 |
|
||||
 |
On-Site Leachate Treatment at BFI's Conestoga Landfill Provides: Superior Effluent Quality and Predictable Operating Costs | |
Background
The 454 acre BFI Conestoga Landfill is located 30 miles west of Philadelphia, PA, just outside the town of Morgantown, PA. It currently accepts 7,210 tons per day. The landfill required a treatment system to treat leachate at rates from 33,000 gallons per day up to as much as 50,000 gallons per day which is equalized in 2 one-million gallon tanks. Initially, New Morgan Landfill Company was hauling its leachate to an off-site wastewater treatment plant. In an effort to reduce the environmental risk of hauling leachate to off-site treatment facilities and comply with the State of Pennsylvania’s stringent environmental laws, BFI began to look at various forms of on-site leachate treatment.
In their evaluation, several types of treatment approaches were considered including con-ventional (physical/chemical/biological), evaporation, and membrane-based systems. BFI's previous experience with conventional systems demonstrated that given a tight effluent specification, the overall cost of ownership (capital plus operation and main-tenance) of these systems was largely hidden at the initial pro-curement stage. Operation and maintenance costs for these systems were widely variable. Producing “good” effluent with biological and chemical systems more often resulted in a cost of ownership ranging from 8 cents to 13 cents per gallon treated.
In their evaluation, several types of treatment approaches were considered including con-ventional (physical/chemical/biological), evaporation, and membrane-based systems. BFI's previous experience with conventional systems demonstrated that given a tight effluent specification, the overall cost of ownership (capital plus operation and main-tenance) of these systems was largely hidden at the initial pro-curement stage. Operation and maintenance costs for these systems were widely variable. Producing “good” effluent with biological and chemical systems more often resulted in a cost of ownership ranging from 8 cents to 13 cents per gallon treated.
Top
Application
Landfill owners are looking for reliability in their on-site leachate treatment systems. Many treatment systems provide a good quality effluent, but the cost of ownership can be substantially more than first estimated. Browning Ferris Industries’ (BFI) New Morgan Landfill Company, Inc. discovered that a Pall Rochem on-site treatment system could not only provide drinking water quality effluent, but at an attractive and fixed rate.
Storage tank holding effluent from Pall’s Leachate Treatment System
Storage tank holding effluent from Pall’s Leachate Treatment System
Top
Superior Effluent Quality
Testing of the Pall Rochem system at Conestoga Landfill, demonstrated that effluent of drinking water quality could be obtained while incurring operating costs that proved much lower and much more consistent than any of the competing technologies.
To move the project forward and to further reduce both BFI’s risk and cost of ownership, BFI and Pall became creative in their project financing. BFI entered into a contract wherein Pall Corporation would own and operate the on-site leachate treatment system, the offgas collection and treatment system, the effluent and concentrate transfer units as well as the air stripper/ degasification system. In doing so, BFI avoided incurring major capital expenditures, unexpected operating costs, and any fines associated with any effluent non-compliance events.
In return, BFI awarded Pall Corporation with an initial 5 year contract to own and operate the system on a fixed cost per gallon basis. In accordance with the contract terms, Pall Corporation submits a monthly invoice to BFI for every gallon of clean water that meets the stringent effluent limitations. As part of the agreement, BFI and Pall Corporation have the ongoing opportunity of renewing the 5 year contract in year 5 of each contract period.
After entering into the Build Own Operate (BOO) contract with Pall Corporation in April 1997, BFI has experienced costs which are less than the average operating cost alone for a conventional system. This worked out to be less than 8 cents per gallon of treated leachate. The result has been a significantly less costly and more reliable treatment option vs. competing technologies. Cleaner effluent for less money.
To move the project forward and to further reduce both BFI’s risk and cost of ownership, BFI and Pall became creative in their project financing. BFI entered into a contract wherein Pall Corporation would own and operate the on-site leachate treatment system, the offgas collection and treatment system, the effluent and concentrate transfer units as well as the air stripper/ degasification system. In doing so, BFI avoided incurring major capital expenditures, unexpected operating costs, and any fines associated with any effluent non-compliance events.
In return, BFI awarded Pall Corporation with an initial 5 year contract to own and operate the system on a fixed cost per gallon basis. In accordance with the contract terms, Pall Corporation submits a monthly invoice to BFI for every gallon of clean water that meets the stringent effluent limitations. As part of the agreement, BFI and Pall Corporation have the ongoing opportunity of renewing the 5 year contract in year 5 of each contract period.
Table 1. Testing Parameters for Influent/Effluent Samples
| Parameter | Influent Contaminant Levels (mg/L) |
Guaranteed Effluent Levels (mg/L) |
Effluent Sample (mg/L) |
| BOD | 8700 | 50 | ND |
| TSS | 813 | 100 | ND |
| Fe | 183 | 3.5 | ND |
| Mn | 69 | 0.8 | ND |
| Pb | 0.2 | 0.022 | ND |
| Zn | 8.32 | 0.369 | ND |
| Phenolics | 8.5 | 0.05 | ND |
| Cyanide | 0.1 | 0.02 | ND |
| Acetone | 7 | 0.109 | 0.0045 |
| MEK | 25 | 0.21 | 0.0111 |
| 1,1,1 TCE | 0.887 | 0.1 | ND |
| Toluene | 1.016 | 0.05 | ND |
After entering into the Build Own Operate (BOO) contract with Pall Corporation in April 1997, BFI has experienced costs which are less than the average operating cost alone for a conventional system. This worked out to be less than 8 cents per gallon of treated leachate. The result has been a significantly less costly and more reliable treatment option vs. competing technologies. Cleaner effluent for less money.
Typically, the excellent effluent quality produced by the Pall membrane system, considered to be unparalleled by any other leachate treatment technology, allows landfills to be able to reuse the clean water back on their site for dust control, spray irrigation, or landfill cell construction needs. BFI desires to use the effluent either on-site for a variety of water requirements and/or provide the clean water to an adjacent tile manufacturer for their water needs. This sharing of resources with neighboring businesses is known as an eco-park system. Several synergistic companies which can share their resources are planning to move into BFI's eco-park in the near future. An environmental success story in the making. |
 The Pall on-site leachate treatment system provides clean water to BFI’s 95 acre Eco-Industrial Park. Above, Disc Tube Module. |
Top
Conclusion
Denis Dobry, General Manager of BFI, commented, “Our entering into the Build Own Operate contract with Pall was the right move. It gave us the best quality effluent available, while reducing our risk and cost. Environmental stewardship made business sense.”
|
Top