NEW (Nutrient, Energy, Water) Sustainability Principles Drive Technology Selection in Advanced Water Reclamation Application

A facility planning exercise identified upgrades to the liquid, solids, and odorous air treatment systems of the Crooked Creek Water Reclamation Facility, Gwinnett County, Georgia. A major project goal was that upgrades enhance facility sustainability and meet stringent effluent limits to allow possible discharge to Lake Lanier, the drinking water supply for the Atlanta metropolitan area.A comprehensive planning framework was developed to balance technical and cost factors in a long-term capital improvements plan. Following development of project goals and vision by the stakeholders, a long list of technologies was developed. The outcome of the screening analysis was a short-list of the most promising solutions which were investigated in more depth using whole-plant process modeling to quantify the relative energy benefits and carbon management.The evaluation demonstrated that sustainability principles can be incorporated into technology selection to balance the competing aspects of nutrient removal, energy recovery, and water reclamation.