Filter room at the Hayden Wastewater Research Facility
Click here to enlarge imageThese removal rates are indicative of Blue PRO process performance, which usually lowers TP by 85-95% when the influent is less than 10 mg/L. Variables that affect performance generally include those that influence the ability of the sand filters themselves to physically separate solids. For example, solids in the influent water in addition to solids created by the chemical addition should be less than 150 mg/L for efficient filtration.
The Blue PRO process has additional advantages for improving water quality as a tertiary wastewater treatment step. In single process configurations, turbidity, total suspended solids (TSS), and biological oxygen demand (BOD) may all be lowered. Turbidity is typically lowered 75% to 90%, with an effluent concentrations under 1 ntu. TSS is typically decreased 85% to 95%, with an average effluent concentrations under 1 mg/L. BOD is decreased as much as 80% by the process, usually depending on the percentage of particulate BOD in the secondary effluent.
Following the success of this series Blue PRO process optimization, the equipment has been configured to run the entire series system at full-scale, 175 gpm in the first process step and roughly 165 gpm in the second step, for an extended period.
Due to the flexibility of the Blue PRO process equipment, a wide variety of flow rates may be treated and a wide range of NPDES phosphorus limits may be met. The process may be implemented in small, package-plant type systems as well as multi-million gallon per day facilities. When a system has a relatively high phosphorus limit, the effectiveness of this process in a single filtration step can make it more cost effective than competing technologies. And when very low limits must be met, the simplicity of this technology and the low capital expense and operating and maintenance costs make it the attractive choice.
About the Author:
Dr. Remy Newcombe is the Chief Technology Officer for Blue Water Technologies, a US company that develops aqueous contaminant remediation technologies. Based in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, the company has licensed several patent-pending technologies from the University of Idaho for commercialization. For more information, visit the website: www.blueh2o.net.