Five years operation of a decentralized membrane bioreactor package plant treating domestic wastewater

Membrane bioreactor (MBR) package systems are providing affordable and simple-to-use decentralized wastewater treatment solutions for small to medium sized communities that face the challenge of balancing environmental and regulatory responsibilities with budgetary limitations. With a greater confidence and understanding of MBR technology, there is an increasing incentive in using MBR technology for these types of applications. Furthermore, valued qualities such as compact footprint, quick installation and start-up, process reliability, ease of operation, and superior effluent quality suitable for direct surface discharge and water reclamation have made MBR package system a preferred solution for decentralized wastewater treatment applications. This paper presents a retrofit solution for the Whitehouse Terrace Wastewater Treatment Plant. The existing extended aeration activated sludge package plant was retrofitted with a pre-engineered newterra MicroClear^TM MBR package system for a small community along St Lawrence River in Brockville, Ontario. Five years full scale operation data of the MBR package system is presented and it is evident that the MBR package system consistently delivered high quality effluent that is far better than the required limit for direct surface water discharge to the St. Lawrence's river, with average effluent quality of 2.4, 2.6, 0.5, 0.05 mg/L, 1.7 counts/100 mL and 7.4 for biochemical oxygen demand, TSS, TP, TAN, Escherichia coli and pH, respectively.