Guidelines for Optimizing Nutrient Removal Plant Performance
Abstract
Water resource recovery facilities (WRRFs) across the United States are facing demands to remove nutrients. Existing nutrient removal and secondary WRRFs alike are challenged to optimize their WRRFs to reduce nutrients discharged into receiving water bodies. This project developed a comprehensive guidance tool that WRRF staff and others can use for optimizing WRRFs to meet one or more fundamental objectives: (1) reduce nutrient discharge levels, (2) increase reliability, and (3) reduce costs. The guidance tool provides a stepwise progression starting with the current treatment processes and advancing to a list of nutrient removal optimization strategies. The comprehensive guidance documents presented in the report have also been summarized into a standalone, user-friendly web tool. In addition to these resources, the research team hosted a 13-part webcast series covering all facets of nutrient management. Results from the audience polls are incorporated into the report and available as a project paper. Published in 2023.
Project Resources:
- Report and Executive Summary
- Path to Nutrient Optimization Web Tool
- 13 Webcasts
- Project Paper – Appendix E: Webinar Series Reports
Resources
Nutrient Discharge Permitting and WRRF Optimization
This webcast will provide an overview of regulatory trends in the United States which may require optimization for nutrient removal. Presenters will discuss strategies to comply with regulatory load targets...
Tools to Evaluate Nutrient Optimization in WRRFs
This webcast will cover tools to evaluate nutrient optimization opportunities. Evaluation tools help vet a proposed optimization process/technology and can help support a proposed nutrient optimization approach. Such tools can...
