;Carolina Water Service / Utilities Inc.
Problem Utilities, Inc. (UI), formerly the Carolina Water Service, Inc., provides high-quality water and wastewater services to approximately 300,000 customers throughout the United States. The plants operated in South Carolina are typically characterized by the following operational problems;
- Low pH and alkalinity.
- High ammonia (NH3) concentrations.
- High total phosphorus (TP) and trace element (Cu & Zn) loadings.
- Hydrogen sulphide (H2S) emissions.
- Poor solid degradation and settling in the clarifier.
Solution USERRG recommended a shift from caustic soda and lime injection for pH control to WP-1™. The typical application rate for WP-1™ in municipal wastewater systems is 35lbs per 100,000 gallons flow per day. This rate is largely dependent on the chemistry of the influent. Wastewater containing higher sulphide concentrations require higher WP-1™ dosage to neutralize sulphuric acid formation following their oxidation.
Results Since replacing existing chemical injection with WP-1™, UI wastewater plants typically have consistently higher pH and alkalinity and dramatically reduced manure NH3 and H2S concentrations. Reductions in soluble trace element and TP loadings have also been observed. WP-1™ treated systems have also shown increased settling in the clarifier and a ~50% reduction in solid wasting compared to either caustic soda or lime. The resultant improved operational efficiency and manure water quality has enabled UI to consistently meet the stringent regulatory guidelines imposed by discharging treated manure into sensitive environments e.g. Lake Murray, Lexington, SC.
