Incorporating Carbon Footprint Criteria in the Evaluation of Trickling Filter Nutrient Removal Upgrade Options

Johnson County Wastewater's (JCW's) Myron K. Nelson Wastewater Treatment Complex (Nelson Complex) consists of two separate wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), the Mission Main and Turkey Creek WWTPs. The Mission Main WWTP is a two-stage trickling filter based treatment plant, whereas the Turkey Creek WWTP is a single-stage trickling filter based treatment plant. Following physical and biological treatment, the effluents from the two plants are combined prior to receiving disinfection through an ultraviolet (UV) disinfection system. The overall objective of this study was to evaluate the technical and financial feasibility of incorporating nutrient removal into the Nelson Complex to meet potential Kansas effluent nutrient (N and P) removal goals. This study identified the technical attributes, carbon footprint impacts, and costs of different treatment scenarios for the Nelson Complex to meet the three effluent nutrient removal goal levels. A cost-benefit analysis was conducted in order to recommend a treatment alternative.