Windham Pilot Project Upgrades Waste-Water Treatment Plant;

July 31, 2009

Albany, NY — A unique configuration of commercially available waste-water treatment technologies, capable of meeting the enhanced-treatment standards required by the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) in the City’s reservoir watershed, has been installed in the Catskills, at the Town of Windham Waste Water Treatment Plant (WWTP). The pilot project is co-funded by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority. The pilot system, which has been operating since late winter, consistently achieves the enhanced-treatment standards while requiring only half the horsepower needed to run a conventional microfiltration-based system, the current industry standard. In light of reduced energy requirements, a photovoltaic (PV/solar) array generating electricity will soon be tested at the WWTP to determine if it can provide sufficient energy to fully power the system.

The configuration has the added benefits of generating less sludge and having a smaller footprint than most conventional microfiltration-based systems. Additionally, microfiltration-based systems can be chemically-intensive and require a highly trained staff to operate, which is not the case for the pilot system.

Francis J. Murray, Jr. NYSERDA President and CEO noted that “NYSERDA is partnering with Delaware Operations, a regional engineering firm that serves as a shared-cost contractor for this project. It has combined off-the-shelf components in an imaginative way that can meet enhanced treatment standards while significantly reducing the high electricity consumption of plants.”

NYSERDA contributed $199,896 and Delaware Operations provided $200,069 for the design and installation of the system that includes a mechanical fine screen, a clarifier with pre-coagulation, a continuously backwashed upflow sand filter with pre-coagulation, a membrane bioreactor (MBR), and disinfection. The system will be run for several months and then evaluated in a final report due out by the end of year. Staff from both the DEP and New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) are serving as advisors on the project.

Sen. James L. Seward said: “This groundbreaking project represents a prime example of what can be done when public and private entities join forces. We need to continue to look at innovative solutions like this to lessen the tax burden on local property owners while at the same time paving the way for environmentally sound methods of meeting our growing needs.”

“Advancing alternate energy and energy conservation projects are critical to our future,” said Assemblyman Pete Lopez. “I’m thrilled that the people of Windham will have an opportunity to make use of this award for the long-term benefit of the region and the state.”

T. Patrick Meehan, Windham Supervisor said: “Windham is pleased to host this valuable project. Our engineering firm, Delaware Operations, Inc. seeks to reduce the amount of energy consumed at municipal wastewater treatment plants across the state, while simultaneously enhancing the effectiveness of the treatment process. This information will be highly beneficial to many communities currently investigating new technology.”

Kathleen Suozzo, P.E., Delaware Operations, Inc., said: "We are thrilled to be a part of such an exciting and innovative pilot project at the Windham WWTP. As financial resources become tighter and environmental regulations become more stringent, the technical community must become more creative and search out those environmentally and financially responsible solutions to our wastewater treatment needs."

The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) was established by law in 1975 as a public benefit corporation. NYSERDA provides energy-related technical and financial packaging assistance to businesses and institutions to promote energy efficiency and economic development, as well as providing energy research and development programs that promote safe and economical energy production efficiency technologies in New York State. NYSERDA also analyzes the effect of New York’s energy, regulatory and environmental policies on the State’s business, institutional, and residential energy consumers.

CONTACT:

NYSERDA, Ray Hull
518-862-1090 ext 3356/rwh@nyserda.ny.gov