The Derry Township Municipal Authority (DTMA) selected Brown and Caldwell, an environmental engineering and construction firm, to design energy efficiency improvements at its Clearwater Road Wastewater Treatment Facility (WWTF).
Already accepting organic waste from third-party carriers, the authority is developing long-range plans to maximize the capability to receive additional organic wastes. Facility upgrades are considered key to expanding capacity and increasing energy efficiency, thus evolving the 5.02 million gallons per day WWTF into a highly sustainable operation.
Under DTMA’s $15 million energy enhancement program at the WWTF, Brown and Caldwell will lead the design of a combined heat and power (CHP) facility capable of burning biogas that will power two generator engines. After pairing with a new gas conditioning system for high-quality fuel production, the CHP facility will integrate into the WWTF’s existing electrical and heating system to provide electricity and heat throughout. Brown and Caldwell will assist DTMA with the procurement of the engines through COSTARS, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's cooperative purchasing program.
Other improvements include a conveyance system to transport gas throughout the facility, sludge blending tank enhancements to maximize energy recovery via biogas generation and secondary digester modifications for future conversion to a primary digester.
“Increasing the production and beneficial use of anaerobic digester biogas as our fuel source to provide power and heat is significantly more efficient and environmentally sustainable than using electrical power from the grid or fossil fuels,” said DTMA Executive Director Wayne Schutz. “The Authority has a strong interest in fully reusing our resources, and this project meets numerous objectives within DTMA’s core values to maintain and improve our facilities without impacting our ratepayers while propelling future sustainability.”
A multidisciplinary team led by Brown and Caldwell includes RK&K, who will provide electrical and instrumentation expertise, and Bassett Engineering, who will assist with permitting, site design and stormwater control.
Upon completion of improvements, the WWTF will increase biogas power generation from 280 to 1,600 kilowatt’s per hour, significantly reducing the facility's carbon footprint.
“We applaud DTMA for embarking on this important program to promote sustainability within the township,” said Brown and Caldwell Project Manager Colin O’Brien. “Brown and Caldwell is honored to play a key role in transforming the facility and joining DTMA on its journey to becoming a more sustainable, green community.”
The design phase of the project will run through May 2020, with construction scheduled to begin by fall 2020.
