Using Collaborative Efforts To Maximize Nutrient Removal Permit Compliance During Facility Upgrade Construction

摘要

Meeting stringent effluent permit limits for nitrogen and phosphorus is always challenging, but particularly during construction of a major facility upgrade project with significant impacts on the secondary treatment tankage, equipment, electrical, and control systems. This paper presents a case study of the Enhanced Nutrient Removal (ENR) Upgrade of the 56.7 MLD (15 mgd) Cox Creek Water Reclamation Facility (WRF) in Anne Arundel County, Maryland. New NPDES permit limits for total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP) took effect midway through the five year construction project to convert the facility from conventional Modified-Ludzack Ettinger (MLE) activated sludge to a 4-stage membrane bioreactor (MBR). This paper details how engineering and plant operations staff worked together to assess and optimize plant performance during construction of the new facility as they sought to meet the new permit limits despite the new facilities not being complete.