Upstream Biological Treatment for Total Nitrogen Removal in a Direct Potable Reuse Application

Historically, the City of El Paso, Texas has relied on a combination of groundwater and surface water from the Rio Grande to meet its potable water demand. However, because prolonged conditions of extreme drought continue to limit available water from these traditional sources, the City is committed to increasing the use of more local and renewable supplies. Consequently, El Paso Water Utilities (EPWU) is developing a direct potable reuse (DPR) project to recycle 10 million gallons per day (MGD) of unchlorinated secondary clarifier effluent from its Roberto R. Bustamante Wastewater Treatment Plant (RBWWTP) to augment the city’s current drinking water supplies. This paper will present a brief summary of the measures taken during conceptual engineering and pilot testing to achieve a high degree of total nitrogen removal for the finished water of the Advanced Water Purification Facility (AWPF).