UPPER MIDWEST MUNICIPALITY TURNS TO WASTEWATER REUSE TO SUPPLY ETHANOL PLANT

A new 100 million gallon ethanol plant planned for construction in eastern North Dakota unsuccessfully pursued a reliable water supply from two regional water suppliers before turning to the City of Fargo. Fargo officials suggested reusing its wastewater discharge stream as a water source for the industry. The City, ethanol plant, and Cass Rural Water Users District (CRWUD) agreed to the project concept, and quickly worked to tackle the challenges. A new water supply permit was obtained by the City through a technical study demonstrating that diversion of wastewater effluent from the receiving stream would not impact downstream water supplies. The responsibilities of the three entities were documented in a Memorandum of Understanding. The Effluent Reuse Facility consists of dual membrane treatment processes with a capacity of 1.4 mgd constructed at the Fargo Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP). Water is pumped approximately 25 miles from Fargo to the ethanol plant, and cooling tower blow-down water is returned to the Fargo WWTP.