OMAHA, NE, Dec. 8, 2005 -- The Water Environment Research Federation (WERF) recently published results of a study completed by HDR examining the reliability of enhanced biological phosphorus removal (EBPR) in removing phosphorus to low levels in wastewater effluent. The goal of the research project was to develop information that can be used to help municipal wastewater treatment plants more efficiently and cost-effectively remove phosphorus through EBPR processes.
The project included detailed analysis of routine water quality and operating data, field testing observations, and special studies conducted over the course of the project to evaluate the variability of EBPR, factors influencing EBPR performance, and the relationship between EBPR and the presence of glycogen accumulating organisms (GAOs).
The study showed that EBPR is capable of achieving very low effluent phosphate concentrations. When operating well, it is possible to achieve soluble phosphate concentrations under 0.1 mg/L. However, many facilities struggle to routinely achieve soluble phosphate concentrations under 1.0 mg/L. For this reason, most facilities experience significant variability in EBPR performance, requiring augmentation of EBPR through the use of substrate addition or polishing with iron- or aluminum-containing chemicals. Contributing HDR authors are JB Neethling, Ph.D., P.E., DEE, Brian Bakke, P.E., Mario Benisch, April Gu, Ph.D, and Heather Stephens, P.E.
The 431-page report is available for purchase from www.werf.org.
HDR (www.hdrinc.com) is an architectural, engineering and consulting firm that excels at complex projects and solving challenges for clients. More than 4,400 employee-owners, including architects, engineers, consultants, scientists, planners and construction managers, in over 100 locations worldwide, pool their strengths to provide solutions beyond the scope of traditional A/E/C firms. HDR is Number 19 on Engineering News-Record magazine's Top 500 Design Firms overall rankings for 2005, and No. 10 in water.
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In other WERF news:
-- "Biological phosphorous removal researcher receives WERF's Paul L. Busch Award"
-- "Patent for novel pathogen-reduction process donated to WERF"
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