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Description: Small Project Big Savings
Small Project Big Savings
With a population of 7,000 people, Moapa Valley is a small community (unincorporated town in Clark County) located in the southern part of Nevada, approximately 96 km (60 mi) northeast of Las Vegas. This community took a proactive and out-of-the-box process optimization approach to meet regulatory requirements for total nitrogen removal when it needed to build a new water resource recovery facility. The project led to a more sustainable facility overall and reduced operating and maintenance expenses by about the equivalent of 80% of a full-time employee — a significant amount of money for a small community. This example shows how small communities can develop cost-effective and sustainable processes, meet stringent permit requirements, and still find efficiencies and cost savings.
Author(s)
Raj Chavan
Subjectnutrient removal;process control;design
Document typeMagazine Article
PublisherWater Environment Federation
Print publication date Feb, 2021
Volume / Issue33 / 2
Content sourceWE&T magazine
First / last page(s)46 - 51
Copyright2021
Word count1,595
Subject keywordsMoapa ValleyNevadaNitrogen removal

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Description: Small Project Big Savings
Project Background
Small Project Big Savings
The existing collection system has approximately 29 km (18 mi) of pipeline, 210 manholes, and 3 lift stations to pump wastewater from different sections of the valley to the treatment facility.
PublisherWater Environment Federation
Copyright2021
Word count350
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Description: Small Project Big Savings
Challenging Transit
Small Project Big Savings
The downturn in the economy in 2008 delayed the anticipated development so the flows did not increase at the time of startup. The facility had a more difficult time with treatment due to the flows being below minimum design. This problem continued through 2011. Another challenge that MVWTP faced was that it takes a long time for wastewater to reach the treatment facility due to a large...
PublisherWater Environment Federation
Copyright2021
Word count446
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Description: Small Project Big Savings
Local Inspiration
Small Project Big Savings
MVWTP took an idea from treatment facilities in Las Vegas that also have a stringent phosphorus limit. The four larger wastewater facilities that operate within Clark County use biological phosphorus removal (Bio-P) followed by chemical polishing to meet stringent phosphorus limits. To meet this stringent limit by Bio-P, a large carbon source is required. These facilities have developed their own...
PublisherWater Environment Federation
Copyright2021
Word count396
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Description: Small Project Big Savings
Results
Small Project Big Savings
MVWTP slowly reduced how much supplemental carbon it added over 3 months and subsequently generated a soluble carbon source. Microorganisms take a certain amount of time to acclimate to the change in their food source. Figure 3 (below) illustrates the effluent TN concentrations before and after the optimization of carbon source production. The figure shows that it took few months for TN effluent...
PublisherWater Environment Federation
Copyright2021
Word count280
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Small Project Big Savings