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When the content of sludge mounds is analyzed in the laboratory, it is common for the mound to include from 30% to 60% undigested organic solids. These are solids that could not be digested by the natural bacteria in the lagoons, primarily, because of the excess of noxic gases from biological waste that is trapped in the sludge mounds. Visual proof that this trapped gas exists, is the large methane - smelling bubbles that break the surface of a waste lagoon throughout the year.
Solar Powered Mixing A recent technology introduced to the lagoon industry for the purpose of aiding water mixing, is the solar powered surface skimmer. While these products have the advantage of not requiring electricity, their effectiveness as true lagoon mixers is quite limited. In fact, they do cause a small amount of surface mixing; but, the mixing influence is not much greater than a constant fair wind over the surface of the lagoon. There is never enough movement to affect the sludge mounds that have naturally built up on the lagoon bottom; so, eventually, the effluent water quality of lagoons using this technology will exhibit the same negative results as if they were never used. This minimal mixing influence does help in keeping algae mixed - to a point - as long as there are large numbers of the mixers in a relatively small area. But initial cost and maintenance upkeep have often been recognized as a poor cost to advantage ratio. The Water Moving Aerator Just over 3 years ago, a new technology was introduced to the waste lagoon industry that is making major headway in the rehabilitation of old waste lagoons; some of which cannot meet effluent permit requirements due to the amount of sludge in the lagoon. This patented technology is unique because it was developed recognizing that sludge mounds do exist and because of an understanding of how these mounds negatively affect water quality. The Model WQA Water Moving Aerator performs two key requirements that are necessary for the complete success of any waste lagoon -
This unique aerator design uses only 2 horsepower of energy to move from 2 to 5 acres of water continuously - not on the surface - but on the bottom, where the weight of the water is used to shear the mounds of sludge and break them up. Within several days, the sludge becomes a low level, fluid mass of moving sludge. This movement allows for natural bacteria in the lagoon sediments to digest the organic sludge. The continuous, very slow, movement of the sludge also frees trapped ammonia and nitrogen gases to oxidize in the water column. Also, due to the downward movement of the water within the water column, a slight vacuum pulls algae cells down below the photozone, reducing or eliminating summer blooms. Another 2 horsepower blower feeds air to eight fine-bubble diffusers that are located below and forward of the coarse bubble water moving diffuser bars. Because the fine bubbles are too small to rise through the coarse bubbles and turbulence on the surface, they are carried horizontally forward for 25 to 35 feet, diffusing dissolved oxygen into the water. Due to the water column becoming free of polluting ammonia, nitrogen and hydrogen sulfide gases, the water can hold more oxygen, thus improving water quality overall. See Figure 5. Installations of this unique "water moving aerator" have shown the following results -
Conclusion Wastewater lagoons, both municipal and industrial, have been proven to be an effective waste treatment technology for many years, if the land is available. But, because of their low level of technology they have a tendency to be neglected and burdened with minimum attention. After a number of years, if effective attention is not provided to the lagoon, problems become apparent and effluent quality falls out of compliance or becomes an ongoing problem. One of the major problems facing lagoon owners, has been the inability to effectively mix the lagoon in such a way as to allow for the sludge to become evenly distributed around the lagoon. This lack of total mixing causes the sludge to form into mounds that hold undigested organic solids. The mounds also hold large mounts of waste gases that have a tendency to degrade the lagoon's water quality, and feed intense algae blooms that only add to the problems. Standard aeration technologies have not focused on mixing, so they do little, if anything, to address the sludge buildup problem. But, a new patented design of a low powered air-lift based aerator has proven to use the weight of slow moving water to break up sludge mounds located on the lagoon bottom. Eventually, tons of slow moving water turns the sludge in the lagoon into a fluid bottom layer that is readily accessible to natural bacteria. While the bacteria digests the organic solids in the sludge, the waste gases are oxidized in the water column. This unique aerator, which uses a total of only 4HP of energy, also adds oxygen to the water at a rate of over 1.5lbs of DO per HP/hr. At a time when the economies of small communities and rural industries does not allow for lagoon upgrades and overhauls, this new low-powered, low-priced water moving aeration technology is:
Jim Dartez is the president and CEO of Reliant Water Technologies. The company is located in New Orleans, LA and can be reached at 504-400-1239. |
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© 2014 Reliant Water Technologies | Telephone: 504-400-1239 | Website managed by Chester County Sites |