Upgrading treatment of solids
The Onondaga County Department of Water Environment Protection (WEP) has upgraded its digesters at the Metropolitan Syracuse Wastewater Treatment Plant. It
first emptied and then inspected the digester tanks
and then cleaned and repaired or modified them.
Changes were also made in the piping. The methane gas
compression system was replaced.
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Digester at the Metropolitan Syracuse Wastewater Treatment Plant
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At the treatment plant, the digesters are critical to
management of solid wastes (called “biosolids”) that
are by-products of the wastewater treatment process.
Biosolids are kept for several days in large heated
digester tanks. Bacteria thrive in this environment
and break down the biosolids. In the process, the
bacteria reduce the volume and odors of the biosolids and
rid them of organisms that might cause disease.
Two products result from the digestion process:
methane gas and solid waste.
WEP's modifications have improved the treatment of
solids.
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Susan Miller, Project Deputy Director
Onondaga County Dept of Water Environment Protection