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Wilmington Wastewater Treatment Plant Solids Facilities Improvements. Wilmington, Delaware.

Additional anaerobic digestion capacity was required to provide adequate stabilization, solids reduction, gas production and reliable facility redundancy for projected increasing sludge quantities.

WRA has provided planning, designs, contract documents and engineering services during construction for the Wilmington Wastewater Treatment Plant and conveyance system since 1947. From the initial 40 MGD primary treatment plant, the plant has been expanded and upgraded under many construction contracts to the present 134 MGD secondary plant with tertiary polishing ponds. Each project has been designed to enable the existing plant to operate and meet permits. The latest solids handling improvements included two 90-foot diameter anaerobic digesters; digester control building; digested, high-rate recirculating and heated return sludge pumps; digester gas metering system; and, interconnections with four existing digesters. A sludge thickening study and evaluation of alternatives for separate waste activated sludge thickening was prepared. Alternatives including gravity belt thickeners, rotary drum thickeners and centrifuges were evaluated. A gravity belt thickener facility was recommended and designed.

Wilmington Wastewater Treatment Plant Solids Facilities Improvements
Project Highlights

Biosolids and Residuals Handling

Design included solids mass balance and interface with adjacent processes, e.g., sludge thickening and dewatering, digester piping, sludge heating system, sludge recirculation/mixing and transfer pumping, gas collection and handling system with supplemental fuel backup, plant process/flushing water, and instrumentation.

Mechanical

Design included heating and ventilation systems and building plumbing for water system and drainage and sump pumps for the digester control building. The heating system utilized digester gas for fuel source.

Electrical / Instrumentation and Controls

Design included electrical power modifications, interior and exterior lighting, motor control center and instrumentation wiring.

Civil/Land Development

Design included inter-process connecting piping systems, plant service utilities, stormwater collection and conveyance, valve structures and utility relocations to accommodate the new facilities. Site design included grading, paving, sediment and erosion control, stormwater management, permitting and related services.

Geotechnical

Design included developing a boring plan for the facilities, engaging a driller, witnessing the soil boring operations and preparing a geotechnical report with basis for the foundation design for each structure.