Monday, January 23, 2012

Upper Blackstone WPAD: Sustainable Plant Improvements Feature BNR, Improved Air Pollution Controls

Since 2001, the Upper Blackstone Wastewater Treatment Facility (WWTF) has undergone a series of improvements aimed at achieving stringent nutrient removal and air pollution control standards. These improvements included enhanced biological nutrient removal which has resulted in low nitrogen and phosphorus effluent concentration without additional chemicals and energy use. At the same time, the facility has achieved extremely low emissions from their multiple hearth incinerators.  The 45-mgd facility currently treats an annual average flow of 30 mgd while achieving the following average effluent conditions:

CBOD – 2.5 mg/L SS – 5 mg/L TN – 6 mg/L TP – 0.6 mg/L

The four-phased WWTF improvement project is currently in its third phase. The first two phases of the project included upgrades to the majority of the liquid processes as well as air pollution control upgrades. The project is the result of a comprehensive capital improvement plan developed through the District’s facilities planning which identified a cost-effective approach to upgrading the aging plant. The total cost of all four phases is estimated to be $200M. The first two phases fulfilled the requirements of a 2001 administrative order with MassDEP and EPA. Phase 3, which has been underway since 2009, includes energy efficiency, solar power, and solids management facilities upgrades and is using a CM at-risk approach.

Highlights of the tour will include lunch in the new training facility as well as an overview of the four phases of upgrades at the WWTF which include:

• A expanded headworks
• New peak flow management facilities
• Upgraded bioreactors
• Conversion to fine bubble aeration, including installation of four new 800+ Hp blowers in a fabric structures
• Use of submerged mixers in anaerobic and anoxic zones
• Conversion of gaseous chlorine to sodium hypochlorite disinfection
• Air pollution control improvements that include wet electrostatic precipitators and flue gas recirculation
• Ongoing improvements to thickening and dewatering operations.
• SCADA Upgrade

Scheduled for Monday, January 23, 2012 from 12:30–4:30 PM at the Upper Blackstone WPAD in Millbury, Massachusetts.

All attendees will be expected to have suitable footwear and warm clothing for the outdoor portions of the tour. Tour participants will receive a separate confirmation.  Pre-registration required.