The SHAFDAN is the largest wastewater treatment plant in Israel and currently treats 360,000 m3/day of municipal wastewater, about 92% of its treatment capacity. Waste sludge from the plant is discharged to the Mediterranean Sea through a marine outfall. The SHAFDAN is committed to ending the disposal of its sludge to the sea by the end of 2016 by providing a land-based biosolids management program that produces a Class A biosolids for agricultural use. In order to implement this strategy, a number of large-scale construction projects were undertaken. These projects include a new sludge thickening and dewatering facility, updated headworks, a new primary treatment facility, and a new 3-stage thermophilic anaerobic digestion facility. The total capital cost of these projects is estimated to be US $300 million. This paper describes the principal components of these projects and their design parameters.

anaerobic thermophilic digestion, headworks, primary clarifiers, sludge thickening and dewatering
The SHAFDAN (Greater Tel Aviv Wastewater Treatment Plant) is the largest regional wastewater treatment plant in Israel. The plant treats wastewater from 35 municipalities. The population served by the SHAFDAN is approximately 2.3 million people. In 2014, the plant treated an average daily flow of about 360,000 m³/d. The raw wastewater has a relatively high strength: BOD = 400 mg/l; TSS = 410 mg/l; TKN = 70 mg/l; P = 10 mg/l (Mey Ezor Dan 2014). The SHAFDAN was originally constructed in the 1960s as a large earth-lagoon oxidation pond system followed by lime-treatment and ammonia–stripping lagoons. The lagoon system was replaced by an extended aeration activated sludge facility, consisting of headworks, BNR bioreactors and final clarifiers. Primary clarifiers were not included in the facility. The secondary effluent meets very high quality standards with average values of BOD <6 mg/l; TSS <6 mg/l; TKN <6 mg/l; TP <1 mg/l. The effluent is infiltrated into a sand aquifer with an average retention time of 1 year, pumped and reused for unrestricted agricultural land application in the south of the country, supplying more than 70% of the irrigation needs. All the waste activated sludge (WAS) from the plant was discharged through a marine outfall. The current treatment process flow diagram is presented in Figure 1.
Figure 1
Figure 1. SHAFDAN current process flow diagram.
View largeDownload slide

SHAFDAN current process flow diagram.

Figure 1
Figure 1. SHAFDAN current process flow diagram.
View largeDownload slide

SHAFDAN current process flow diagram.

Close modal

As the plant is approaching its design capacity (the plant is currently at about 92% of its treatment capacity), SHAFDAN had chosen to add a primary treatment stage to reduce the organic loading to the secondary treatment process as part of the plant expansion.

In accordance with a decision taken several years ago, SHAFDAN is also committed to developing a land-based biosolids management program, producing a Class A biosolids product for agricultural use by the end of 2016. In order to implement this strategy, the following facilities were designed and constructed:

  • Project I: thickening and dewatering facility (US $30,000,000)

  • Project II: new headworks facility and new primary treatment facility to replace the old inefficient facilities (US $70,000,000)

  • Project III: three-stage thermophilic anaerobic digestion facility (US $200,000,000)

These 3 projects are among the world's largest of their kind. Project I have been completed and have been in operation for 3 years. Project II is now in the commissioning phase. Project III will be commissioned in early 2016.

Table 1 summarizes the major design parameters for the three projects mentioned above.

Table 1

SHAFDAN upgrade and expansion: major design parameters

ParameterUnitValue
Design Year year 2030 
Average Annual Flow m3/d 500,000 
Peak Hour Flow m3/sec 12 
BOD Load t/d 200 
TSS Load t/d 200 
Primary Sludge – max. month m3/d 2,500 
Primary Sludge – max. month t/d 110 
WAS – max. month m3/d 24,300 
WAS – max. month t/d 170 
ParameterUnitValue
Design Year year 2030 
Average Annual Flow m3/d 500,000 
Peak Hour Flow m3/sec 12 
BOD Load t/d 200 
TSS Load t/d 200 
Primary Sludge – max. month m3/d 2,500 
Primary Sludge – max. month t/d 110 
WAS – max. month m3/d 24,300 
WAS – max. month t/d 170 
View Large

Project I: thickening and dewatering facility

As the first stage in the implementation to discontinue the discharge of sludge to the sea, a thickening and dewatering facility was constructed and has been in operation for several years.

Three activities take place in the thickening and dewatering facility (Figure 2)
Figure 2
Figure 2. SHAFDAN thickening and dewatering building.
View largeDownload slide

SHAFDAN thickening and dewatering building.

Figure 2
Figure 2. SHAFDAN thickening and dewatering building.
View largeDownload slide

SHAFDAN thickening and dewatering building.

Close modal

WAS thickening

The WAS taken from the final clarifier underflow is thickened from about 0.7% solids to about 5% solids on 11 gravity belt thickeners (GBTs) (Figure 3). Each GBT is served by a progressive cavity (PC) feed pump, and a second PC pump that pumps the TWAS to the digesters. The WAS thickening design parameters are presented in Table 2.
Figure 3
Figure 3. GBTs.
View largeDownload slide

GBTs.

Table 2

WAS thickening: major design parameters (max. month)

ParameterUnitValue
Solids feed rate t/d 170 
WAS solids concentration % 0.7 
WAS feed rate m3/d 24,300 
Thickened WAS solids concentration % 5 
Thickened WAS flow m3/d 3,400 
Thickener type and make GBT EMO; 3.5-m belt width 
Installed machines No. 11 (including standby) 
ParameterUnitValue
Solids feed rate t/d 170 
WAS solids concentration % 0.7 
WAS feed rate m3/d 24,300 
Thickened WAS solids concentration % 5 
Thickened WAS flow m3/d 3,400 
Thickener type and make GBT EMO; 3.5-m belt width 
Installed machines No. 11 (including standby) 
View Large

Digested sludge dewatering

The combined primary and TWAS digested sludge is pumped to a pre-dewatering holding tank, and from there fed by dedicated PC pumps to 6 decanter centrifuges (Figures 4 and 5).
Figure 4
Figure 4. Centrifuge.
View largeDownload slide

Centrifuge.

Figure 5
Figure 5. Dewatered sludge pumps.
View largeDownload slide

Dewatered sludge pumps.

Figure 5
Figure 5. Dewatered sludge pumps.
View largeDownload slide

Dewatered sludge pumps.

Close modal

The sludge dewatering design parameters are presented in Table 3.

Table 3

Digested sludge dewatering: major design parameters (max. month)

ParameterUnitValue
Solid feed rate – Conc. t/d–% 170–2.9 
Digested sludge feed rate m3/d 5,900 
Solid concentration in dewatered sludge cake % 20–25 
Dewatered sludge cake mass t/d 850–680 
Centrifuges type and make Decanter Alfa Laval Aldec G2–120 
Installed machines No. 6 (including standby) 
ParameterUnitValue
Solid feed rate – Conc. t/d–% 170–2.9 
Digested sludge feed rate m3/d 5,900 
Solid concentration in dewatered sludge cake % 20–25 
Dewatered sludge cake mass t/d 850–680 
Centrifuges type and make Decanter Alfa Laval Aldec G2–120 
Installed machines No. 6 (including standby) 
View Large

Dewatered sludge cake pumping

The dewatered sludge cake, at 20 to 25% solids concentration, is pumped by special high-pressure PC pumps (one pump per decanter) to a nearby truck loading facility through 300 mm diameter, 120 m long discharge pipes (one pipe per pump). The maximum discharge pressure in the system is 36 bars. In the event that excessive pressure is developed and detected, lubrication pumps automatically reduce the pressure to normal values. The dewatered sludge pumping design parameters are presented in Table 4.

Table 4

Dewatered sludge pumps: major design parameters (max. month)

ParameterUnitValue
Dewatered sludge feed rate (per pump) m3/hr. 10 to 15 
Dewatered sludge solids concentration % 20 to 25 
Type and make PC Seepex THE 70-48 
Installed machines No. 6 
ParameterUnitValue
Dewatered sludge feed rate (per pump) m3/hr. 10 to 15 
Dewatered sludge solids concentration % 20 to 25 
Type and make PC Seepex THE 70-48 
Installed machines No. 6 
View Large

Project II: new headworks and primary clarifiers

A new headworks facility (Figure 6) was built to replace the old inefficient facility. A new primary treatment stage was added to reduce the organic loading to the secondary treatment process. The regular operation of the two facilities will start in 2015.
Figure 6
Figure 6. SHAFDAN new headworks and primary clarifiers.
View largeDownload slide

SHAFDAN new headworks and primary clarifiers.

Figure 6
Figure 6. SHAFDAN new headworks and primary clarifiers.
View largeDownload slide

SHAFDAN new headworks and primary clarifiers.

Close modal

Diversion chamber and new sewer aqueduct

A diversion chamber and new influent sewer were constructed to convey the incoming wastewater to the new headworks facility (Figure 7).
Figure 7
Figure 7. Sewer aqueduct.
View largeDownload slide

Sewer aqueduct.

The influent sewer consists of 2 pipes, each of 2.7 m internal diameter, pre-fabricated in segments, and based on special pile foundations.

Headworks

The headworks treats the wastewater in 4 stages: very coarse screens, coarse screens, fine screens and grit removal (Figure 8).
Figure 8
Figure 8. Headworks screening room.
View largeDownload slide

Headworks screening room.

Figure 8
Figure 8. Headworks screening room.
View largeDownload slide

Headworks screening room.

Close modal

The headworks design parameters are presented in Table 5.

Table 5

Headworks: major design parameters

ParameterUnitValue
Design Peak Hour Flow m3/sec 12 
Very coarse screens 
 Installed units No. 4 
 Design flow through each m3/sec 4 
 Channel width M 3.2 
 Screen opening mm 100 
 Screenings conveyance  Belt conveyor 
 Type and make rake screen Huber Rake Max 
Coarse screens 
 Installed units No. 4 
 Design flow through each m3/sec 4 
 Channel width m 3.2 
 Screen opening Mm 20 
 Screenings conveyance  Screw conveyor 
 Type and make rake screen Huber Rake Max 
Fine screens 
 Installed units No. 6 
 Design flow through each m3/sec 2.4 
 Channel width M 2.4 
 Screen opening mm 6 (perforated plate) 
 Screenings conveyance  Water trough, chopping, pumping 
 Type and make Perforated Huber EscaMax 
Grit traps 
 Installed units No. 8 
 Design flow through each m3/sec 2.7 
 Chamber diameter m 7 
 Grit conveyance  Slurry pumping 
 Type and make vortex Jones & Atwood 
ParameterUnitValue
Design Peak Hour Flow m3/sec 12 
Very coarse screens 
 Installed units No. 4 
 Design flow through each m3/sec 4 
 Channel width M 3.2 
 Screen opening mm 100 
 Screenings conveyance  Belt conveyor 
 Type and make rake screen Huber Rake Max 
Coarse screens 
 Installed units No. 4 
 Design flow through each m3/sec 4 
 Channel width m 3.2 
 Screen opening Mm 20 
 Screenings conveyance  Screw conveyor 
 Type and make rake screen Huber Rake Max 
Fine screens 
 Installed units No. 6 
 Design flow through each m3/sec 2.4 
 Channel width M 2.4 
 Screen opening mm 6 (perforated plate) 
 Screenings conveyance  Water trough, chopping, pumping 
 Type and make Perforated Huber EscaMax 
Grit traps 
 Installed units No. 8 
 Design flow through each m3/sec 2.7 
 Chamber diameter m 7 
 Grit conveyance  Slurry pumping 
 Type and make vortex Jones & Atwood 
View Large

Primary clarifiers

A total of 20 rectangular primary clarifiers equipped with longitudinal chain and flight collectors were constructed Figure 9. The screened wastewater is fed through distribution channels. The sludge withdrawal from the hoppers is controlled by electrically actuated plug valves. The primary sludge is pumped by PC pumps along a central pipe gallery, to the anaerobic digesters. The primary clarifiers design parameters are presented in Table 6.
Figure 9
Figure 9. Primary clarifiers – upper and lower (pipe gallery) view.
View largeDownload slide

Primary clarifiers – upper and lower (pipe gallery) view.

Figure 9
Figure 9. Primary clarifiers – upper and lower (pipe gallery) view.
View largeDownload slide

Primary clarifiers – upper and lower (pipe gallery) view.

Close modal
Table 6

Primary clarifiers: major design parameters

ParameterUnitValue
Design peak hour flow m3/sec 12 
Number of clarifiers No. 20 (19 + 1 standby) 
Clarifier tankage description 
 Length m 45 
 Width m 12 
 SWD m 3.5 to 4 
 Floor slope % 1 
 Area – per clarifier m2 540 
 Total area m2 10,800 
 Sludge hoppers per tank No. 4 
 Collector type and make Chain and flights Finnchain 
Design parameters 
 Average overflow rate m3/m2/day 46 
 Max. overflow rate m3/m2/hr. 4.0 
Performance – max. month 
 TSS removal efficiency % 52 to 55 
 BOD removal efficiency % 35 
 Primary sludge-dry matter kg/day 110,000 
 Primary sludge-flow m3/day 2,500 
Sludge pumping 
 No. of units – total No. 20 
 Type and capacity  PC, 14 l/sec, VFD 
Scum removal 
 Scum collection system  Elec. operated slotted pipe. Scum screening-compactor 
 Scum compaction   
ParameterUnitValue
Design peak hour flow m3/sec 12 
Number of clarifiers No. 20 (19 + 1 standby) 
Clarifier tankage description 
 Length m 45 
 Width m 12 
 SWD m 3.5 to 4 
 Floor slope % 1 
 Area – per clarifier m2 540 
 Total area m2 10,800 
 Sludge hoppers per tank No. 4 
 Collector type and make Chain and flights Finnchain 
Design parameters 
 Average overflow rate m3/m2/day 46 
 Max. overflow rate m3/m2/hr. 4.0 
Performance – max. month 
 TSS removal efficiency % 52 to 55 
 BOD removal efficiency % 35 
 Primary sludge-dry matter kg/day 110,000 
 Primary sludge-flow m3/day 2,500 
Sludge pumping 
 No. of units – total No. 20 
 Type and capacity  PC, 14 l/sec, VFD 
Scum removal 
 Scum collection system  Elec. operated slotted pipe. Scum screening-compactor 
 Scum compaction   
View Large

Project III: thermophilic anaerobic digestion facility

The sludge stabilization process selected by the SHAFDAN for a land-based biosolids management program producing Class A biosolids is based on a 3-stage thermophilic anaerobic digestion process. The start-up of the facility will begin in early 2016 Figures 10 and 11.
Figure 10
Figure 10. SHAFDAN anaerobic digester facility.
View largeDownload slide

SHAFDAN anaerobic digester facility.

Figure 10
Figure 10. SHAFDAN anaerobic digester facility.
View largeDownload slide

SHAFDAN anaerobic digester facility.

Close modal
Figure 11
Figure 11. Anaerobic Digestion Facility Process Flow Diagram.
View largeDownload slide

Anaerobic Digestion Facility Process Flow Diagram.

Figure 11
Figure 11. Anaerobic Digestion Facility Process Flow Diagram.
View largeDownload slide

Anaerobic Digestion Facility Process Flow Diagram.

Close modal

The digesters facility consists of:

  • 8 sludge screens; 6 various sludge tanks

  • 8 pumped-mixed thermophilic digesters

  • Heat-exchangers and cooling systems

  • Gas treatment facilities; 5 waste gas burners

  • Membrane holding tank

  • 8 co-generation unit

The anaerobic digester design parameters are presented in Table 7.

Table 7

Anaerobic digesters: major design parameters (max. month)

ParameterUnitValue
Blended sludge 
 Flow m3/d 5,900 
 TSS load kg/d 280,000 
 VSS load kg/d 220,000 
 Solids concentration % 4.7 
Sludge screening 
 Number No. 8 
 Max. flow per unit m3/hr. 68 
 Screening opening mm 5 
Thermophilic digesters 
 Number (Stage 1/2/3) No. 6/1/1 
 Volume (each) m3 13,200 
 Volume (total) m3 105,800 
 Inner diameter m 34 
 SWD m 14.4 
 Operating temp. C 57 
 HRT days 18 
 Mixing system  Pumped mixing 
 Mixing pumps number No. 24 (16 + 8 standby) 
 VSS reduction % ≥ 50% 
 Biogas production m3/day 114,000 
Biogas storage and treatment 
 Gas storage type  Dual membrane 
 Storage effective volume m3 4,300 
 Treat. for H2S removal  Biological (H2S ≤ 50 ppm) 
 Burners, number–capacity No.–m3/hr. 5–6,300 
 Burner type  Enclosed stack 
Co-generation 
 Number of units No. 8 (7 operating, 1 in service) 
 Electrical output–each kW 1,400 
 Electrical output–total kW 9,800 
 Thermal output–each kW 1,400 
 Thermal output–total kW 9,800 
 Package  Containerized 
 Type and Make CHP Jenbacher JMC420 
 Siloxane removal  Activated carbon 
ParameterUnitValue
Blended sludge 
 Flow m3/d 5,900 
 TSS load kg/d 280,000 
 VSS load kg/d 220,000 
 Solids concentration % 4.7 
Sludge screening 
 Number No. 8 
 Max. flow per unit m3/hr. 68 
 Screening opening mm 5 
Thermophilic digesters 
 Number (Stage 1/2/3) No. 6/1/1 
 Volume (each) m3 13,200 
 Volume (total) m3 105,800 
 Inner diameter m 34 
 SWD m 14.4 
 Operating temp. C 57 
 HRT days 18 
 Mixing system  Pumped mixing 
 Mixing pumps number No. 24 (16 + 8 standby) 
 VSS reduction % ≥ 50% 
 Biogas production m3/day 114,000 
Biogas storage and treatment 
 Gas storage type  Dual membrane 
 Storage effective volume m3 4,300 
 Treat. for H2S removal  Biological (H2S ≤ 50 ppm) 
 Burners, number–capacity No.–m3/hr. 5–6,300 
 Burner type  Enclosed stack 
Co-generation 
 Number of units No. 8 (7 operating, 1 in service) 
 Electrical output–each kW 1,400 
 Electrical output–total kW 9,800 
 Thermal output–each kW 1,400 
 Thermal output–total kW 9,800 
 Package  Containerized 
 Type and Make CHP Jenbacher JMC420 
 Siloxane removal  Activated carbon 
View Large

The SHAFDAN has been upgraded during the last 8 years to provide a biosolids management program producing Class A biosolids. Three major projects are involved in this plan: Project I – new sludge thickening and dewatering facility; Project II – new headworks facility and new primary clarifiers which provide a necessary treatment stage for a future expansion of the plant treatment capacity; Project III – a 3-stage thermophilic digestion facility. The total construction cost of these projects is approximately 300 million US dollars. These projects will provide the SHAFDAN with a state-of-the-art, long-term, land-based biosolids management system producing Class A biosolids.

As the plant is approaching its design capacity, the SHAFDAN is now preparing for the expansion of the liquid stream capacity to 500,000 m3/day. This expansion, planned for the next 10 years, involves a construction of new BNR bioreactors and final clarifiers as well as side-stream treatment of the dewatering centrate to reduce the nutrient return load to the secondary treatment process.

Mey Ezor Dan
2014
Dan Region Wastewater Project, Wastewater Treatment Plant Operation
.
© IWA Publishing 2016