Get More For Less: Cost-Effective Solutions For Lagoon Conversions

By Shawn Brown,
Aeration Industries International

As federal and state regulatory agencies continue enforcing more stringent nutrient removal policies and increasing the plant capacity of wastewater systems becomes essential, the cost of maintaining a productive wastewater system skyrockets. While pricey, meeting the new goals set by the municipalities and industries is an unavoidable necessity. But, there is an alternative to starting from scratch. "Lagoon Conversions," better known as lagoon upgrades, are the cost-effective means to modifying existing wastewater systems in order to accomplish the growing demands on the wastewater systems.

Tackling new regulations dealing with lower biological oxygen demand (BOD), total suspended solids (TSS), and ammonia levels is incredibly expensive. Managing those regulations as well biological nutrient removal (BNR) while controlling the cost of new designs, plant modifications, and new plant construction is incredibly challenging. Historically, when faced with these stringent effluent limits and/or increases in plant influent flows or loadings, engineers have redesigned an entirely new plant to ensure compliance with the effluent requirements.

Fortunately, reengineering a wholly new plant is not the only solution. Instead, upgrading existing lagoon systems by preserving and using as much of the existing system and equipment as possible is a feasible alternative.

Lagoons are intentionally designed to be easy to operate and maintain and to produce effluent capable of achieving conventional secondary treatment. However, as environmental standards become more stringent and populations grow, communities must increase the capacity and efficiency of their treatment facilities.