EXTENDING THE LIFECYCLE OF WATER VIA DECENTRALIZED

WATER RECLAMATION AND REUSE

Main Presenter: George Simon, McKim & Creed*
Co-Authors: Brent Zern, Matthew Early Emory University
Co-Authors: Tim Baldwin McKim & Creed
Co-Authors: Eric Lohan, Living Machines Systems
*McKim & Creed: 8020 Tower Point Drive, Charlotte, NC 28227
(704)-841-2588, gsimon@mckimcreed.com

ABSTRACT
Emory University (EU), located on approximately 700 acres in DeKalb County, Georgia, is a top-tier
institution recognized for its medical school and various professional programs as well as its commitment
to environmental sustainability. In 2011 and 2012, EU used an estimated 390 million gallons of water per
year, equating to approximately 1.1 million gallons per day (GPD). Approximately 38% of total water use
is for applications like irrigation and utility process water that do not require potable quality water. Overall
campus non-potable water demand equates to approximately 150 million gallons per year or 410,000
gallons per day. A majority of this demand, nearly 60 percent, occurs at five area-wide utility plants where
process water is used for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. This level of nonpotable water demand provides a significant opportunity to replace large volumes of potable water use
with alternative water supplies.
Sustainable Water, a leader in water reuse and reclamation technology, presented Emory University with
a detailed assessment of their water footprint as well as a water reuse feasibility study. The results of
studies proved that water reclamation and reuse at the Emory University campus, via decentralized
wastewater treatment, is not only a viable method to extend the life cycle of water at EU, but an economic
winner that will provide EU with immediate cost savings.
EU has commissioned Sustainable Water, and their team of engineering and construction providers, to
develop and construct a decentralized water reclamation facility (Facility) and reuse distribution network
via a Design/Build Own/Operate (DBOO) approach. The Facility will provide EU with 400,000 gallons per
day of reclaimed water that will be used at chiller plants for cooling tower water make-up, and a steam
plant for boiler water make-up. The heart of the Facilitys treatment process is the Living Machine,
blending cutting-edge science and engineering with plants and beneficial bacteria to efficiently treat and
reuse wastewater, providing a lasting water solution for EU.
This paper will focus on the technical aspects of the treatment process design, as well of the economic
benefits of decentralized wastewater treatment and reuse. The project is scheduled for completion mid
2013.

KEYWORDS
Water Reclamation, Water Reuse, Hydroponics, Sustainable Water, Sewer Mining

INTRODUCTION
Over the last decade, sustainable water management has become a critical issue for the metro-Atlanta
region, which has struggled with drought, legal disputes over water supply, and EPA consent decrees on
water quality issues. As a pioneer, community leader, and home of the world-renowned Center for Global
Safe Water, EU is seeking to comprehensively address local and global water challenges. With a variety

Extending The Lifecycle Of Water Via Decentralized Water Reclamation And Reuse

of water conservation initiatives deployed on campus, EU is on the leading edge of water efficiency and
continuing to search for ways to minimize its environmental footprint and safeguard community water
supplies.
In 2011 and 2012, EU used an estimated 390 million gallons of water per year, equating to approximately
1.1 million gallons per day (gpd). Approximately 38% of this use (over 400,000 GPD) is considered nonpotable water demand, and can thus be replaced with alternative water supplies. In order to further
reduce its dependence on potable water, Sustainable Water and its partners designed a 200,000-400,000
gpd ecological treatment facility that will reclaim campus wastewater for non-potable reuse applications.
The facility will extract wastewater from the municipal sewer system and treat it through a Hydroponic
Living Machine system. Once treated, reclaimed water will be reused as process make-up at three
central chiller plants and the campus steam plant. Additional uses for reclaimed water will include
irrigation and toilet flushing at select dormitories, all compliant with stringent Georgia regulations.

COLLECTION SYSTEM ANALYSIS

At the very core of such a sewer mining project is the need to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the
local wastewater collection system and the intended points of reclaimed water use. The key being to
locate a sewer mining and water reclamation facility at a location that has sufficient wastewater feedstock,
while still being in optimum geographic proximity to the end-users to minimize lengthy pipe runs and
pumping reclaimed water long distances.
To that extent, the project team embarked on an extensive flow-monitoring and constituent sampling
program spanning several months during 2012 and 2013 at potential sewer extraction sites identified by
EU. Seasonal flow monitoring (i.e., summer with students off-campus and fall/spring with students oncampus) was crucial in order to validate that sufficient feedstock would be available throughout the year
to meet projected reclaimed water demands.
Preliminary analysis of historical wastewater flows suggested several possible sites for a sewer extraction
system and water reclamation facility. The site ultimately selected was on Emorys north campus, and
consists of 4,000 square foot of available parking spaces between two existing building. This site will
house the main treatment facilities, as well as the greenhouse where the hydroponic reactors are located
which is the heart and visual draw of the reclamation facility. This site was also selected because it was
perceived as being less disruptive to existing campus activities and future planned growth. The extraction
location, approximately 400 ft. across the street, will be utilized for the sewer extraction operation, as well
as additional hydroponic and wetlands treatment areas.
Daily hydrograph showed clear diurnal patterns of sewer flow with variations of 200 to 300 gpm during the
8-10 hour workday. The rest of the day the base flow of 400 gpm is very consistent showing almost no
reduction in flow during the early morning hours. The net result is total daily flow volumes ranging from
400,000 gpd to upwards of 900,000 gpd. Therefore, the flow monitoring efforts confirmed a sufficient
feedstock was available to site a facility at the proposed location. Initial design capacity of the facility will
be 200,000 gpd, with capacity to treat up to 400,000 gpd.
In addition to confirming feedstock availability, constituent sampling was conducted to support
development of influent design criteria. Based on the sampling program, the design maximum influent
characteristics used in the process design of the proposed WRF are summarized in Table 1, as well as
the effluent design criteria.

Extending The Lifecycle Of Water Via Decentralized Water Reclamation And Reuse

Table 1 - Influent and Effluent Design Standards

Influent
Effluent
(1)
BOD, mg/l
266
<5
(1)
TSS, mg/l
350
<5
TKN, mg/l
TP, mg/l
Turbidity, NTU
pH
Temp. C
Fecal Coliform Bacteria

65
10
6-9
18
(2)

Alkalinity, mg/l CaCO3

Note1: Georgia Reclaimed Water Quality Standards.
Note2: Most Probable Number (MPN) per 100ml.

<5
<1
(1)
<3
6-9
(1)

<23

>50

TREATMENT SYSTEM DESIGN

The collection system analysis described previously confirmed the viability of the preferred location to site
the proposed water reclamation facility and sewer mining operation. The next step consisted of designing
the appropriate treatment and distribution infrastructure. An overall process flow diagram is presented in
Figure 1, and a site plan is presented in Figure 2 at the end of this paper.
Sewer Mining
Raw sewage will be extracted from an 18 reinforced concrete pipe (RCP) sewer. A doghouse manhole
will be constructed on the 18 sewer to divert flow to a new below grade pump station. The duplex pump
station will pump influent wastewater to a 6 mm primary screen to remove any trash entrained in the
wastewater. Flows exiting the screen discharges directly into the Primary Treatment Reactors.
Primary Treatment Reactors
Primary treatment was included to settle and digest biological solids. The most passive systems utilize
large settling tanks that require minimal energy to operate, but require a large footprint and frequent
pumping of settled solids. To significantly reduce footprint and maintenance, aerated primary treatment
tanks with attached growth media, commonly referred to as moving bed bioreactors were chosen.
The three moving bed bioreactors are located behind the Greenhouse on the upper site. The attached
growth media in these reactors, a floating plastic substrate, is colonized by a community of bacteria called
a biofilm that begins the biological treatment process. These reactors have coarse bubble diffusers and
mixers that supply oxygen and scouring energy to achieve optimum biofilm growth. Stainless steel
screens on the inlet and outlet pipes retain the media inside the reactors. Moving bed bioreactors are a
commonly used technology to efficiently remove carbonaceous material as a primary treatment step.
The first reactor is designed as an anoxic reactor to select for the growth of floc-forming
microorganisms, convert nitrate to nitrogen gas (denitrification) and remove Biological Oxygen Demand
(BOD). The anoxic environment is between anaerobic and fully aerobic, in terms of the oxygen content in
the wastewater. There is no free oxygen (O2) in the wastewater; oxygen is present in bound forms of
nitrates, sulfates, and other compounds. The anoxic state is maintained by mixers and by varying the
process recycle rate, which optimizes nitrogen removal and minimizes formation of hydrogen sulfides.
The constant recycle of process water from the Hydroponic Reactors to the anoxic reactor returns nitrate
for conversion to harmless nitrogen gas. The Emory system will use attached growth media designed by
2
-3
Entex that has an industry-leading surface area of 550 m m . This results in a total surface area of over

Extending The Lifecycle Of Water Via Decentralized Water Reclamation And Reuse

500,000 ft for biofilm growth, resulting in high treatment efficiency and stability, as outlined in US patent #
7,854,843.
The next two moving bed reactors are aerated with coarse bubble diffusers and are the first fully aerobic
portion of the treatment process. The purpose of these reactors is to remove a large fraction of the
carbonaceous material, measured as BOD, in the influent and to strip odorous gasses from the
wastewater. The first three reactors are enclosed, with access through airtight hatches. All gasses are
vented through activated carbon air filters to prevent any odors from escaping by applying proven
solutions to ensure odor-free operation.
Hydroponic Reactors
The Hydroponic Reactors follow the primary moving bed reactors and are located within the greenhouse
and on the lower portion of the site. These reactors reduce remaining BOD to secondary levels and
complete the nitrification process.
The Hydroponic Reactor design was developed and first
commercialized by LMS in the early 90s and covered under US patent # 6,811,700. The US EPA quickly
recognized the innovative nature of this design and a series of demonstration projects were funded in
Maryland, Vermont, and San Francisco to evaluate the Hydroponic process for municipal wastewater
treatment. Demonstration scale systems, up to 80,000 gpd, were built and independently evaluated for
five years (Reed and Salisbury 1994, Austin et al. 2000).
The surface of the Hydroponic Reactors is covered with vegetation supported on racks. These reactors
are aerated with fine bubble diffusers, which provide the oxygen required for treatment and keep the tank
contents mixed. Plants have evolved over millions of years to maximize root surface area for increased
nutrient and water uptake. The roots of the vegetation provide ideal surfaces for the growth of attached
microbial populations. Similar to the moving bed reactors, greater surface area provides greater habitat
for biofilm formation, resulting in more efficient and stable treatment.
Research indicates that, for a given surface area, microbial biofilms are more efficient than biofilms grown
on plastic or other artificial substrates (Austin et al. 2000). The vegetation serves as habitat for beneficial
insects and organisms that graze on microbial biomass, as well. This grazing reduces the sludge volume
and maintains the microbes at optimal growth rates, resulting in less solids discharge to the municipal
sewer. Also, the vegetation and racks decrease the surface turbulence in the reactor, which reduces the
formation of aerosols and volatilization of odor compounds. A layer of lightweight expanded shale
aggregate is placed on top of the racks, creating a natural biofilter colonized with bacteria that remove
any residual odor compounds. A ventilation system with activated carbon scrubbers provides a secondary
layer of protection within the indoor Hydroponic Reactors. Direct access to the wastewater is only through
secure hatches.
Between 1997 and 2000, over 1,000 different plant species, many native to North America, were
systematically evaluated to determine suitability for the Hydroponic process. Most plants do not provide
adequate root growth in the wastewater environment or are susceptible to pest problems. Through this
research, almost 100 species have been identified as optimal for these environments. LMS range of
knowledge with plant species has allowed for the design of Hydroponic Reactor systems in a number of
different environments without a greenhouse enclosure.
While plants provide tremendous specific surface area within four feet of the rack surface, they rarely
grow much below that. To optimize overall efficiency of the process, LMS investigated a variety of
different substrates to include below the plant roots and foster biofilm formation in the bottom half of the
reactor. Starting in 1997, a variety of different textile materials were incorporated into the Hydroponic
Reactors and were found to increase treatment performance (Austin et al. 2000). At that time, few textile
products appropriate for the wastewater environment were available; therefore LMS designed its own
modules. The textile modules increased treatment capacities without increasing the footprint. The
combination of plant roots and textile proved to be an efficient and reliable process. As the industry
would soon learn, the use of textile in wastewater would provide significant performance and economic
advantages, and several companies focused extensively on its development.

Extending The Lifecycle Of Water Via Decentralized Water Reclamation And Reuse

In 1996, scientists and engineers at Entex began their first pilot project with a significantly refined design
for a textile treatment module specifically for wastewater called Bioweb. The first commercial installation
followed in 1999 and the product has been used dozens of times since. Currently over 60 million gallons
per day of wastewater are treated using Bioweb modules. Its successful deployment is better
documented than any other competing product (Merrit 2009, Hubell et al. 2006, Borchert et al. 2011). Due
to careful design of materials and aeration systems, the modules have a projected lifespan of over 20
years.
The current Hydroponic Reactor design includes Bioweb modules suspended above the fine bubble
2
diffusers on the floor of the reactors. With the inclusion of these modules, a total of over 3,500 ft
additional surface area is provided.
To optimize total treatment volume and to accommodate shallow bedrock on the upper site, additional
Hydroponic Reactors were provided on the lower portion of the site. These reactors are designed to
seamlessly blend in with the demonstration Tidal Wetland Cells. They utilize native and naturalized plant
species that LMS has found to be effective in designing previous outdoor Hydroponic Reactors.
Polishing And Disinfection
Following the Hydroponic Reactors, BOD, and ammonium concentrations have been reduced to meet or
exceed standards. While a significant portion of the suspended solids have been consumed by protozoa
and microcrustaceans in the Hydroponic Reactors there is a need to remove the remaining solids and
remaining dissolved phosphorus. The first step in this process is to passively settle these solids in the
quiescent clarifier tank. The addition of naturally occurring iron or aluminum and the inclusion of vertical
plates in the clarifier increase the removal of phosphorus and passive settling of suspended solids. During
this process solids are removed to less than 10 mg/l. A portion of these solids is pumped back to the
beginning of the treatment process to provide ample bacterial communities to begin the treatment
process. A small amount is discharged back to municipal sewer.
After the clarifier a disc filter located between the Greenhouse and MBBR tanks removes any remaining
suspended solids through a felt filter membrane. At this point effluent is very clear with no remaining
nutrients but small amounts of microorganisms may remain. An Ultravoilet Disinfection (UV) process is
utilized to remove any remaining microorganisms. UV at high intensities is able to disrupt the DNA of a
variety of microorganisms allowing for energy efficient and chemical free disinfection. To maintain a
disinfection residual in the water reuse piping back to the cooling towers and reuse applications, a small
amount of chlorine is added. Online instrumentation verifies turbidity and UV transmissivity assuring that
reuse criteria are being continuously met. Periodic microorganism and nutrient testing also is performed
to verify performance.
Reuse
Finally, the fully treated, reclaimed water is stored in an underground storage tank at the lower site,
providing reliability and redundancy that allows the campus heating and cooling to safely operate in the
event of a major utility disruption for 3-6 hours. Reclaimed distribution pumps send the reclaimed water
through the northern part of Emorys campus to the various reclaimed water users, including the Steam
Plant, various chiller plants, and the Freshman Phase 5 dormitory.

RESEARCH AND DEMONSTRATION SYSTEM

In addition to providing reclaimed water, the Emory University Living Machine system offers numerous
educational opportunities. The innovative treatment design combining moving bed bioreactors, textile
modules, and hydroponics provides exciting opportunities for microbiological and botanical research. The
various reuse applications provide public health research opportunities, as well. While science and
engineering research is generally very narrowly focused and often performed at the bench top scale, this

Extending The Lifecycle Of Water Via Decentralized Water Reclamation And Reuse

system provides opportunities for synthetic research projects that study the interaction between different
microbiological and ecological systems. Sampling locations are located throughout the system and
integrated control systems compile online instrumentation and flow data.
While there are many research studies that can be accomplished using the treatment system, there are
studies that are not possible at these large flow rates or without manipulating the treatment process. As a
result, a small-scale demonstration system is also included on the lower portion of the site that can be
manipulated in a variety of ways to answer research questions not addressed with the larger system. This
demonstration utilizes the Tidal Wetland Living Machine process. This process has been utilized for
over a decade and is covered by a variety of LMS patents (US Patent #7,378,021, 7,347,940, 7,320,752,
7,214,317, 7,087,169, 7,056,438, 7,029,586, 6,896,805, 6,881,338, 6,863,816, 6,830,688). A variety of
research and demonstration projects have documented the flexibility and energy efficiency of the process
and raise interesting questions for future research (Behrends 1999, Behrends 2001).
A small side stream (about 5,000 gpd) of screened influent is pumped from the first Primary Treatment
Reactor on the upper site to the Tidal Wetland Living Machine. A robust fixed-film microbial ecosystem is
contained in a series of watertight Tidal-Flow (or fill-and-drain) wetland cells. The treatment cells also
contain a static under-drain system where anoxic degradation of sloughed biofilm, suspended solids and
other recalcitrant organic compounds are treated through a process that relies upon the rapid filling and
draining of the cells.
The treatment cells are filled with a series of selectively graded aggregates that optimize surface area,
cation exchange capacity and hydraulic conductivity. A diverse array of naturally occurring microbial
organisms comprise the fixed-film, which grows on and adheres to the exterior surface and within micropores of the aggregate (Austin 2006).
Water movement and ensuing wastewater treatment is controlled by high efficiency pumps, automated
valves and integrated computer control systems. Tidal flow fill-and-drain cycling occurs from 8 to 18 times
per day, according to wastewater strength, wastewater type and treatment requirements. Tidal flow
operations provide cost-effective passive aeration of the biological fixed-film and plant roots and enable
development of alternating anoxic and aerobic treatment environments accordingly.
4+

During recurrent fill cycles, ammonium ions (NH ) and dissolved organic matter adsorb to negatively
charged aggregate surfaces and the biofilm consumes carbohydrates and other wastewater compounds.
During the drain cycles, as oxygen depleted wastewater is pumped from one cell to an adjacent treatment
cell, atmospheric gases (21% oxygen by volume), are passively drawn into the gravel substrate to replace
the exiting water. Oxygen diffusion in air is up to 10,000 times faster than oxygen diffusion in water, and
therefore the fill-and-drain process provides a near-limitless supply of oxygen for exposed plant roots and
biofilms during the drain cycle (Austin 2006). Passive aeration is very energy efficient, and is the major
factor responsible for significantly enhancing aerobic treatment processes. Passive aeration also
provides oxygen to the root zone and promotes rapid growth of many emergent and terrestrial plant
species.
While the water is anoxic (without oxygen), reducing conditions are near optimum for microbial-induced
32
reduction of nitrate. Nitrate-nitrogen (NO ) is biologically reduced to N gas by free-living and fixed-film
denitrifying bacteria. In the denitrification process, residual organic carbon is consumed by the bacteria
2
and converted to CO .

CONCLUSION
Water reclamation and reuse helps extend the lifecycle of water by turning a waste into a resource. It
provides a number of environmental, social, and economic benefits, which include cost savings, risk
mitigation, pollution abatement, and a reduced dependence on community water infrastructure. The
Hydroponic Living Machine System, which relies on complex adaptive ecosystems to break down
nutrients and pollutants in water, is the most sustainable form of treatment available. The robust

Extending The Lifecycle Of Water Via Decentralized Water Reclamation And Reuse

ecological treatment process produces a very high quality effluent that meets all federal, state and local
regulations wile consuming very little energy. Flexible site integration, a compact footprint and a natural
aesthetic also complement Emorys campus and sustainability goals.
As the largest point-source users of non-potable water on campus, central utility plants present the most
impactful opportunity to displace potable water. Emory has six major utility plants and five satellite plants
that provide heating and cooling services to campus. Together, these extremely efficient utility plants
comprise nearly 34% of total campus water use averaging 370,000 GPD. The Michael Street Chiller
Plant, in the north section of campus, is the single largest consumer of water at Emory using an
average 73,000 GPD or nearly 27 million gallons annually.
At commissioning, the reclamation system will recycle an estimated 70 million gallons annually or
approximately 18% of total campus water demand. It will displace 100% of the utility water demand at the
campus steam plant, Michael Street Chiller Plant, Woodruff Memorial Building Chiller Plant and Quad
Energy Plant. Designed with expandable capacity, the facility is capable of replacing subsequent demand
at the Hospital Chiller Plant and Woodruff Library Chiller Plant at a later date. Operating at 100% capacity
will allow Emory to displace nearly 40% of total campus water demand and nearly 90% of all utility water
use on campus, while reducing wastewater outfall.
Emory is financing the facility under a Water Purchasing Agreement, and within the first six years, they
will save over $1.7 million (M) while incurring no capital cost. Using a conservative growth model for water
and sewer rates, cumulative savings will reach $32M dollars after 20 years. If utilized at full capacity, the
facility could save the University over $43M over this same time period.
In addition to its functional use as a water reclamation facility, the treatment system can be used as an
immersion-learning tool to enhance curriculum and advance research in a number of fields. The facility
will be designed for selective student access and equipped with a small lab space for possible use in
teaching or experimentation. The University believes this facility can help advance disciplines directly
related to botany, microbiology, engineering, public policy and urban planning among others. The Rollins
School of Public Health has already demonstrated interest in performing research associated with
reclaimed water quality. Emorys faculty believes this facility will also bring in additional research funds
and enable the University to qualify for new grants in the future.

REFERENCES
Austin, D. (2206) Influence of cation exchange capacity (CEC) in a tidal flow, flood and drain wastewater
treatment wetland. Ecological Engineering 28, 35-43.
Austin, D., et al. (2000) Final Report of the South Burlington, Vermont Advanced Ecologically Engineered
System (AAES) for Wastewater Treatment. US EPA Report.
Behrends, L. L. (1999). Reciprocating subsurface-flow constructed wetlands for improving wastewater
treatment. U.S. Patent 5,863,433, January 1999.
Behrends, L.L, L. Houke, E. Bailey, P. Jansen and D. Brown. (2001). Reciprocating Constructed
Wetlands for Treating Industrial, Municipal and Agricultural Wastewater. Wat. Sci. Tech. 44 (11-12) pp
399-405.
Borchert, J., S. Hubbell, and H. Rupp. (2011) Demonstration of IFAS Technology for Cold Temperature
Nitrification in Lagoon WWTFs at Clare and Ludington, Michigan. WEFTEC 2011 Conference.

Extending The Lifecycle Of Water Via Decentralized Water Reclamation And Reuse

Hubbell, S., R. Pehrson, W. Flournoy. (2006) Webitat Advanced IFAS System Addresses Common Fixed
Media Concerns. WEFTEC 2006 Conference.
Merritt, C. (2009) A Clear Difference: Adding fixed-film media to a sequencing batch reactor maximizes
treatment without increasing either footprint or operating costs. Industrial Wastewater, 8(6).
Reed S., and J. Salisbury (1996) Interim Report- Evaluation of the Advanced Ecologically Engineered
System (AEES) Living Machine Wastewater Treatment Technology. WBKRE15. US EPA 832-B-96002.
U.S. EPA (1996). Interim Report: Evaluation of the Advanced Ecologically Engineered System (AEES)
Living Machine Wastewater Treatment Technology, pp. 270 Frederick, MD. EPA Number 832B96002.
U.S. EPA, (2001). The Living Machine Wastewater Treatment Technology: An Evaluation of
Performance and System Cost. EPA 832-R-01-004.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Brian Hutchinson Project Manager Emory University
Jonathan Lanciani Founder, President and Chief Executive Officer Sustainable Water
Aaron Hollander Co-founder, Chief Operations Officer, Vice President of Marketing Sustainable Water
Nate Nickerson - Environmental Engineer Living Machine Systems, L3C
Eric Young President Reeves Contracting Company
Brian Trotter Project Manager Reeves Contracting Company

Extending The Lifecycle Of Water Via Decentralized Water Reclamation And Reuse

Figure 1 Process Flow Diagram

Extending The Lifecycle Of Water Via Decentralized Water Reclamation And Reuse

Figure 2 Site Layout

Extending The Lifecycle Of Water Via Decentralized Water Reclamation And Reuse