In-Situ Groundwater Nitrification and De-Nitrification Remediation Processes Presented by Steve Mailath, EBA Engineering Consultants Ltd. Phone: 403.723.6898
Problems with Ammonia and Nitrate Over fertilization (eutrophication) of surface waters with N Ammonia toxic to animal species fish and invertebrates Nitrate contamination of drinking water blue baby syndrome methemoglobinemia Discounted value of brown-field development
Environmental and Regulatory Issues Environmental regulations are becoming more stringent with time Environmental enforcement orders Growing public concern of environmental management Restricted land use
Where is the Problem Who is responsible Fertilizer manufacturing and storage facilities Brown-field developer Sewage treatment facilities City of Calgary Agricultural areas Farmers Airports Calgary airport authority
Problems with Existing Solutions Expense Treatment facilities Piping Operating Large footprint, need to close site
In-Situ Groundwater Nitrification and De-Nitrification Remediation Processes In-situ nitrification: Extracting groundwater Adding oxygen and nutrients Injection of amended groundwater In-situ de-nitrification Extracting groundwater Adding carbon and nutrients Injection of amended groundwater By: Steve Mailath, EBA Engineering Consultants Ltd. Patent Pending: David Reese, University Technologies International, Phone: 270.2434 Dr. Angus Chu, U of C, Phone: 220.8987 Steve Mailath, EBA, Phone: 723.6898
Advantages Performs as well as best in class solutions at less than half the cost Full mass removal - nitrates reduced to N gas Small footprint and less intrusive than most solutions Requires fewer wells and piping Year round treatment Free bio-reactor (in situ)
Options Options Main Limitations Capital ($ Million) Operatin g ($/year) Present Value Cost 1 ($ million) 1. Groundwater Extraction and Irrigation Summer treatment $0.85 $57,000 $1.4 2. Groundwater Extraction and Discharge to City Sanitary Sewer Removal of ammonia only $0.69 $50,000 $1.2 3. Groundwater Extraction and Electrochemical Treatment 4. Groundwater Extraction and Biological Treatment (Nitrification) High cost $3.1 $155,000 $4.7 High cost $1.6 $100,000 $2.6 5. Groundwater Extraction and Wetlands Disposal Summer treatment, low N $0.64 $51,000 $1.2 6. In-Situ Electrochemical Treatment Low perm soils $2.8 >$35,000 >$3.0 7. On-Site Ex-Situ Biological Treatment High cost $5.0 to $7.0 >$35,000 >$5.0 8. In-Situ Nitrification and High perm soils $0.2 $30,000 $0.5 De-Nitrification $0.1 $25,600 $0.4 1 Present value based upon 15 year life and 5% rate of return.
Nitrate Plume
Ammonia Plume
Site Plot Plan
Cross-Section A-A
Cross-Section D-D
Typical Gravel
Hydraulic Parameters Section length 425 m (perpendicular to flow Section thickness 3.0 m Hydraulic conductivity 49 m/day Hydraulic gradient 0.0023 Groundwater velocity 0.3 0.5 m/day Groundwater flux 144 m 3 /day (22 igpm) Ammonia concentration 63.2 mg-n/l Nitrate concentration 94 mg-n/l (i.e., 31 mg-n/l in-situ plus 63 mg-n/l generated by nitrification)
In-Situ Nitrification
Pilot Test Site
Test Site GROUNDWATER FLOW
Test Site EXTRACTION WELL INJECTION WELL
Installing Monitoring Wells
Test Site TREATMENT SHED
Nitrification TREATMENT SHED
Oxygen Addition OXYGEN SOURCE
Amendment Addition GAS LIQUID REACTOR OXYGEN DELIVERY NUTRIENT DELIVERY
Amendment Addition VENTURI
Nitrification Results 120.00 80.00 60.00 40.00 20.00 0.00 13 17 21 25 29 33 37 41 45 49 53 57 61 65 69 73 77 81 85 1 5 9 DO, Ammonia, Nitrate - N Concentration (mg/l) 89 93 97 101 105 109 113 117 121 125 129 133 137 141 145 149 Days 1.20 1.00 Phosphate - P Concentration (mg/l) 66 89 % AMMONIA REDUCTION TH13 NH4 TH13 NO3 TH13 DO 100.00 TH13 PO4 4 per. Mov. Avg. (TH13 NH4) 4 per. Mov. Avg. (TH13 NO3) 4 per. Mov. Avg. (TH13 DO) 0.80 0.60 0.40 0.20 0.00
In-Situ De-Nitrification
Pilot Test Site
Amendment Addition NO OXYGEN DELIVERY NUTRIENT DELIVERY
De-Nitrification NUTRIENT DELIVERY CARBON DELIVERY
Field Lab
De-Nitrification Results 78 99 % NITRATE REDUCTION 70.00 60.00 DO, Ammonia, Nitrate - N Concentration (mg/l) 50.00 40.00 30.00 20.00 4 per. Mov. Avg. (TH1 DO) 4 per. Mov. Avg. (TH1 NH4) 4 per. Mov. Avg. (TH1 NO3) Ammonia Nitrate 10.00 0.00 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Dissolved oxygen Days
Options Options Main Limitations Capital ($ Million) Operating ($/year) Present Value Cost 1 ($ million) 1. Groundwater Extraction and Irrigation Summer treatment $0.85 $57,000 $1.4 2. Groundwater Extraction and Discharge to City Sanitary Sewer Removal of ammonia only $0.69 $50,000 $1.2 3. Groundwater Extraction and Electrochemical Treatment 4. Groundwater Extraction and Biological Treatment (Nitrification) High cost $3.1 $155,000 $4.7 High cost $1.6 $100,000 $2.6 5. Groundwater Extraction and Wetlands Disposal Summer treatment, low N $0.64 $51,000 $1.2 6. In-Situ Electrochemical Treatment Low perm soils $2.8 >$35,000 >$3.0 7. On-Site Ex-Situ Biological Treatment High cost $5.0 to $7.0 >$35,000 >$5.0 8. In-Situ Nitrification and High perm soils $0.2 $30,000 $0.5 De-Nitrification $0.1 $25,600 $0.4 1 Present value based upon 15 year life and 5% rate of return.
Questions In-Situ Groundwater Nitrification and De-Nitrification Remediation Processes By: Steve Mailath, EBA Engineering Consultants Ltd. Patent Pending: David Reese, University Technologies International, Phone: 270.2434 Dr. Angus Chu, U of C, Phone: 220.8987 Steve Mailath, EBA, Phone: 723.6898 QUESTIONS