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DT

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Utrification
Mar 01^st, 2009, 4:18am

Hi all. First off a quick Intro. My name is Derek and I work in the Tourism industrie.

I have been involved in the Water and Waste water treatment function for the past 19 years and hope that I will be able to contribute to this great site.

A quick background:

We hav a small 5Ml extended activated sludge plant. The design does not allow for biological phosfate removal. Date I have available points that we have sufficient nitrate removal. One of my major concerns is the fact that the PO4 levels is high in the f\effluent, an average of 5mg/l.

The effluent water is pumped to lake systems on our golf courses where it is utilized for irrigation purposes. I have been here since the beginning of Feb and noted that one of the systems, of what I suspect, are showing signs of utirfication.

What I know that high levels of nutrients cause utrification, and that phosphates are considered a nutirent.

I attached pictures of what I saw.
It seems to be small flock like algae that I suspect to be plankton caused by utrification. Your comments on this would be greatly apprecaited and if someone migh have some literature on this phenomenen it would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks
DT

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Victor

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Re: Utrification
Reply #1 - Mar 1^st, 2009, 9:42am

Derek:

The process is called eutrophication and it is basically releasing nutrients (specifically nitrogen and phosphorus in a bioavailable form) into a body of water. These nutrients are utilized by alga to not only grow but multiply fast. This process is exacerbated to a greater degree by an increase in ambient temperature, so eutrophication is greater during the summer than in winter. There are various ways of countering the release of N and P but the control of P is probably your best bet. This can be done chemically through the use of various compounds such as FeCl2, FeCl3. Or you can try using bales of barley hay. I'll come back later to comment more on the hay.

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orenda

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Re: Utrification
Reply #2 - Mar 1^st, 2009, 12:33pm

Derek:

Further to Victor's recommendations, you may want to also consider use of a mixed lanthanide chloride solution for phosphate control, the advantage being limited and innocuous sludge formation and relative ease of handling (non-corrosive, non-hazardous).

If you need further information, please e-mail me at orendatech@earthlink.net

Richard Kersey
Orenda Technologies, Inc.

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almar1965 God Member Offline Composting is the work of Satan !! Posts: 1269 Santiago Gender: Company or Organization: Sinquiver Ltda	Re: Utrification Reply #3 - Mar 8^th, 2009, 4:33pm Hi You must use well dried barley STRAW, not hay. Hay, or green straw, will make your problem worse. http://www.tipstrs.com/tip/389/Controlling-pond-algae-with-barley-straw regards Alistair
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grrun God Member Offline WaterandWastewa ter.Com is the best! Posts: 3525 Pekin, IL Gender: Company or Organization: Freelance Environmental Engine	Re: Utrification Reply #4 - Mar 8^th, 2009, 8:10pm Do a Google search for "Ultrasonic algea" for an alternative approach. The phosphorus in the water is probably benefical for irrigating the golf course. grrun
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ozonman

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Re: Utrification
Reply #5 - Mar 12^th, 2009, 12:51pm

Derek,
Aeration is a great way to control eutrophication! By increasing the oyygen levelt at the sludge layer, phophates and heavy metals such as iron and manganese are sequestered in the sludge and available fo algae consumption. Positive oxygen in the deepest parts of the pond will also encourage the aerobic bacteria and other critters that consume nutrients.

Bottom aeration is a long term solution to your problem.

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ozonman YaBB Newbies Offline WaterandWastewa ter.Com is the best! Posts: 13 Company or Organization: E P Aeration, Inc.	Re: Utrification Reply #6 - Mar 12^th, 2009, 12:56pm Derek, Sorry about my lack of proof reading skills. I meant to say that the phosphates will NOT be available for algae consumption.
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DoctorBug

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Re: Utrification
Reply #7 - Mar 12^th, 2009, 1:50pm

DT:

You have high algae growth caused by nutrients in the wastewater effluent. One approach to this, already given to you, is to remove phosphorus from the effluent using chemical precipitation.

Another approach is to prevent algae growth by adding algae inhibiting agents to the ponds. A recent approach is to add barley straw to the ponds. This releases lignins that specifically absorb the wavelengths of light that algae use and prevents their growth.

In ponds such as yours on a golf course, if discharge does not occur to "waters of the state", you can add a methylene blue dye that absorbs the wavelengths of light that algae use and stops their growth. These are widely used in golf courses throughout the US. They work well at about one gallon per million gallons dilution and last for about a month before needing reapplication. You should only need to use this in the warmer times of the year. Several brands are Aquashade and Photoblue.

Hope that this helps.

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The_Solution Senior Member Offline Water and Wastewater.com is the best! Posts: 329 Gender: Company or Organization: Andrew Stewart Ltd	Re: Utrification Reply #8 - Mar 12^th, 2009, 6:22pm http://www.phoslock.com.au/index.php You might want to take a look at the above site. Here in NZ we have looked at removing P in our lakes by using powdered alum applied to rivers using boats. Not sure how effective it is or its effect on pH, etc.
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