Ashland’s Envirogen FBR system will consist of a fluidized bed bioreactor, chemical feed system and PLC-based process controls. The Ashland wastewater treatment plant is permitted to treat 1.3 MGD but currently runs at an average flow of 0.8 MGD, with a nutrient cap load of 6 mg/L, or approximately 24,000 lbs/year. The Envirogen FBR system will be capable of removing nutrients from the plant’s effluent at a rate of 50-60 lbs/day.
The contract with the Borough of Ashland is funded in part by an Innovative Technologies grant under the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection’s (PA-DEP) ‘Growing Greener’ programme. The Envirogen FBR system will remove nitrates from the plant’s effluent prior to discharge and help the Borough of Ashland keep its treated wastewater well below the State’s new regulatory limits, scheduled to take effect in 2012. Ashland will also gain nutrient credits which can be sold to other dischargers under a system recently adopted by the PA-DEP, further offsetting treatment costs.
William Guarini, director, East Region for Envirogen, said: “In critical estuary habitat areas such as the Chesapeake Bay, it’s essential that we all come together to optimise treatment technology and minimise nutrient releases as much as possible. The people of Ashland had the foresight to identify nutrient treatment opportunities before regulations forced the issue. With the help of its engineering firm and Envirogen, Ashland was able to take advantage of the State’s grant programme and develop an innovative technology solution that will meet its future environmental needs and perhaps form a new source of revenue for the Borough.”
