Biosolids and Beneficial Reuse in New Orleans

The Sewerage and Water Board of New Orleans (S&WBNO) is responsible for wastewater treatment and biosolids handling for the City of New Orleans and Orleans Parish. The agency operates two wastewater treatment plants. One is a 122 mgd plant on the East bank of the Mississippi River and the other is a 50 mgd plant on the West bank. The plants generate approximately 42 dry tons per day (dtpd) of biosolids. The current biosolids process involves dewatering by belt filter press, incineration using a fluidized bed incinerator and a multiple hearth incinerator and landfilling of the ash. This process has been used at the plants since the mid 1970's.Due to regulatory incentives, operational economics and other considerations, the S&WBNO is considering a move to a beneficial reuse process allowing the biosolids to be converted into a fertilizer product for resale. This is a product currently in demand due to its high yield production of commercially grown food crops.The processing will take place at an offsite location. This process presents the opportunity to take advantage of the nutrient resource available in the biosolids to enhance the commercially available fertilizers currently being marketed. In the creation of a value added product, legal liabilities are also mitigated.