Grantee Research Project Results
2023 Progress Report: Sustainable Nutrient Removal Opportunities for Small Communities with Lagoon Wastewater Systems
EPA Grant Number: R840468Title: Sustainable Nutrient Removal Opportunities for Small Communities with Lagoon Wastewater Systems
Investigators: Orner, Kevin , Leverenz, Harold , Lin, Lance , Cornejo, Pablo K , Ruto, Denis Sigei , Chelonis, Haley , Jang, Ziya Sing-Guang
Current Investigators: Orner, Kevin , Leverenz, Harold , Lin, Lance , Cornejo, Pablo K
Institution: West Virginia University , California State University - Chico , University of California Davis
EPA Project Officer: Ludwig-Monty, Sarah
Project Period: January 1, 2023 through December 31, 2025
Project Period Covered by this Report: January 1, 2023 through December 31,2023
Project Amount: $1,000,000
RFA: Innovative Water Technologies for Lagoon Wastewater Systems in Small Communities Request for Applications (RFA) (2022) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Water Quality , Water
Objective:
The project aims to find sustainable technologies, methods, and cost-effective opportunities for more efficient nutrient removal in lagoon wastewater systems serving small, rural communities.
Progress Summary:
Now available online is a freely accessible map of US lagoons with detailed metadata. This data is being used for a critical literature review of lagoon nutrient removal technologies that includes typical nutrient removal performance, typical carbon footprint, typical cost, and data gaps. Scenarios have been outlined for a life cycle assessment (LCA) and life cycle cost analysis (LCCA) of common nutrient removal technologies. Meetings with academic collaborators, consulting companies, vendors, and the technical review committee led to the identification of potential site locations for data collection efforts. An input data collection sheet for LCA and LCCA efforts has been developed, preliminary data sources have been identified, and methodologies for acquisition of input data have been investigated. A partner facility near UC Davis is being used to collect influent and effluent data and to develop data gathering methods. The modeling software SUMO is currently being used for modeling nitrogen performance at this system. BioWin is being re-evaluated due to its lack of algal kinetics. Satellite data has been gathered to possibly predict ammonia performance and sludge mapping has been used to quantify sludge volume for the partnered site. Two bioreactors were designed for comparing the nutrient removal and recovery efficiency of nitrogen and phosphorus from the lagoon effluent. The upflow anaerobic sludge blanket reactor (UASB) fabrication was completed. The investigational parameters such as synthetic wastewater composition, sludge enrichment, flow rate and HRT have been estimated for further experimental analysis. Furthermore, the upflow anaerobic packed bed reactor construction is underway. The next step for the UASB reactor is finalizing the packing material.
Future Activities:
Continue critical literature review, LCA, LCCA, BioWin modeling
Journal Articles:
No journal articles submitted with this report: View all 6 publications for this projectSupplemental Keywords:
Nutrient Management, Wastewater Lagoons, Life Cycle Assessment, Life Cycle Cost AnalysisRelevant Websites:
Sustainable Nutrient Management Opportunities for Small Communities with Lagoons Wastewater Systems - ArcGIS Exit
Progress and Final Reports:
Original AbstractThe perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.