Biosolids News
January 10, 2012
NBP News
NBP Knoxville, TN Utilities Board Achieves NBP EMS
Certification Water Resources in Greenville, SC Receives NBP EMS Certification
Knoxville, TN Utilities Board received NBP certification of its
environmental management system following a verification audit report by DEKRA Certification,
Inc. on December 20, 2011. KUB is the 34th organization and second in Tennessee
to achieve NBP certification. During the audit, DEKRA noted the following
strengths in the KUB biosolids management system.
·
The
“biosolids dashboard” provides an immediate visual indication to operators (and
others) about performance of the biosolids operation. This may be a best
practice for the industry.
·
An
active and effective pharmaceutical take-back program has been in place for
approximately 3 years, including cooperation between several public agencies.
·
A
thorough Corrective/Preventive Action process is used.
·
The
KUB biosolids program is improving through the use of a systematic approach to
managing their biosolids program.
·
View Audit Report
City
of Grand Rapids, MI Maintains NBP EMS Certification
The City of Grand Rapids, MI successfully
completed an interim audit of its biosolids environmental management system
(EMS) on October 18, 2011 from NSF-International Strategic Registrations to
maintain its NBP certification. During this audit, NSF noted the following
strengths in Grand Rapids biosolids management system:
- The Department established an excellent training program to
encourage all employees to understand critical control points (CCP). The
active participation of different work groups in creating CCP training
videos aided those who made the videos as well as captured the attention
of fellow employees. The viewing of the six videos during the annual BMP
refresher training set a new attendance record.
- The Department has prepared several exemplary environmental
protection “TIPs” publications. These TIPs are short quarter page color
handouts that explain what individual citizens can do to help control
pollution associated with wastewater generation. The TIPs developed to
date include “proper grease disposal,” proper medicine disposal’,
“disposable not flushable” (for convenience wipes), and “rain water is not
wastewater.”
- The sewer
maintenance crew is almost a full year ahead of its schedule to routinely
clean all sewer lines 24-inch and smaller.
- City of Grand Rapids 2011 Interim Audit Report
Central
Davis Sewer District in Kaysville, UT Maintains NBP EMS Certification
The National Biosolids Partnership (NBP), in conjunction with WEF, is hosting a no charge webcast on Wednesday, December 7 from 2:00 – 3:15 pm EST. The theme of this webcast is Renewable Green Energy from Biosolids – POTW Case Studies Attempting to Achieve Net Energy Production. Renewable green energy potential from wastewater treatment facilities has spurred a tremendous amount of interest in an economy that faces ever increasing costs for energy. This no charge webinar will examine WEF’s role in promoting green energy and present case studies from wastewater facilities to achieve zero net energy utilization to becoming a new energy producer. Attendees will learn approaches being taken from an east and west coast wastewater agency to achieve both zero net energy utilization to becoming a net energy producer; learn about the newly adopted WEF Renewable Energy Generation from Wastewater Position Statement; and learn about biosolids energy recovery methods that are proven, available and emerging. Registration
To view NBP Certified and Active Organizations, click here
To view NBP EMS Documents, click here
Around the Nation
Exeter Township, PA Considers Use for Biosolids
from WWTP
A The January 3 Southern Berks, PA News
reported that the Exeter Township WWTP has begun providing biosolids from the plant to an
area farmer for use as fertilizer in his fields. That farmer has already taken
two loads of biosolids from the Exeter facility. The township Board of
Supervisors agreed to the move at their Dec. 19 meeting, a step that plant
superintendent Paul Herb told the board could save the township $7,500 per
month in landfill costs. Herb said that because the township is not selling or
transporting the biosolids, no Fertilizer/Manure license is needed. The
township has applied for the license, and a decision is expected early this
month. Approval of the license will allow the township to sell the biosolids or
transport them to places like the Reading Country Club in Exeter, which has
also expressed interest in obtaining the product for use in areas of the golf
course. FullStory
Hawes
Composting Facility, CA to Start Early Next Year
The December
23 San Bernardino County Sun reported that construction on a massive composting facility
near Hinkley, CA should begin early next year. The Hawes Composting Facility, some eight miles west of Hinkley, should be ready to accept as many as 1,100 tons
per day of biosolids on 80 acres by the middle of February. The
facility is designed to offer cities a lower-cost
alternative than trucking to AZ or Kern County. Much of the Grade A compost from the future Hawes plant will be used by
nearby alfalfa farms. Full Story
,Sudbury, Ontario, to Firm Up Biosolids Plant Deal in
2012
The December 30 CBC News,
Canada
reported that one of the biggest decisions facing Sudbury city council in the
New Year will deal with hiring a private company to build and operate a public
facility near Lively to begin processing its solid waste into biosolids. The
city is looking for a company to build the biosolids plant, which may cost as
much as $40 million. The plant, which would also be run by the same company,
would be in operation for the next 20 years. It is estimated that three workers
at the plant would not be public servants. The federal government has committed
$11 million to the plant, based on it being a public-private partnership. FullStory
Gallatin, TN Public Utilities Bonds Issuance Expected to Save Money in
Time
The December
20 Tennessean reported that the Gallatin, TN City Council authorized Gallatin Public
Utilities to issue up to $10 million in bonds to pay for new projects and refinance
old debt in November. City Finance Director Rachel Nichols said the actual
amount of the bond issue will be closer to $9 million. Approximately $3.5
million in outstanding bonds from a 2003 issue will be refinanced to get a
better rate of interest. Another $5 million will go to new projects, and about
$500,000 will be set aside for closing costs and as a reserve fund. Gallatin
Public Utilities borrowed $27 million in 2008 to build its new wastewater treatment
plant, which is expected to last the city another 30 years. The second phase of
the new plant is a $6.6 million biosolids building that is slated for official
completion in April. FullStory
Allentown,
PA Waste-to-Energy Proposal Reviewed
The December 14 Allentown,
PA Morning Call reported that the Allentown City Council may vote early next year on a
deal with New Jersey-based Delta Thermo Energy for a new process to turn
Allentown's trash and wastewater solids into energy in a plant on the Little
Lehigh Creek. The new plant would convert wastewater solids and trash into a
coal-like substance and burn it at temperatures up to 2,192 degrees to create
electricity. The goal is to generate enough power to run the wastewater
treatment plant and to sell leftover electricity to the power grid. FullStory
Wellington, FL Set to Cash in on Waste
The December 17 Palm Beach, FL
Post reported that the Village of Wellington stands to gain $0.25 million
from converting its wastewater solids into Class AA biosolids. Wellington has
sealed a deal to sell its pellets to the South Dade Soil and Water Conservation
District for about $52,000 a year. Once production starts around February 1,
the village will no longer have to pay to get dispose of its the Class B biosolids.
FullStory
Bowling Green, KY Municipal Utilities Nears Finish Line
on Plant Project
The January 8
Bowling Green, KY Daily News reported that a 2 1⁄2-year $52 million wastewater
plant expansion is nearing completion for Bowling Green Municipal Utilities. The
project will not only expand the treatment plant’s capacity, it will add a
process to produce biosolids that can be used on crops and plants. The
biosolids fertilizer will be sold to farmers in bulk. FullStory
To view NBP News Center, click here
To view biosolids contacts across the nation, click here
Conferences
Registration Open for 2012 Residuals and Biosolids Specialty Conference
Join WEF in Raleigh, N.C. March 25–28, 2012 for the 26th Annual Residuals and Biosolids Conference. This conference will highlight beneficial reuse options, science, and technologies currently available to leverage biosolids as a valuable resource. This is one show you won't want to miss, so register today! To view list of WEF conferences and webcasts, click here
Exhibition and Sponsorship Opportunities Selling Fast at Residuals and Biosolids 2012
Exhibiting at the 26th Annual Residuals and Biosolids 2012 Conference provides networking access to a targeted audience of new and returning attendees with a high level of buying intent. Consider sponsoring to receive unparalleled exposure before, during, and after the show with registration giveaway items such as eco-friendly lanyards or water bottles.
To view WEF conferences and webcasts, click here
Training
NBP- WEF Webcast: When
Opportunity Knocks, How Can Municipalities and POTWs Partner with the Biofuels
Industry
The National
Biosolids Partnership (NBP), in conjunction with WEF, is hosting a no charge
webcast on Wednesday, January 11, 2012 from 2:00 – 3:30 pm EST. The theme of
this webcast is: When Opportunity Knocks, How Can
Municipalities and POTWs Partner with the Biofuels Industry.
This webcast will provide a background on the
status of the biofuels industry and identify potential areas of collaboration
between the two sectors. This interactive webcast also seeks to create a
dialogue among POTWs and between the Biofuels industry and POTWs to identify
areas of concern and potential conflict. Finally, the webcast will
identify potential paths to resolve these issues so that collaborations have a
high likelihood of success. Please register for this webcast through GoToMeeting. For more information,
click here
Past NBP Webcast Audio Links
To view NBP webcast presentations, click here