WWTP-Power Plant Recycle Loop: Evaluation of Reclaim Water From a Municipal WWTP for Operation of a 49 MW Power Plant

Dewberry conducted a technical feasibility study to reclaim wastewater effluent from a local municipal wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) for utility water supply to a 49 MW wood-waste-fired power plant, planned for start-up in 2013. Specifically, this study determined the maximum amount of reclaim water that may be diverted from the WWTP discharge and transferred to the power plant while satisfying the following: (1) maintaining minimum water quality criteria for operation of the power plant, (2) avoiding biological inhibition at the WWTP, and (3) maintaining compliance with WWTP permit requirements and water quality standards. Also this study identified that partial or full diversion of cooling tower blowdown directly downstream of the WWTP reclaim pumps (prior to final WWTP discharge) increases the reclaim availability by 30-40%. Finally, the use of raw river water to augment low diurnal sewer flows entering the WWTP is a feasible means by which to increase reclaim availability.