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4 pierce ssss presentation ii - 10-27-10
The document discusses changes in technology at the LOTT Clean Water Alliance Budd Inlet Treatment Plant. In the 1980s, the plant used oxygenation basins and returned activated sludge for secondary treatment. In 1992-1994, the plant underwent a $45.9 million upgrade to add biological nutrient removal using a nitrification-denitrification process. This involves adding oxygen to convert ammonium to nitrites and nitrates, and then using anoxic zones to convert the nitrates back to nitrogen gas. The current plant uses this process to meet permit limits of 3 mg/L total inorganic nitrogen from April to October and has significantly reduced the plant's nitrogen loading on Budd Inlet compared to levels in the 1980s. The
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4 pierce ssss presentation ii - 10-27-10
- 1. Laurie Pierce 360-528-5727 lauriepierce@lottcleanwater.org www.lottcleanwater.org Changing Technologyat the LOTT Clean Water Alliance
- 3.
- 7. 1980’s Plant Configuration OxygenationBasin Return Activated Sludge Mixed Liquor Channel Secondary Clarifiers Cryogenic Oxygen Production Chlorine Addition
- 9. The Nitrogen Cycle NH4 + NO2 - & NO3 - N2 Adding Oxygen Converts Ammonium toNitrite and Nitrate Anoxic zones force organisms to use oxygen bound in NO2 and NO3 Nitrogen gas is released to the atmosphere Wastewater contains Nitrogen (Ammonium) 2NH4 + + 4O2 NO2 - + NO3 - + 2H+ + 3H2O The body rids itself of nitrogen as a waste product
- 10. Biological Treatment Process $45.9Million in 1992-1994 Return Activated Sludge Secondary Clarifiers Second Aeration Basin Second Anoxic Basin Splitter Box First Aeration Basin Internal Mixed Liquor Recycle First Anoxic Basin Intermediate Pumping Station Diversion StructurePrimary Effluent Return Activated Sludge Secondary Clarifiers Second Aeration Basin Second Anoxic Basin Splitter Box First Aeration Basin Internal Mixed Liquor Recycle First Anoxic Basin Intermediate Pumping Station Diversion StructurePrimary Effluent 4X average flow recycle
- 11.
- 12. Current Budd InletTreatment Plant Permit Limits Parameter Permit Limits Loadings- Based Limits Total Inorganic Nitrogen (Nitrate and Ammonia) 3 mg/L (since 1994) 338 lbs 288 lbs Nutrient Removal Season April 1st to October 31st Summer Biochemical Oxygen Demand 7 mg/L 671 lbs Spring and Fall Biochemical Oxygen Demand 8 mg/L 900 lbs
- 13. LOTT’s Nitrogen Loadingon Budd Inlet Source: Department of Ecology, South Puget Sound Dissolved Oxygen Study
- 14. LOTT’s Potential NitrogenLoading on Budd Inlet 0 200000 400000 600000 800000 1000000 1200000 1400000 1600000 1800000 1985 1987 1989 1991 1993 1995 1997 1999 2001 2003 2005 2007 2009 1980's loading rates 1994 and Beyond
- 15. Our Approach -Education
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Editor's Notes
- #2 Good Morning –I am Laurie PierceOperations and Facilities Director forThe LOTT Clean Water AllianceI have been asked to talk with you today about the way technology has changed over the years at LOTT, And about the way LOTT plans to adapt to changing conditions as we move into the future.
- #3 The LOTT Clean Water Alliance is a not-for-profit corporation governed by representatives from the four partners we serve; Lacey, Olympia, Tumwater and Thurston County.
- #4 LOTT’s main treatment facility, the Budd Inlet Treatment Plant is located at the base of the Port of Olympia peninsula. It discharges into Budd Inlet, which is at the southernmost end of Puget Sound.The Budd Inlet Treatment Plant treats an average of 11 million gallons of wastewater each day to “advanced secondary” standards.Most treated water is discharged into Budd Inlet but a portion of the plant effluent, up to 1 mgd, is treated to Class A Reclaimed Water standards.
- #5 Prior to the original treatment plant, everything wet went into the bay.The original treatment plant came online in 1952 and provided the most basic level of treatment – primary sedimentation and disinfection.The solids were anaerobically digested and dried in sludge drying beds (which grew awesome tomatoes!)
- #6 LOTT was formed in 1976 in response to the federal Clean Water Act which also provided federal grant funds to upgrade treatment of discharges to work toward the goal of “fishable and swimable” water throughout the United States. Washington State supported the effort with additional grant funding for projects meeting federal Clean Water Act requirements. One of the grant funding conditions was that wastewater treatment be handled regionally. This was in recognition of well-established notions of economies of scale in wastewater treatment and the need for efficiency in implementing the Clean Water Act. Here is what the water in Budd Inlet looked like prior to nutrient removal at LOTT, and at lower annual average flows. (~9.0MGD)
- #7 Late 70’s construction brought the plant’s treatment process up to “secondary” standards
- #8 In 1982 the high purity oxygen secondary treatment plant came on line. During this period, LOTT discharged an average of 1300 pounds of nitrogen per day into Budd Inlet. I was going to show you what the original plant configuration was in a similar fashion but it turned out to be one box for the primary sedimentation basins and a round circle for the chlorine – it made for a pretty boring slide…
- #9 In the late 1980’s, as a result of water quality studies, Ecology issued an administrative order amending LOTT’s NPDES permit to mandate nitrogen removal.Algal blooms in the inlet were creating an excessive demand for Dissolved Oxygen during the critical months of April through October.The original (and very typical) permit limits of 30/30 TSS/BOD were amended to include an interim Total Inorganic Nitrogen Limit of 4 mg/L to be implemented by April, 1993 and ultimately 3 mg/L by April 1994.
- #10 The Nitrogen Cycle explains how the Budd Inlet Treatment Plant’s Secondary Treatment Process works
- #11 The upgrade to nitrogen removal cost LOTT approximately $45.9 Million in 1992 (which equates to over $72 M today).This plant in its current configuration is the second largest power consumer in Thurston County. Our annual power bill is in excess of $1.5M to run all LOTT facilities.This process was sized to accommodate potential future brewery loadings.The configuration of the existing de-nitrification system is excessive for current needs. Plans are underway to streamline this process.The large expense LOTT incurred to make nitrogen removal improvements in the 90’s illustrates the need for all utilities to conduct long-range planning and sound financial management.
- #13 The plant’s permit was reissued in 2005 and included a loadings-based nitrogen limit.These are the limits under which LOTT currently operates.The Total Inorganic Nitrogen limit is raised to 338 pounds/day during the colder “shoulder” months of April, May and October.The loadings-based permit structure also impacts how much flow LOTT can discharge into Budd Inlet. The cleaner we can get the water, the more we can discharge and vice versa.These are some of the most stringent TIN limits in the entire country, especially for plants with marine discharges like ours. A TMDL technical study has been completed, and implementation planning is underway. The low Dissolved Oxygen in this area of Puget Sound, which was one of the initial drivers for Ecology to steer LOTT toward nitrogen removal, continues to cause concern. The results of the TMDL implementation effort will more than likely have a significant impact on these limits and on the way LOTT will manage wastewater in the future.
- #14 Here is how LOTT compares to other treatment facilities discharging into the waters of Puget Sound.The average daily total inorganic nitrogen loading to Budd Inlet from LOTT this year is 258 pounds/day (average flow 10.28 MGD)Average of 352 lb/day over the last 16 years
- #15 The potential impacts of continuation of “business as usual” would have been disastrous for Budd Inlet and the fish and wildlife that depend on it as their habitat.So – Where do we go from here?There are many challenges ahead – Plan for Build-Out without knowing the impacts of: Deschutes/Budd Inlet TMDL Reclaimed Water Rule New permit limits Difficulty in land acquisition Land use permitting issuesCapital Planning – LOTT’s CIP covers property acquisition, capacity development, repairs, replacements and improvements to our system Planning period extends to 2053 – expected build-out of the UGA Helps LOTT avoid the large rate increases being see across the nation Designed to look far enough into the future to be able to make small, incremental rate adjustments now – so that when we reach 2030, 2040 and beyond, no matter how technology, regulations, or the economy may change, we will have sufficient funding to adapt to those changes It’s like steering an aircraft carrier – it takes a long time and a lot of space to make even small changes - so you have to plan your course far in advance – and once you get headed in a direction it can be difficult to make significant changes from your original course
- #16 Educate the publicEducate our regulatorsEducate our staffEducate our peers
- #17 Educate our children – come visit the WET Center!