Reducing Dewatering Costs Through an Optimization Program

The centrifuge dewatering systems operated by the Eastern Municipal Water District (District) in Perris, California, were assessed and an optimization program was developed to improve performance and reduce operating costs. The District implemented recommendations for improvements in operations, polymer, equipment, systematic optimization tasks, and recordkeeping. Digester feed sludge characteristics were tracked and monitored relative to dewatering performance so that the impacts of upstream processes could be determined. Operational observations led to changes in upstream processes that increased primary sludge content in digester and dewatering feed, which subsequently yielded better dewatering performance. Between the various operational, performance tracking, and process changes at the two plants and the successful optimization measures, the District has reduced its annual dewatering costs by approximately $200,000.