Michigan s Industry and Wastewater Challenges. Lucy Pugh, P.E., BCEE

Transcription

1 Michigan s Industry and Wastewater Challenges Lucy Pugh, P.E., BCEE May 17, 2016

2 Aging infrastructure: a challenge and an opportunity for improved performance

3 Wastewater Treatment is Evolving Old Thinking Wastewater is a waste product that must be disposed Send everything down the drain and let someone else deal with it Provide minimum treatment to comply with regulations New Thinking Wastewater is a resource o Recover raw materials o Carbon = energy o Nutrients o Thermal value o Clean water for reuse Wastewater treatment Water resource recovery Michigan s Industry and Wastewater Challenges May 19, 2016 Page 3

4 The Chemical Industry is Critical to Wastewater Treatment Wastewater treatment is accomplished by a series of biological and/or chemical reactions. Chemical disinfection (chlorine) has saved more lives than any medical breakthrough. Other chemicals: Iron, aluminum and calcium salts for phosphorus precipitation Hydroxides and carbonates for ph control, ammonia removal, metals precipitation Polymers for emulsion-breaking, coagulation, dewatering Coatings for tanks and equipment Materials used in manufacturing pipe and equipment Michigan s Industry and Wastewater Challenges May 19, 2016 Page 4

5 Michigan s Water Consumption Industrial 10% Domestic Wells 3% Public Supply 21% Agriculture 39% Power 27% Source: Water Withdrawals and Water Use in Michigan, Saichon Seedang and Patricia E. Norris. MSU, February Michigan s Industry and Wastewater Challenges May 19, 2016 Page 5

6 Industry s Wastewater Infrastructure Like municipal infrastructure, much of industry s wastewater infrastructure is nearing the end of its useful life. Drivers for change: Manufacturing practices Water conservation Maintenance cost Energy efficiency Recovery/reuse Michigan s Industry and Wastewater Challenges May 19, 2016 Page 6

7 Opportunity to Re-Think Approach Segregate waste streams for more effective recovery and reuse. Isolate concentrated materials before dilution with other waste streams. Recover materials at their source. Partner with other industries and municipalities to achieve optimum approach. Economy of scale Optimize combinations of waste streams. Life-cycle costs and payback metrics Recovery of resources and water Energy efficiency improvements Emerging technologies facilitate improved treatment and reduced operating costs. Michigan s Industry and Wastewater Challenges May 19, 2016 Page 7

8 Example Industry One Biological wastewater treatment Excess phosphorus; add chemical to precipitate Industry Two Biological wastewater treatment Insufficient phosphorus; buy phosphorus to support treatment Municipal Plant Biological wastewater treatment Excess phosphorus; add chemical to precipitate Michigan s Industry and Wastewater Challenges May 19, 2016 Page 8

9 Example Other wastewaters High strength organic wastewater Combined with other wastewater and discharged to municipal plant High power cost for treatment of diluted wastewater Segregate high strength organic wastewater Discharge directly to anaerobic digesters at municipal plant Low treatment cost; produces energy Michigan s Industry and Wastewater Challenges May 19, 2016 Page 9

10 What the Future May Hold Chemical and enhanced energy production from wastewater High value carbon products odimethylether (DME) obiomethanol olipids obioplastics opolyhydroxyalkalnoates (PHA) oisoprene oplasmids Rare earth elements Michigan s Industry and Wastewater Challenges May 19, 2016 Page 10

11 Upcoming Challenges NASA/Earth Observatory (2011) Additional regulated chemicals Perfluorinated chemicals Increasingly stringent limits Metals Nutrients Dissolved salts Increased treatment requirements provide an additional driver toward recovery and reuse. Michigan s Industry and Wastewater Challenges May 19, 2016 Page 11

12 New approaches to wastewater treatment recover resources and reduce operating costs.

13 Thank You May 17, 2016