DEVELOPMENT OF A BASIS OF DESIGN FOR FULL SCALE EQUIPMENT USING RESEARCH TESTING RESULTS AND A PROCESS MODEL

The New York City Department of Environmental Protection (NYCDEP) is implementing a Nitrogen Management Program that utilizes information gained from an Applied Research Program and other studies to successfully develop an evolving plan to reduce nitrogen discharges from New York City Water Pollution Control Plants (WPCPs). NYCDEP's Applied Research Program developed and tested an innovative biological nitrogen removal process that involves the nitrification of sludge dewatering centrate separately with the seeding of mainstream Return Activated Sludge (RAS) to help stabilize the separate centrate nitrification process. Once nitrified, the mixed liquor and nitrates are returned to the mainstream treatment system to enhance overall nitrogen removal. In order to successfully implement this technology at other WPCPs, a basis of design for determining the anticipated range of required RAS flow rates was developed. New York City's Nitrogen Management Program utilized research testing results gained through the Applied Research Program along with a computerized process model to determine the required RAS flow rates. This evaluation is a small part of a comprehensive programmatic effort.