Operating Experience of the First and Largest Low Level Nitrogen Removal Facility in Long Island Sound

A Role for Shellfish Aquaculture in Coastal Nitrogen Management

“…As limits of technology are approached, nitrogen reductions at point sources become increasingly more expensive. Costs of nitrogen removal at WWTPs in the Connecticut River Basin have been estimated to increase from $12 per pound at 8 mg/L total nitrogen discharged to $14 per pound at 5 mg/L total nitrogen discharged to $37 per pound at 3 mg/L total nitrogen discharged. , It is not unusual for costs to upgrade individual plants to a higher level of nitrogen reduction to run into the tens and hundreds of millions of dollars …”

“…32,33 It is not unusual for costs to upgrade individual plants to a higher level of nitrogen reduction to run into the tens and hundreds of millions of dollars. 34 Currently, advances in wastewater treatment processes for nitrogen removal result in effluent total nitrogen concentrations of 8 mg/L after biological nitrogen removal, and 3 mg/L after enhanced nitrogen removal. 35 It is worth noting that 3 mg/L of nitrogen in effluent still constitutes a substantial input of nitrogen in terms of potential phytoplankton and/or bacterial growth, equivalent to 200 μM total nitrogen.…”

Innovation Promoted by Regulatory Flexibility

“…Utilities are therefore able to meet the outcome of protecting Lake Mead (to which Las Vegas Wash discharges) while also limiting their chemical and energy usage, solids production, and overall expenditure. Outcome-focused Water Quality Trading has also been applied successfully, reducing costly plant upgrades that may not have resulted in a water quality benefit. , …”

“…Outcome-focused Water Quality Trading has also been applied successfully, reducing costly plant upgrades that may not have resulted in a water quality benefit. 4,5 Finally, Prescriptive Codes and Standards Should Be Examined and Updated More Frequently to Adapt to and Allow Innovative Practices/Technologies. Codes and standards have their place to ensure that public health and the environment are protected and that any required infrastructure is implemented efficiently and effectively.…”

Analysis of Organic Nitrogen Removal in Municipal Wastewater by Reverse Osmosis

“…Ikenberry et al (2002) reported secondary effluent DON values ranging from 1.0 mg/L to 1.5 mg/L at the Truckee Meadows Water Reclamation Facility in Reno, Nevada. Brown et al (2007) reported an average N org concentration of 2.9 mg/L in the secondary effluent of a biological nutrient removal (BNR) plant in Stamford, Connecticut.…”