Presented by: James E. Johnson, Technical Services Officer Resource Recovery & Reuse Department Metro Wastewater Reclamation District Denver, Colorado March 2013
Metro Wastewater Reclamation District Who is the Metro Wastewater Reclamation District What our Biosolids Management Program Entails Snapshots of a Successful Biosolids Management Program Opportunity for Questions & Answers 2
Who is Metro Wastewater? Regional Wastewater Treatment Agency Special District Formed under Colorado Law in 1961 Wholesale Wastewater Treatment 55 local governments 1.5 million people Area Served 380 square miles 250+ miles of interceptor sewers Treat 160 million gallons per day Produced 27,026 dry tons of biosolids in 2012 3
Wastewater Treatment Process Liquid Stream Preliminary Treatment Screening Grit Removal Primary Treatment Primary Clarifiers Secondary Treatment Aeration Basins Secondary Clarifiers Disinfection 4
Wastewater Treatment Process Solids Stream Primary Clarifiers Secondary Clarifiers Dissolved Air Flotation Thickening Blending Tanks Acid Anaerobic Digestion MesophillicAnaerobic Digestion Centrifuge Dewatering Dewatered Biosolids Storage Class B 5
Wastewater Treatment Process Solid Stream Blending Tank Cogeneration Primary Sludge Dissolved Air Flotation Anaerobic Digestion Dewatered Biosolids Storage (Cake Tower) Secondary Biological Sludge (WAS) Dewatering Centrifuges 6
Solid Stream -Cogeneration The District saved $0.05 per kwh by using Trigencogeneration power in place of Xcel electrical power. During 2012, the District saved approximately $1,580,000. 7
Biosolids Management Program -Attitude - Biosolids are a beneficial product worth money! Emphasize the positives of beneficial use We in the biosolids industry are Environmentalists Don t just do it, do it right Work cooperatively to develop a strong regional biosolids program Other generators (Littleton-Englewood) Regulators (EPA, State of Colorado) 8
Biosolids Management Program Biosolids Production 74 dry tons/day in 2012 Utilize In-House Resources Biosolids transport & application Vehicle & equipment maintenance 16 Tractors and 23 trailers 14 live bottom 4 end dump 3 belly dump 2 tankers 9
Transport 20.8 average truckloads per day in 2012 6 days/week Average 140 miles round-trip truckload Average load 363 wet tons/73.8 dry tons 10
Biosolids Management Program -Attitude When you charge money for biosolids, it puts a new meaning to customer service! Embrace the Biosolids EMS philosophy Program sustainability Best management practices Continual improvement Perform above & beyond minimal requirements 11
From Free to Pay Land application started in early 1980 s Originally a liquid application program until about 1986, then switched to cake Gave biosolids to farmers 1998 - Began charging farmers a minimal fee Some resistance, but not bad. Still a good deal. As of December 31, 1998: revenue received was $4,178.00 12
Status as of 2004 35% of annual biosolids production was applied to private land 12 different private farmers Located in 4 different counties in eastern Colorado Dry land and irrigated sites Charge was $3/acre for biosolids Total 2004 cake sales - $12,445.95 13
We Deliver 14
15
We apply 16
We incorporate 17
We Invoice 6450 York Street INVOICE Denver, CO 80229-7499 (303) 286-3000 Main Phone (303) 286-3028 Fax Send To: Invoice No.: Bill A. Farmer Invoice Date: 1 Headlight Road PO Number: ----- Old Ford, Colorado Terms: Net 30 District Contact: All Bets Roff METROGRO Cake 20% Grade 1.4-1.1-0.04 Guaranteed Analysis: Total Nitrogen (N) 1.4% Available Phosphate (P2O5)..1.1% Soluble Potash (K2O) 0.0.04% Derived from biosolids generated at the RWHTF Quantity Description Unit Price Amount Acres 65.59 SW ¼ SEC 23 T1S R02W DC 7, App Set No. 10, 240.86 dt applied $12.00 $787.08 Miles 4950 Fuel Surcharge is 2% of $3.3358 x miles $0.0667 $330.17 Subtotal: $1,117.25 Tax: $0.00 Total Due: $1,117.25 18
We save money on fuel 19
2008 price increase 2008 Pricing Under 75lb/acre PAN - $8/acre Over 75lb/acre PAN - $12/acre Also added a fuel supplement Calculation charge = fuel ($/gallon) x (2%) x (miles rt) Total 2008 cake sales - $40,148.94 20
Current Status Currently have 201 approved private sites. 57 private landowners participating. Total active private acres approved: 18,194.91 irrigated acres 39,274.69 dryland acres 57,469.60 total private acres Waiting list of farmers currently 14 Five counties. 21
Current Sales 2012 Class B cake sales - $69,349.16 2012 Fuel Surcharge $33,719.46 Total 2012 revenue - $103,068.62 2013 sales as of February 5th Class B cake sales - $19,431.56 Fuel Surcharge - $6,950.33 Total 2013 invoiced - $26,381.89 22
METROGRO 2012 Biosolids Distribution METROGRO Farm 34.40% Private Composter 59.10% Private Farms 6.50% 23
Future Pricing? May go to a $/lbpan structure Avoids unfairness in billing Farmers pay for the nitrogen they receive Current 2013 price for anhydrous ammonia is $ 0.49/lb PAN New products Liquid N fertilizer? Granular phosphate fertilizer? Already pilot tested a process. 24
METROGRO Farm Purchased between 1993 and 2000 52,000 acres (81 square miles)of agricultural property east of Deer Trail, CO Farm never was intended to be a profit center (good thing!) 25
METROGRO Farm 26
Satellite View 27
Ground View Installed perpendicular to prevailing (winter) wind direction in 1998 Used on steep or long slopes Reduces soil erosion by reducing wind speed and distance traveled across soil surface Alternate fields of growing crop and fallow 28
METROGROFarm Farmed by Tenant farmer who is responsible for all farming & grazing operations through lease agreement Approximately 26,000 to 28,000 acres are farmable In any given year, approximately one half of the farmable acreage is planted in various crops No irrigation drylandonly No-till crop/fallow rotationallows for soil moisture to accumulate Chemical weed control to eliminate transpiration in fallow ground 29
METROGROFarm Support Facilities Grain Bins Five grain bins Constructed in 1999 Combined storage capacity of 174,000 bu Truck scale 30
METROGRO Farm Support Facilities Maintenance Shop Vehicle and Equipment Storage 31
METROGRO Farm Support Facilities Diesel fueling station both storage and dispensing Chemical mixing station Air strip 32
$700,000 METROGRO Farm - Wheat Revenue $600,000 $500,000 Dollars $400,000 $300,000 $200,000 $100,000 $0 YEAR 33
$40,000 METROGRO Farm- Forage Revenue $35,000 $30,000 $25,000 Dollars $20,000 $15,000 $10,000 $5,000 $0 YEAR 34
$80,000.00 METROGRO Farm - Corn Revenue $70,000.00 $60,000.00 $50,000.00 Dollars $40,000.00 $30,000.00 $20,000.00 $10,000.00 $0.00 YEAR 35
$70,000.00 METROGRO Farm- Millet Revenue $60,000.00 $50,000.00 Dollars $40,000.00 $30,000.00 $20,000.00 $10,000.00 $0.00 YEAR 36
$800,000.00 METROGRO Farm - Total Revenue To District $700,000.00 $600,000.00 $500,000.00 Dollars $400,000.00 $300,000.00 $200,000.00 $100,000.00 $0.00 YEAR 37
Big Game Outfitter Hunting of pronghorn antelope, deer, and elk on the METROGRO Farm. Revenue to District from the outfitter is $12,000 per year for 2010 2012. 38
The Future? 2012 total revenue is not compiled yet. Current lease agreement with tenant farmer expires in 2015. What then? Re-negotiate lease? Go out for bids? District may consider taking over farming operations. Current terms of lease are not favorable to the District. Planting, chemical application and harvesting can all be done via contract operations. 39