Ammonia-Based Aeration Control of an Oxidation Ditch to Improve Effluent Quality and Reduce Operating Cost

A short-term demonstration project at a WRRF in central Ohio demonstrated the benefits of ammonia-based aeration control. Nitrate in the oxidation ditch effluent was reduced to less than 6 mg N/L while effluent ammonia remained near the detection limit. Furthermore, a 26.1% reduction in energy demand was achieved. The facility has since installed a new permanent aeration control system with an estimated payback period of less than 5 years based on the projected savings from the demonstration project. The paper and presentation will detail the demonstration project with additional information from operation of the permanent system which went into operation in the Fall of 2017.