Challenge: The 1.5 million gallons per day (MGD) West Carrollton Wastewater Treatment Plant in West Carrollton, Ohio came on-line in 1989 and today serves 12,000 area residents. The activated sludge facility produces an average of 200 wet tons/month of sludge that, following belt filter press dewatering, is spread on area farmland by a biosolids management company. Polymer is added to the sludge prior to belt press dewatering to aid in liquid-solid separation.
After 13 years, West Carrollton plant management found it was time to replace the facility's two-stage dry polymer feed system. "Our original system had served its useful life," says Utility Superintendent Tom Scherack. "As with any older system, components were becoming worn out and its operation had become maintenance intensive. We also needed more room in the polymer mixing area and hoped to replace our old system with something smaller." The old polymer feed system had served the West Carrollton plant well, but it was time for a change. "Basically, we were looking to maintain our same level of polymer performance but wanted a system that took up less space and, hopefully, required less capital outlay," says Scherack.