18-AMR Treatment at Mercy West Pump Station Initial Project Concept.pdf

10222020 - AMR Treatment at Mercy West Pump Station Project Initial Concept

Problem Statement

Of growing global concern is the family of emerging contaminants known as antimicrobial resistant organisms, particularly bacteria (ARBs) and their associated genes (ARGs). Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is considered one of the top global public health problems. Mortality from AMR is growing and has been projected to be as much as cancer by the middle of this century. In the USA in 2019 there were over 40,000 deaths directly attributable to AMR.

WWTPs play a direct role in controlling AMR while at the same time serving to develop, amplify and disseminate ARBs and ARGs. Hospitals are considered a significant source of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) entering WWTPs due to the high volume of antibiotic usage within healthcare settings, leading to the discharge of large quantities of ARBs and ARGs via hospital wastewater. When combined with the myriad other bacterial sources, antimicrobials and available nutrients found in sewage this has the potential of contributing to the spread of AMR in the environment.

The Taylor Creek WWTP sewershed offers an excellent opportunity to evaluate the efficacy and value of eliminating a hospital source of AMR into a WWTP via treatment of hospital wastewater prior to discharge to the sewer system. The Taylor Creek WWTP sewershed includes a single major hospital (Mercy West) whose wastewater is collected at a pump station wet well and subsequently pumped into the collection system. MSDGC, in collaboration with USEPA, intends to divert the hospital wastewater, at the wet well, into an advanced treatment facility (Mercy West Advanced Treatment System - MWATS) where ARBs and ARGs will be separated and reduced via a membrane bioreactor (MBR), with any residual AMR organisms being destroyed via a subsequent advanced oxidation process (AOP). The resulting treated wastewater will then be discharged to the collection system. Activated sludge wasted from the system will be hauled to the Mill Creek WWTP, not discharged to the Taylor Creek collection system.

To evaluate the efficacy and value of this effort at reducing WWTP AMR discharges, monitoring by USEPA, for ARBs and ARGs will be conducted at both the Taylor Creek WWTP (influent and effluent) and the MWATS (influent and effluent). In addition, the performance of the MWATS in eliminating hospital AMR sources and other contaminants will be assessed.

Project Drivers

This project is driven primarily by other considerations than typical capital projects undertaken by MSDGC.

In particular, the project is expected to yield positive visibility and community relations for MSD, even beyond the tri-state area. This project will be directly applicable to MSDGC’s facilities; however, it will also serve as an example for other utilities to benefit from studying its findings. No other similar project is known to have been executed and the findings from this effort will add significant value to understanding and opportunity for AMR control through wastewater treatment.

Furthermore, the MWATS is intended to be designed such that it will be able to be redeployed at other locations within the MSDGC system for treatment of other AMR sources and/or other emerging contaminant sources. Thus, it will constitute a valuable additional asset.

The federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) was signed on November 15, 2021. Significant investment for water and wastewater infrastructure improvements is provided through the BIL and is to be funded via State Revolving Fund programs over a 5-year period (2022-2026). For Ohio’s clean water SRF, two BIL-funded capitalization grants will be available in PY 2025 including a Supplemental grant and Emerging Contaminants (EC) grant. A percentage of each grant must be offered as principal forgiveness (PF) and Clean Water BIL EC grant funding will be available as 100% principal forgiveness. Although the name is different, in practical application principal forgiveness functions much like a grant: the eligible capital costs of the project are reduced by the principal forgiveness amount, thereby eliminating a portion of the principal (and interest) that the borrower must repay.

Ohio EPA will only consider eligible project components for funding. For a project component to be eligible to receive funds, the primary purpose of that component must be to address emerging contaminants.

Main categories of EC projects:

• PFAS and other persistent organic pollutants

• Biological contaminants and microorganisms

• Some compounds of pharmaceuticals and personal care products

• Nanomaterials

• Microplastics/Nanoplastics

Example EC projects:

• Consolidation with another wastewater treatment system that has capability to treat emerging contaminants.

• Costs for planning and design and associated pre-project costs.

• Infrastructure or equipment related to pilot testing for treatment alternatives.

Direct discussions with Ohio EPA have taken place and Ohio EPA has indicated this project would be eligible for EC funding.

System Design/Build/Operate

Mercy West Pump Station

Initial Treatment System Concept: The MWATS will consist primarily of skid systems (MBR w/Submersible

Membrane Units (SMU), AOP, booster pumping) installed on a small flat piece of the parcel adjacent to the existing Mercy West Pump Station (red polygon area).

Submersible feed pumps in existing wet well (or preferably in the grinder manhole just upstream) will pump to package MBR system with screen, aeration, SMUs, permeate pumps, blower, and cleaning system. Permeate pumps will pump to a UV/AOP skid system with UV contactor, H2O2 storage and feed system. UV/AOP effluent to booster pump station to tie into bypass pumping connection in the existing valve vault to pump to sewer. If feed pumping can be located in the grinder manhole booster pumping would not be necessary as treated flow could be discharged to the existing wet well for pumping to the collection system. Existing Mercy West Pump Station pumps to be left in place on standby duty. Pump floats will be raised such that MWATS feed pumps will pump station influent to MWATS under normal operation. In the event there is an MWATS system failure, pump floats will energize existing pumps to pump station influent to the sewer (as current operation).

Screenings will discharge to hand cart trolleys which can be rolled to the pump station drive for transport to landfill. MLSS line from aeration will be piped to discharge outlet w/ quick connection adjacent to the pump station drive for periodic sludge wasting to tanker truck for transport to Mill Creek WWTP septage receiving station. Hydrogen peroxide storage/feed tank to be located to facilitate periodic fill deliveries.

Instrumentation and Controls to include remote monitoring capability for contract operator tracking of system flow(s), equipment status and alarms. Provisions for transmitting to MSDGC’s existing remote facilities SCADA system will also be included.

Operation of the facility is intended to be carried out by contract operation under contract with the design/builder (alternatively a contract with owner’s advisor).

Initial Design Flow Basis

Flows: ADF 0.77MGD

PDF 0.14 MGD

PHF 0.2 MGD