Performance Testing and Long Term Operations Demonstrate Successful Application for Stringent Effluent Phosphorus Removal

Performance Testing and Long Term Operations Demonstrate Successful Application for Stringent Effluent Phosphorus Removal

The North Attleborough, MA Wastewater Treatment Facility (WWTF) received a renewed discharge permit in 2007. Starting in 2013, the facility would be required to meet a monthly average effluent Total Phosphorus (TP) limit of 0.1 mg/L from April 1 through October 31. The WWTF planned for upgrades to the Biological Nutrient Removal (BNR) process, but also needed a tertiary treatment process to guarantee the stringent limit would be met. The facility hoped to be able to use some of the existing footprint and infrastructure for the new upgrades in order to minimize project cost and avoid the need to expand the facility footprint. Through an extensive technology evaluation process, the Hydrotech Discfilter system with upstream chemical pre-treatment was selected and installed for tertiary TP removal. The system was commissioned in the summer of 2013, and has proven to meet the design parameters through initial performance testing as well as continued long term operations.