Case Study: Bio-Augmentation Process Reduces Odors And Organic Sludge Build-Up

Efficiently operating a wastewater treatment plant within budget and permit limits gets more challenging by the day! Plant administrators are constantly facing the battle of costly sludge disposal, noxious odor control and rising electricity expense. The City of Meridian, Mississippi also fell into this category until it made the decision in 2005 to utilize a product marketed by Reliant Water Technologies. Sewper Rx is a patented biotechnology process designed to greatly reduce noxious odor, organic sludge build-up and power consumption, while improving settling and effluent quality.

Meridian’s Main Treatment Plant is a standard, activated sludge design that is permitted for approximately 13 MGD and is operating at about 10 MGD. Its much newer and smaller East Treatment Plant is designed for 2.5 MGD, permitted for 1MGD and currently operates at about 50% of permit limit. The East Plant presented the ideal situation to run an initial trial of Sewper Rx.

In late July of 2005, City of Meridian officials agreed to field test Sewper Rx in their smaller East Plant. The goals of the demonstration were significant organic sludge reduction coupled with noxious odor control. Historically, this plant generated 35 tons of pressed sludge per month. So the 350,000 gallon aerated digester was initially treated with 200 lbs. of Sewper Rx in order to meet those goals.