Testing ways to remove ammonia

Enclosure constructed for ammonia treatment demonstration to permit year-round testing

Enclosure constructed for ammonia treatment demonstration to permit year-round testing

Ammonia acts as a nutrient in natural waters because of its nitrogen content, and nitrogen in the effluent of the Metropolitan Syracuse Wastewater Treatment Plant encourages the growth of algae in Onondaga Lake. Onondaga County, therefore, has taken steps to reduce significantly the concentration of ammonia that Metro discharges.

Onondaga County began operating a $1.3 million demonstration project to remove ammonia from wastewater at Metro in 1998. The demonstration project was designed to develop design criteria and determine the effectiveness for year-round removal of ammonia.

Demonstration unit

Demonstration unit

The technology used was state-of-the-art biological aerated filtration. This technique filters wastewater with a special micro-sand media while adding air.

During the pilot demonstration, two systems were tested at various temperatures and flow rates. The project focused on the filters' ability to perform in cold weather and to respond to rapid changes in the volume of wastewater to be treated.

The two pilot-scale units were Krüger BIOSTYR and Infilco Degremont's BIOFOR. Both were operated for 1 year, June 1998-June 1999. A laboratory was set up on the site to obtain immediate results of the treatment. A chiller was put onsite, too, to simulate temperature changes for the testing.

Onondaga County's report on the demonstration project was submitted to NYSDEC in October 1999, and NYSDEC approved it in December 1999. The demonstration led to the preliminary design of the ammonia treatment facilities at Metro.

Ammonia removal today.