Multi-State Salinity Coalition February 18, 2011 Navigating the Regulatory and Permitting Hurdles for Concentrate Discharge

Kipp Scott, East Cherry Creek Valley Water and Sanitation District Doug Brown, P.E. CDM

Presentation Outline

Background on ECCV Project Overview of Brackish Water Reverse Osmosis (RO)

Treatment Factors Affecting Residuals Disposal for Inland Facilities Disposal Alternatives and Regulatory Issues

Southeastern Denver Has Limited Surface Water Supplies and Relies on Imported Water or Deep Non-tributary Groundwater

Existing ECCV Water Supply Is Being Depleted and Is Not Renewable

ECCV initially relied on

dozens of non-tributary groundwater for its water supply The Arapahoe and Laramie/Fox Hills aquifers have less than 300 mg/L TDS and 100 mg/L hardness

1 mile

ECCV Is Diversifying and Conserving Its Water Supply

Non-potable Irrigation

with Reclaimed Water Denver Treated Water Block Water Rates Conservation Incentives Reduced Demand 30% from 1995

ECCV Water Well Production will Decrease 50% in 10 Years Requiring 377 New Wells

The Northern Project

Beebe Draw alluvial wells

Phase I water rights 70

Ranch Phase II water rights Barr & Milton shares Phase I facilities

Well field Pump Stations Waterline

Renewable Groundwater from Northern Project Being Blended with Other District Supplies

Water Treatment Planning Objectives

Consistent quality product

Free of objectionable taste and odors Water quality meets end user requirements Consistently meets drinking water standards

Specific water quality targets

Total Dissolved Solids < 300 mg/L Total Hardness < 100 mg/L

Firm treatment and pumping capacity to meet peak

demands Reliable service Reasonable operating costs

Selection of Water Treatment Process

High hardness and TDS required blending or

reduction of these compounds Blending is not a long-term solution

Lack of long-term blending sources Most cost-effective for TDS Only effective process to consistently meet water quality goals Also eliminates almost all other potential contaminants from effluent dominated sources

Reverse Osmosis selected

The challenge is the disposal of the concentrate

stream (brine) from the treatment process

ECCV Northern Water System 47 MGD Ultimate Capacity

Overview of RO Process and Concentrate Disposal

Typical low pressure RO operating at 85%

recovery treating GW with 700 mg/L TDS & 300 mg/L hardness
6.7 MGD of permeate

blended with 3.3 MGD of UV treated well water 1.2 MGD of concentrate with 5000 mg/L TDS

RO Concentrate Disposal Options

1. Discharge to Sanitary Sewer System or POTW

Discharge 2. Surface Water Discharge through NPDES permit

a. b.

navigable waters irrigation ditches

3. Deep Well Injection

4. Beneficial Uses 5. Zero Liquid Discharge Using:
a. b. c.

thermal/mechanical evaporation systems enhanced evaporation system passive evaporation basins

Brine Concentration & Volume Vs. Recovery

50 45 40 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 50 50 45 40 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 80 90 100

RO Concentrate TDS ppt (assume 1000 mg/L raw water)

Mass of Salt Discharged is Constant

60

70

Recovery Percent

Concentrate Volume %

Potential Impacts of RO Concentrate on Wastewater Treatment Plant

1. Decreased hydraulic residence time and 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

potential impacts on effluent BOD and TSS Increase in effluent TDS Potential Increase in Elements such as Radionuclides, heavy metals, nitrates Potential Inhibitory Effect on Treatment Biology at High % of Concentrate Potential Impact on WET Tests Potential Impact on Equipment Corrosion

Brackish RO Concentrate Typically Does Not Exhibit Acute or Chronic Toxicity

Wastewater System Concentrate Management Options

1. Blend Concentrate with the Treatment Plant

Effluent 2. Send Concentrate Through System During OffPeak Times 3. Pre-treat Concentrate for Specific Contaminants of Concern: Heavy Metals, Nitrates, Radionuclides 4. Develop a Salt Balance for the Basin to Demonstrate No Impact on Total Salt Discharge

Adding a RO System to an Existing Water Supply Results in a Neutral Salt Balance

River

40 tons/day Salt

Blend
2.5 mgd
6.8 mgd 7.5 mgd

9.3 mgd 250 mg/L 10 tons/day

Distribution System

Irrigation Return Flow

POTW

10-mgd Existing Brackish Wells @ 1,000 mg/L TDS

Sanitary Sewer Flow

RO System

0.8 mgd @ 10,000 mg/L = 30 tons/day of salt

A Wide Range of Commercial and Residential Activities Add TDS to the POTW Discharge
Water softeners Demineralization for labs, electronics

manufacturing Cooling tower blowdown Boiler feedwater treatment Beverage production Laundry operations pH adjustment

Summary of Potential RO Impacts on Wastewater Treatment Plants

Minimal Performance and Water Quality Impacts on

Wastewater Treatment Plants Receiving a Small Percentage of RO Concentrate Potential Hydraulic Impacts if RO Concentrate is a Significant Percentage of the Wastewater Treatment Flow The Increase in Effluent TDS from a Brackish RO Concentrate Discharge Can Have an Impact on Effluent Reuse Options

Surface Water Discharge Options

1. Discharge to surface water

2. Secondary Recovery (Brine Minimization) to

reduce concentrate volume to ~ 3% of RO flow

Enhanced evaporation and landfill of dry solids Use of blowers Pond sizing based on annual volume Deep well disposal Initial stage w/o secondary recovery

Discharge to Surface Water Typically Avoided Since Daily Salt Discharge from a Brackish RO Project is Significant
Daily Salt Discharge Tons / Day
100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 Courtesy of NYLCV 10 0 10 mgd BWRO @2000 mg/L Colorado Road Deicing 10 mgd Municipal WWTP 10 mgd Water Softener @ 400 mg/L As CaCO3 Daily Salt Discharge Tons / Day

Approx. 2400 tons of Road Salt

NPDES Permit Can Be Based on Discharge Standards or Non-Degradation Criteria

TDS typically is not a discharge standard because

wastewater treatment plant cant remove it Nitrate, metals, radionuclides are concentrated by RO and can exceed discharge standards ECCV discharge permit to irrigation ditch was based on non-degradation of groundwater and controlled by Fluoride, uranium and gross alpha Acute and chronic toxicity discharge standards can be impacted by common ion concentration and ratios

Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) Options

Thermal/mechanical evaporation systems: vapor recompression, spray dryers, crystallizers Low tech evaporation processes: passive solar evaporation basins, enhanced evaporation basins, misters, undulating film evaporators

Photo courtesy GE Infrastructure

Passive Evaporation Basins Require Extensive Land Even in Southwest Desert

High Recovery RO Using both WAC and SAC

Conc. Brine Conc. Brine Weak Acid Cation IX Polyvalent Cations Conc. Brine Reverse Osmosis High pH Separation High Purity Water

Ground Water

Strong Acid Cation IX Hardness Removal

Removes Ions That

Ambient pH RO Operation

Form Scale Calcium Magnesium Barium Strontium Iron Manganese Aluminum

Controls Silica Scaling Eliminates NaOH Feed

A Low-Cost Solar Basin with an Air Sparger Can Increase Evaporation Rates

RO Concentrate

Gravel Diffuser Layer

Basin Liners Air Distribution Grid

Deep Wells Can Be Used for Final Disposal of Concentrated Brine

23 operating injection wells in Adams and Weld Counties (47 permitted by the State O&G Div.) ECCV well - EPA permit for a Class 1 well Underground formations 9,000+ feet below drinking water aquifers and 1,400 ft. above Rocky Mountain Arsenal wells Estimated injection rate of 200 to 400 gpm Estimated cost of $2,280,000 per completed well + pipeline from plant to well

Brine Injected Below Potable Water Aquifers

Injection wells include outer casing and inner casing to create and annular space that can be monitored for leaks Corrosion resistent materials compatible with salty brines Chemical stability of brines during and after injection

31

Deep Well Disposal Option

Secondary concentration of RO concentrate using brine minimization to 3% 32 of flow treated to minimize water rights loss and # of deep disposal wells

ECCV Phase 1 Low Pressure RO and Brine Minimization System

UV Disinfection 3.3 MGD By-Pass Blend 7.8 MGD Ground Water LPRO @ 85% 6.6 MGD Permeate 140 psi 50 mg/L TDS 700 mg/L TDS
1.2 MGD Concentrate 4600 mg/L TDS 10.8 MGD Blend 300 mg/L TDS

Brine Minimization
Pre-treatment High Recovery RO @ 75% 0.9 MGD Permeate 500 mg/L TDS

Residuals

0.3 MGD Brine @ 18,000 mg/L TDS Acid

Deep Well Injection 10,000 ft. Deep Class I Injection Well High pressure Injection Pump

Total Estimated ECCV ZLD O&M costs per 1,000 gallons of net water production
Secondary Recovery and Landfill of Dry Solids w/ Enahanced Evap. Secondary Concentration Enhanced Evaporation and Landfill of Dry Solids Deep Well Injection Total ZLD O&M Cost $0.58 $1.74 Deep Well Injection, No Secondary Recovery N/A N/A Deep Well Injection, With Secondary Recovery $0.58 N/A

N/A $2.32

$0.08 $0.08

$0.02 $0.60

Thank you, and Time for Questions

Doug Brown

303-383-2316 direct 303-915-3042 cell BROWNDR@CDM.COM