How does a WWTP operate with the following conditions?
One Operator that also takes care of 10 lift stations and a water distribution system?
A blower that operate only 5 minutes every 60 minutes in the winter time?
A wwtp that operates at only 50,000 GPD in the winter off season for a 750,000 gpd design plant?
Plant electric utility bill <$1,000 per month?
Branson West MO wwtp is an expansion to the previous multiple wwtp faciliites. This consolidation allows for central wwtp control as compared to separate out of compliance facilities.
The consultant evaluated several options and selected Schreiber Oxidation Ditch process for reasons of layout, cost and nutrient removal. Finances and the large amount of excavation work for this project demanded the plant to be a small site layout, consequently the plant is round tankage.
The plant is a full time wwtp but the flow into the plant is very much seasonal. This seasonal flow is due to the shutdown of branson after X-mas through March 15th. Then the tourist season begins yet again.
A single operator manages the plant, 10 lift stations in the collection system , and provides assistance on the water distribution water well treatment. The plant virturally "operates itself" according to Alan Bush, Operator, since he does not have time to provide lot's of operator interface with a traditional wwtp requirements. Also, the blower cycling allows for energy conservation and load oriented on/off cycles.
For example, currently with only a 5% of the design load, a single blower only operates 5 minutes per hour!!!. Not only does the plant achieve excellent nitrification and denitrification but also in the summer time phosphorous removal provides effluent <1 PPM. During the winter low flows, there is insufficient organic load to provide good phosphorus removal.
The Schreiber GRO layout with blowers located outdoors. this plant is so quiet that from the operator control room you can not hear the plant operate!! Blower noise is non existent.
Notice multiple blowers. This is part of the energy conservation in the design. The plant is mixed with only 3 HP. Therefore, when biological activity indicates that it needs air the dissolved oxygen probe initiates the blower cycle on to a level of 1.5 ppm DO then blowers cycle off. All the time the basin is mixed with 3 HP!!.
With multiple blowers, the blowers are smaller to more closely match the low turndown ratio. Blowers only operate at 100-200 hours per year which allows for low maintenance.
