BNR + MBR Equals Success At Water Reclamation Facility

By James Naylor, PE, Alan Plummer Associates, Inc., Marshall Plunk, PE, Alan Plummer Associates, Inc., Josh Berryhill, PE, Enprotec / Hibbs & Todd, and Louis LeBrun, PE, Pinnacle Ozone Solutions, LLC

Biological Nutrient Removal (BNR) is allowing many wastewater treatment plants to achieve extremely high effluent quality. Still, for some applications even the most advanced BNR processes can’t address concerns with trace organics, pharmaceuticals, and other endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs). This is especially the case for projects involving water reuse. Needing to achieve the highest level of water quality was certainly the case for the City of Abilene, TX in its most recent water reuse project.