WEF/WERF Nutrient Removal: U.S. EPA’s Program and WERF Research Update

Sunday, October 19, 8:30 am – 4:30 pm
1 day, 0.6 CEUs

Nutrient removal is one of the most pressing water quality challenges. Nitrogen and phosphorus removal is required to very low limits. The EPA’s nationwide nutrient criteria could result in extremely low effluent phosphorus (0.01 to 0.03 mg/L) and nitrogen (0.3 to 0.6 mg/L) in-stream targets. Many utilities are currently engaged in expensive facility upgrades to address environmental issues related to highly visible nitrogen control programs such as those targeting the Long Island Sound, Chesapeake Bay, Puget Sound, and the Gulf of Mexico. Phosphorus control is driving the Great Lakes Initiative, the National Estuary Program, and many rivers, lakes, and wetlands from Oregon and Washington to Florida.

WERF has initiated a program to address this challenge. Through this program,
WERF’s goal is to reduce capital and operating and maintenance costs related to
nutrient removal at wastewater treatment facilities by 10 percent. WERF plans to do this by developing and demonstrating new treatment technologies. The research will provide information on nutrients, specifically nitrogen and phosphorus, in wastewater to help regulators make informed decisions. Additionally, research will provide data on nutrient removal so that treatment facilities can select sustainable, cost-effective methods and technologies to meet permit limits. A team, lead by HDR Inc. along with University of Washington, Metcalf & Eddy, and CH2M Hill has been selected to address the Nutrient Removal Challenge. The team includes specialists, utilities, universities, consultants, and others around the country and beyond to address this challenge. A 15-member Issue Area Team (IAT) oversee the activities of this Challenge.

The research program for the 2007-2008 has been identified, and includes the following projects: Low Phosphorus Analytical Measurement Reliability; Standard Protocol to Evaluate Alternative External Carbon Sources Denitrification Process; External Carbon Source User Workshop; Molecular Based Evaluation of the Active Fraction and Biokinetics of Methylotrophic Denitrification; and, Biodegradability of Dissolved Organic Nitrogen in Wastewater Effluents

Through this workshop WERF intends to: present an overview of the nutrient challenge; present an update on the progress to date in the five initial research projects listed above; present the key components of the Challenges’ Knowledge Compendium, allowing for the participation of the audience in the definition of additional areas of coverage, and their inclusion as potential contributors; and, seek input from the audience regarding the next cycle of research priorities and Identify additional entities interested in becoming a member of the Challenges’ Affiliates Program

Chair
Amit Pramanik, Water Environment Research Foundation

Co-Chair
Julian Sandino, CH2M HILL

Speakers
JB Neethling, HDR, Inc.
Phil Zahreddine, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Dan Murray, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Jim Wheeler, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Mark Laquidara, Metcalf & Eddy
H. David Stensel, University of Washington
Jacke Makinia, Gdansk University of Technology
April Gu, Northeastern University
Kartik Chandran, Columbia University
David Sedlak, University of California, Berkeley
David Clark, HDR, Inc.