloud

• Manufactures freezers

• Switched two cleaning/conversion coating lines to no phosphorus

• Reduced phosphorus by 90% from 42 lb/day to below 5 lb/day

Bongards Creameries, Norwood

• Butter, cheese and whey powder

• Changes: – clean in place systems

– dry cleanup prior to wet cleanup

– installed level sensors on tanks

• Reduced phosphorus by 60% from 150 lb/day to 60 lb/day

Schwan Food Company, Marshall

• Frozen foods• Switched to low/

no P cleaners and sanitizers

• Reduced P from 36 lb/day to 13 lb/day; 8,400 lb/yr

• 30% reduction at the same time as a 31% increase in flow

Industrial Loading Impact on POTW

• City of Richmond and meat locker• Wastewater treatment plant went

from influent of 11.25 ppm (9.4 lb/day) to 5 ppm (4.2 lb/day)

• Meat locker reduced 1,092 lb phosphorus/yr by keeping material off the floor and moving to no-phosphorus cleaners

Activity Results

• Contacts: 200 POTWs 131 industrial

facilities

• Site visits: 62 POTWs113 industries

• Intern projects: 7

Outcome Results

• Reduced– Phosphorus 65,950 lb

– BOD/TSS 7.5 million lb

– Water 104 million gal

• Cost savings to businesses– $3.2 million

Lessons Learned

• Partnering with POTWs to reach industries

• P2 is an effective tool to reduce P and other pollutants to POTWs

• Regulatory requirements are motivators (PMP and P limits)

• Industries save money due to more efficient use of raw materials

• POTWs cut costs for chemical use

Next Steps—Community Wide Reduction Effort

• Partner with cities

• Inventory businesses

• Educate business and residential contributors

• Provide assistance to identify phosphorus reduction options

• Measure reductions

Project Support

• U.S. EPA Region 5

• The McKnight Foundation

• Minnesota Office of Environmental Assistance

• Minnesota Pollution Control Agency