Nutrient Removal Engineering Phosphorus and Nitrogen in Wastewater Treatment

This course equips participants with the skills needed to tackle nutrient management issues, exploring the biological, chemical, and advanced processes for effective removal of phosphorus and nitrogen. Delving into regulatory requirements, retrofitting strategies, resource recovery technologies, and pollutant trading practices, it provides practical insights through design exercises and a site visit to a state-of-the-art nutrient recovery facility to improve system performance and meet environmental goals.

• Wastewater engineers, operators, and managers responsible for nutrient removal and system optimization.
• Consulting engineers and regulatory staff working on nutrient management and compliance.
• Federal agencies and military base personnel overseeing water treatment facilities and operations.

Overview of Nutrients and Nutrient Removal

• Why are nutrients an issue?
• Nitrogen and phosphorus cycles
• Challenges for today’s treatment plant

Nutrient Regulations and Discharge Permits

• Current status and trends

Fundamentals and Principles of Nutrient Removal

• Raw wastewater characteristics
• Nitrification, denitrification, anammox
• Biological and chemical phosphorus removal
• Sludge settling characteristics, biological selectors

Processes and Technologies for Nutrient Removal

• Nitrogen and phosphorus removal processes
• Conventional nitrification
• Wuhrmann, Ludzak-Edinger processes
• Bardenpho processes, 4-stage, 5-stage
• Variations to conventional processes
• A/O, A2/O, Johannesburg processes

Application of BNR Process Models

• Impacts of temperature, alkalinity, carbon
• Impacts of SRT, RAS, mixed liquor recycle rates
• Wet weather treatment performance

Advanced BNR Processes

• IFAS/MBBR
• Biomag
• Nereda

Retrofitting Plants for Nutrient Removal Technology

• Converting conventional plants to BNR
• Impacts on bioreactor volume, equipment, and controls

Sidestream Treatment Technologies

• Phosphorus removal – chemical and struvite precipitation
• Nitrogen removal – Sharon, Anammox, Anitamox, Demon processes

Nutrient Resource Recovery and Harvesting

• Technologies and developments
• Benefits, costs, efficiencies
• The food-water-energy nexus
• Struvite recovery
• Ostara, Airprex, other technologies

Nutrient Trading and Adaptive Management Practices

• Control of non-point sources
• Arrangements between POTWs and landowners 

Case Studies and Examples

Tour of Nutrient Recovery Facilities at the Madison Metropolitan Sewerage District

• Transportation to and from the plant is provided.

“Speakers were exceptional. Great diversity, knowledge, and presentational skills.”

“Great presenters, networking, and update about what is going on in the industry.”

“Best program in the country for professional development."

Adrienne Menniti

Adrienne Menniti, PhD, PE is a Principal Process Engineer in the Research and Innovation division of Clean Water Services, a public utility serving Washington County Oregon. After receiving her PhD from the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, Adrienne spent 5 years as a consultant before moving to Clean Water Services in 2014. She currently leads the Process Engineering group at CWS. She also manages the biological phosphorus removal research program for the utility and has extensive applied experience operating CWS treatment facilities to achieve stringent effluent phosphorus and ammonia limits.

Adib Amini

Adib Amini, Ph.D., PE, ENV SP, BCEE serves as Program Director in the College of Engineering’s Office of Interdisciplinary Professional Programs, with a focus on Water, Wastewater, Stormwater, and Sustainability. Dr. Amini also works with cities and industries as an engineering consultant, with experience in both drinking water and wastewater treatment. Dr. Amini has expertise in sustainability, engineering design, technology innovation, and renewable energy. Dr. Amini’s work has included the design of novel technologies, including on-site energy systems at facilities. He spearheaded the designs for the first wastewater treatment facilities in Iowa that are 100% powered by on-site renewable energy systems. Dr. Amini invented a novel system for ventilation of rated spaces, such as wastewater headworks buildings, for which he holds a provisional patent. Dr. Amini also has performed award-winning research in technology innovation and sustainability. Dr. Amini has spoken widely at conferences on topics related to water/wastewater treatment, sustainability, PFAS, on-site energy systems, and resilient infrastructure.

Leon Downing

Dr. Leon Downing is the Global Practice and Technology Leader for Nutrient Removal and Recovery for Black & Veatch from Madison, Wisconsin.  A graduate of the University of Wisconsin – Platteville, Leon received his post-graduate degrees at the University of Notre Dame.  Downing provides technology leadership in support of Black & Veatch process engineering and applied research projects globally. 

Alan Grooms

Alan Grooms, PE, is the Operations Manager at Madison Metropolitan Sewerage District. He has more than 26 years of experience in wastewater treatment plant operations and design. He is a licensed Wisconsin professional engineer and a licensed wastewater operator and has participated in and overseen planning, design, construction, and operation of numerous wastewater treatment plants and other municipal projects.