Startup and Initial Operation of a Greenfield Enhanced Nutrient Removal Wastewater Treatment Facility

The Easton wastewater treatment facility (WWTF), located in Easton, MD, was the first enhanced nutrient removal (ENR) plant to b approved and funded by the Chesapeake Bay Restoration Fund. Previous to the new plant, collected wastewater was treated by an overland flow and lagoon system. In a joint effort between Easton and Maryland Department of the Environment, a Greenfield enhanced nutrient removal facility was designed and constructed.The Greenfield project began construction in October of 2004, with liquid train startup in mid-October of 2006. By mid-November of 2006, the new plant was achieving complete nitrification. By February of 2007, the plant was denitrifying to TN levels below 4.0 mg/l. Biological and chemical phosphorus removal resulted in TP levels of less than 0.3 mg/l within two months of startup.A summary of the design aspects, start up issues, and initial performance of this nutrient removal facility is presented in this paper. Process design enhancements included in the project during and after construction are also discussed.