Microsorb

PROJECT C-3

Sewerage Treatment Projects
Wastewater Treatment Plant, Steiner Ranch, TX

PROBLEM:
Odor and grease problems

Steiner Ranch is a small community approximately 20 miles northeast of Austin, Texas, with its own school system and water and sewer systems. The wastewater treatment plant is a small activated sludge facility originally designed to treat 15,000 gpd. Because the plant is located at the highest point in the community, a number of lift stations are required to pump sewerage to the plant. In 1993, operating at 13,000 gpd, the system was plagued with many problems and the plant effluent was not meeting its Texas state discharge requirements. Fouled by grease, the lift stations had mechanical and odor problems, and the grease interfered with plant operations, causing excessive floatation in the clarifier and a high BOD effluent. Hydrogen sulfide in the lift stations destroyed the automatic pump controls, metal parts, ladders, covers, and concrete struc-tures. In addition, the lift stations frequently overflowed, requiring constant supervision and frequent grease removal. The system was being treated with ferric chloride and peroxide without success.

SOLUTION:
Lift stations treated weekly with MicroSorb^®SC

In January of 1993, lift stations were treated weekly with the equivalent of only four ounces of MicroSorb^®SC.

RESULTS:
Grease was eliminated, odor reduced; no immediate need for new treatment plant

Grease was immediately eliminated from the pumping stations and odor was greatly reduced. Hydrogen sulfide generation ceased. The influent BOD to the treatment plant was reduced from 250 to 125, the clarifier began to function properly, and the plant achieved state effluent standards.

Since 1993, the community has grown such that now the plant is treating 90,000 gpd and still meeting state standards. With weekly treatment of MicroSorb^® SC at the lift stations, the plant influent BOD is now only 5. Odors, hydrogen sulfide and ammonia, have been eliminated and lift station maintenance has been greatly reduced. The addition of MicroSorb^®SC increased system efficiency such that the requirement for a new treatment plant was delayed by four years.

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