Nutrient Removal Engineering Phosphorus and Nitrogen in Wastewater Treatment

Learn the important principles, trends, and technologies to effectively remove phosphorus and nitrogen during the wastewater treatment process. Understand the importance and fundamentals of nutrient removal and get up to date on nutrient regulations and discharge permits, then go in-depth on nutrient removal processes and technologies. Learn how to apply BNR process models and use advanced BNR processes. The course will discuss how to retrofit a plant for nutrient removal technology and cover nutrient trading and adaptive management practices. Students will use case studies and practical examples and visit a state-of-the-art nutrient recovery facility.

Learning Outcomes:

  • Learn the fundamentals of, processes for, and technologies used in phosphorus and nitrogen removal, as well as nutrient regulations.
  • Understand BNR process models and advanced BNR processes.
  • Become familiar with retrofitting plans for nutrient removal.
  • Understand nutrient resource recovery and harvesting.
  • Learn about nutrient trading and adaptive management practices

Who Should Attend:

  • Wastewater engineers, operators, and managers
  • Consulting engineers
  • Federal agencies and military bases
  • Regulatory staff

Future course dates coming soon!

Stay Connected

Course Details: RA01245

This is an accordion element with a series of buttons that open and close related content panels.

Course Outline

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.

Instructors and Program Director

  • Instructors

    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

    Program Director

    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

    Operations Manager MMSD

    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.

  • Program Director

    Adib Amini

Total Credits:
CEU 2
PDH 20
Applies to this Certificate:

“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."

Create a custom learning experience

We can deliver this course as an on-site learning experience tailored to your organization’s specific training needs.