Case Study: Efficient Management of Wastewater Treatment Plant Sludge

The Challenge
Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL), a multi-program national laboratory located on Long Island, New York, has been a hub for nuclear physics research since its establishment in 1947. Historically, the lab has focused on studying the structure, characteristics, and behavior of the atomic nucleus and the nature of the nuclear force.

To address the challenges of managing stored aerobic and anaerobic sludge at its on-site wastewater treatment plant, BNL sought effective methods and industrial filtration technologies that could meet specific requirements, including:

• Dewatering systems capable of handling variable flow rates between 100-400 gpm
• Utilizing a two-part coagulation and flocculation program
  pH adjustment of the waste stream for metals precipitation
• Discharge of treated water with a total suspended solids (TSS) levels of 35 mg/l TSS or less
• Containment of dewatered solids for sampling and profiling
• Protection of dewatered solids from rewetting during storage
• Achievement of a dry solids content of 35% or greater

The Solution

In collaboration with UMPS, BNL reviewed various industrial filtration technologies and selected TenCate Geotube® engineered textiles and Smartfeed™ chemical conditioning technology to address the challenges of wastewater treatment plant sludge dewatering.

BNL project manager William Chaloupka, PhD, was impressed by how closely the filtration testing of the sludge, using Rapid Dewatering Test (RDT) and Pressure-Geotube® Dewatering Test (P-GDT), characterized full scale operation.

The sludge was pumped by BNL-owned equipment and operators using a 6” centrifugal pump to convey the sludge through hard piping to the Smartfeed™ trailer.

The SmartFeed™ filtration manager monitored ph and chemical dose operations using parameters programmed into the SmartFeed™ trailer based on pilot testing results.

Geotube® containers were installed in existing sand filter beds with 6” piping fed from the SmartFeed™ processing trailer. Project parameters were monitored using a computer interface, allowing the filtration manager to optimize the process throughout the project. The SmartFeed™ data management software provided daily reports for project benchmarking.

Customer Feedback: Transforming Wastewater Plant Sludge
BNL shared their positive experience with our tailing dewatering solution using industrial filtration technologies:

“Our experience with the Geotube® distributor’s filtration manager to work with project members in helping to create a game plan as the project progressed was invaluable.”

“The dewatering process met our expectations for metals reduction and water quality discharge.”

“Having the dewatered sludge in a textile container protected from rain and wind provides our group an acceptable timeline to manage the solids for final disposal.”

The success of the project demonstrates the power of our tailing dewatering technology to deliver exceptional results while minimizing environmental impact. Contact us to explore how we can help you achieve your goals.

Leverage UMPS’ Expertise for Wastewater Treatment Plant Sludge Removal

As demonstrated in our successful collaboration with BNL, our team of experienced engineers and specialists can develop a tailored tailing dewatering plan that addresses the unique challenges of your wastewater treatment plant. Reach out today or contact James Meagher to discuss your wastewater treatment plant dewatering needs and explore how we can help you optimize your operations.

*SmartFeed™ is a patent-pending technology of Mineral Processing Services, LLC.
**Geotube® is a registered trademark of TenCate™ and is used with permission.