Overview

Mr. Hershey was the lead design engineer for the Pen Argyl Municipal Authority centrifuge facility design. The PAMA owns a wastewater treatment plant with an average daily flow capacity of 0.950 MGD with peak flows of approximately 2.3 MGD. The existing facility has reed beds designed to dewater and store biosolids. The reed beds were becoming overloaded which significantly reduced the life cycle of the reeds.

The results of a feasibility study recommended a centrifuge as the most economical alternative to the reed beds due to the small footprint, minimal operator attention, and low odors. A pilot test was conducted with an Alfa Laval ALSYS G2-45 Skid Mounted Centrifuge and the unit exceeded the minimum specifications of 20% cake solids.

Mr. Hershey was responsible for the polymer feed system, process piping, dewatering building, site improvements, and electrical infrastructure design necessary to add this equipment into the plant processes. He worked with the architect and electrical engineer to complete the project

Highlights of the project include:

• Design of new dewatering pumps for the primary and secondary clarifiers
• Design of a solids handling pump mounted on a guiderail system with flexible hose powered winches
• Design of new UV system enclosure o keep birds and keep leaves out of the WWTP effluent prior to discharge.
• The system is expected to yield cost savings of approximately $175,000 over a 20-year period.