Upgrading Army Sewage Treatment Plant Trickling Filters with Synthetic Media.
Abstract
Of the more than 100 Army wastewater treatment plants in the U.S. more than half involve some type of trickling-filter system. Many of these plants, which represent a substantial capital investment, are aging and showing signs of physical deterioration. New plants must be built or existing ones upgraded or renovated. Renovation is often more cost-effective than new construction. This study found that plastic media have several advantages over conventional filters: low energy consumption, reliability performance, resistance to hydraulic and organic shockloads, simple operating procedures, effective land use, and reduction in sludge bulking problems. They also provide other capabilities, including roughing, secondary treatment, and nitrification, thus giving partial or complete wastewater treatment. Cost estimates of new filter construction showed that costs increased with increasing media depth for a given filter diameter and that pumping facility costs increase rapidly as the filter diameter decreases. For filter renovation, the amount of work and cost varies, depending on how much work is needed to achieve upgrade. In general, plastic-media filters should be selected when: (1) Existing rock filters need renovation. (2) Partial removal of Biochemical Oxygen Demand is needed preceding another secondary treatment unit. (3) The most important criterion is minimizing energy use.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 01, 1984
- Accession Number
- ADA145648
Entities
People
- C. P. C. Poon
- E. D. Smith
- J. T. Bandy
- R. J. Scholze
Organizations
- Construction Engineering Research Laboratory