producing class a biosolids the chicago way – a unique pfrp equivalency process dr. lakhwinder s....
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Producing Class A Biosolids Producing Class A Biosolids The Chicago Way – A Unique The Chicago Way – A Unique PFRP Equivalency ProcessPFRP Equivalency Process
Dr. Lakhwinder S. HundalDr. Lakhwinder S. Hundal
Sr. Environmental Soil ScientistSr. Environmental Soil ScientistEM&R Department EM&R Department
Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater ChicagoMetropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago
NWBMA Conference, Chelan, WA Sept 19 – 21, 2010
Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater ChicagoMetropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago
Protecting Our Water Environment
Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater ChicagoMetropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago
Protecting Our Water Environment
Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater ChicagoMetropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago
Founded in 1889 to protect water quality of Lake MichiganFounded in 1889 to protect water quality of Lake Michigan
Services Cook County Illinois including city of Chicago and Services Cook County Illinois including city of Chicago and 125 suburban communities125 suburban communities
Service area covers 875 sq. miles and includes 5.5 million Service area covers 875 sq. miles and includes 5.5 million people + industry equivalent to 5.7 million people people + industry equivalent to 5.7 million people
Operates seven water reclamation plants handling daily Operates seven water reclamation plants handling daily flow of 1.5 billion gallonsflow of 1.5 billion gallons
– – Fill 450 acre swimming pool 10 ft. deep dailyFill 450 acre swimming pool 10 ft. deep daily
Produces ~180,000 dry tons biosolids annuallyProduces ~180,000 dry tons biosolids annually–– Takes ~ 15,000 semi trailers to haul annual Takes ~ 15,000 semi trailers to haul annual
productionproduction
About The MWRDAbout The MWRD
It is a Big Pile of Poop!!
Solids management was not
an issue in 1889
Became a necessity in 1920s
Constructed Imhoff Tanks
• Calumet WRP in 1922
• Stickney WRP in 1930
Imhoff tanks provided sludge
storage and digestion
Evolution of Solids Evolution of Solids Management …Management …
Installed lagoons in 1937 to handle IHS, WAS, & PS
Long-term storage discontinued in 1970sLong-term storage discontinued in 1970s
• Due to horrific odor and public outcryDue to horrific odor and public outcry
• Dwindling lagoon capacityDwindling lagoon capacity
Evolution of Solids Management … Evolution of Solids Management … contd.contd.
Disposal in lagoons Disposal in lagoons – Not a good – Not a good optionoption
Evaluated feasibility and economics of three
alternatives:
• IHS drying on sand beds
• Separate digestion in heated tanks and drying on
sand beds
• Mechanical dewatering IHS, heat drying & incineration
Adopted the 3rd alternative; built a mechanical
dewatering facility, a heat drying, and an
incineration plant in 1937
Evolution of Solids Management … Evolution of Solids Management … contd.contd.
Era of Nitroganic Era of Nitroganic TankageTankage
Sold as:
•Bulk to citrus farmers in Florida
•In bags as Nitrorganic Tankage Heat drying abandoned in 1981
•Energy shortage in 1979
•O&M costs too high
•Environmental awarenessEnvironmental awareness
Air-dried Imhoff sludge “Give Away” Air-dried Imhoff sludge “Give Away” program program
Used in home gardens as a “soil Used in home gardens as a “soil builder”builder”
Public loved itPublic loved it
Era of Nu Earth (1930s – 1987)
Promoting Nu EarthPromoting Nu Earth
Discontinued in 1987 due Discontinued in 1987 due
to:to:
High metal content – High metal content –
Cd > >300 mg/kgCd > >300 mg/kg
Bad pressBad press
The District commit to The District commit to
distribute biosolids distribute biosolids
only under controlled only under controlled
practicepractice
Demise of Nu Earth
Using Liquid Sludge For Using Liquid Sludge For Reclamation of Strip-Reclamation of Strip-
Mined LandMined Land
Barging Liquid Sludge 200 miles Down the Illinois River to Fulton
County
“Prairie Plan” Fulton County, IL
- 1971
Won the engineering award of 1974 – Competition was BART in
San Francisco, CA and Sears Tower in Chicago
No biosolids to site since 2004 because:No biosolids to site since 2004 because: Production of air-dried EQ biosolidsProduction of air-dried EQ biosolids
Ability to find local outlets for EQ biosolidsAbility to find local outlets for EQ biosolids
Plain economics – Cost savingsPlain economics – Cost savings
Air-dried EQ biosolids readily accepted as topsoil Air-dried EQ biosolids readily accepted as topsoil substitute for daily and final covers in municipal substitute for daily and final covers in municipal landfillslandfills
Increased local demand for air-dried EQ biosolidsIncreased local demand for air-dried EQ biosolids
“ “Prairie Plan” Fulton County, Prairie Plan” Fulton County, ILIL
Common Beneficial UsesCommon Beneficial Uses
Soil Amendment / Soil ConditionerSoil Amendment / Soil Conditioner Improve soil fertility and soil tilthImprove soil fertility and soil tilth
Substitute for Commercial FertilizersSubstitute for Commercial Fertilizers Top dressing golf coursesTop dressing golf courses
Fertilizing agricultural crops Fertilizing agricultural crops
Substitute for TopsoilSubstitute for Topsoil Construction of recreational facilitiesConstruction of recreational facilities
Landfill Cover – Daily and final coverLandfill Cover – Daily and final cover
Cinder Ridge Golf Links
Area: 100 acres, 18-hole
course
Quantity = 500 – 600 ton/yr
Savings: >$25,000
Harborside International Golf Harborside International Golf CourseCourse 453-acre site including two 18 hole
courses and golf academy
Over 500,000 dry tons of District’s biosolids used in final cover of landfill
Hosted Georgia-pacific senior PGA pro Am and SBC senior open
Voted third best municipal golf course in USA by the golf week magazine
?
Chicago River Chicago River
Sculpture Park in Sculpture Park in
ChicagoChicago
Area: 4 acres
Application rate = 650 ton/ac
Savings: >$75,000
BIOSOLIDS Utilization SUMMARY
Farmland (80%
)
Daily & Final
Cover (7%) LandfillCo-disposal
(3%)
Golf Courses, Parks (10%)
PFRP-Equivalent Class A PFRP-Equivalent Class A CertificationCertification
Increase Research and Increase Research and Demonstration ActivitiesDemonstration Activities
Major Initiatives Undertaken Major Initiatives Undertaken to Attain Current Programto Attain Current Program
After 1993 the District started evaluating After 1993 the District started evaluating its solids processing trains for Class A PFRPits solids processing trains for Class A PFRP
Evaluated pathogen analyses of 344 Evaluated pathogen analyses of 344 samples from 1991-1996 monitoring samples from 1991-1996 monitoring
Filed a petition to USEPA’s Pathogen Filed a petition to USEPA’s Pathogen Equivalency CommitteeEquivalency Committee
Pathogen analysis on additional 1,400 Pathogen analysis on additional 1,400 samplessamples
Stickney and Calumet WRPs processing Stickney and Calumet WRPs processing trains granted Class A PFRP equivalency in trains granted Class A PFRP equivalency in July 2002July 2002
PFRP-Equivalency Certification
1.1. Anaerobic DigestionAnaerobic Digestion Temperature – 95Temperature – 95ººF minimumF minimum Retention time – minimum 20 days Retention time – minimum 20 days
2.2. Centrifugation (High Solids Processing Centrifugation (High Solids Processing
Train)Train) Solids content – 25 to 30 percentSolids content – 25 to 30 percent
3.3. Lagoon AgingLagoon Aging Holding time – 18 months minimum after last Holding time – 18 months minimum after last
additionaddition
4.4. Air-Drying Air-Drying Agitation frequency – 3 to 4 times per weekAgitation frequency – 3 to 4 times per week Solids content – 60 percent minimumSolids content – 60 percent minimum
PFRP-Equivalent Codified Operation
Cost of helminth & virus testing for each PCost of helminth & virus testing for each Projectroject
Eliminates logistics associated with 4-6 wk Eliminates logistics associated with 4-6 wk turnaround for helminth ova testingturnaround for helminth ova testing
Good PR Good PR
PFRP Certification Requirements
Demonstrate compliance by testing 12 samples per year for helminth ova & virus
Report data semi-annually
Annual PFRP compliance audit
Benefits
Lessons Learned
Good working relationship with state Good working relationship with state and federal regulatorsand federal regulators
Establish good public relations program
Low tech processing trains very effective in pathogen reduction
Air-drying and stockpiling subject to will of “Mother Nature” and can severely affect coordinating timing of production and demand
Codify PFRP-equivalent processing to allow more operational flexibility
Modify processing trains by blending to with other materials to address odors, salinity, and excess nutrients
Lessons Learned