DEMONSTRATION OF BALLASTED FLOCCULATION FOR TREATMENT OF WET WEATHER SEWER FLOWS

Baton Rouge experiences very high peak flows due to stormwater infiltration during wet-weather events. As part of a Sanitary Sewer Overflow Corrective Action Plan, Ballasted Flocculation was identified as a possible technology to improve effluent quality during peak flows. To determine the effectiveness of this technology, two pilot systems were tested at one of the City's wastewater treatment plants. Each system was tested under various conditions using multiple coagulants and polymers to determine the optimum chemical pretreatment and design criteria for each system. The results show that both systems can achieve the required level of treatment and are feasible alternatives for this application.