EPA Grants BCR National PSRP Equivalency for Digester System

BCR Environmental (BCR) announced that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Pathogen Equivalency Committee has granted its CleanB process National PSRP (Process to Significantly Reduce Pathogens) Equivalency.

“The CleanB process is a digester in a box. It eliminates the need for costly and large-footprint digestion infrastructure,” said BCR President and CEO Aaron Zahn. “This translates into huge cost reductions for design, construction, operation, disposition and energy for municipalities that need to meet population growth or Class B regulatory compliance. In addition, the CleanB process provides substantial reductions in energy consumption, improvements in odor control by production of odorless biosolids cake, and reduces nutrient return loads created by digestion processes.”

The one-stage CleanB process is a plug-flow, aerobic/chemical process that utilizes the addition of chlorine dioxide to disinfect, remove odor and enhance dewatering of secondary sludge. It also treats biosolids in an odorless manner to meet Class B regulatory requirements for beneficial reuse in accordance with Title 40 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 503 and allows for a number of other beneficial reuse strategies that may otherwise not be practical.

In the first year of full-scale operation at the Naval Air Station in Jacksonville, Fla., the system saved the base $75,000 in energy costs and $105,000 in total operating costs, which translates into $2.9 million over the 20-year life of the project, with a payback (including equipment costs) of less than 10 years. In addition to a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions of approximately 480 tons in the first year, improved dewatering of biosolids decreased the total volume of biosolids, resulting in the elimination of 12 truckloads, with an average annual savings of over $10,000 on hauling and disposition. Polymer consumption was reduced by 71%.

Source: BCR Environmental