Newtown Creek WWTP Alternative Thickening Evaluation Study
With a goal to reduce operation & maintenance (O&M) requirements and address aging infrastructure and budget constraints, the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (NYCDEP) partnered with Hazen and Sawyer to evaluate the feasibility of numerous solids thickening alternatives to meet current and future thickening needs for the Newtown Creek WWTP.
Our Work
A desktop study that evaluated 20 existing and future operating scenarios identified gravity belt thickeners (GBTs) to be the most beneficial thickening technology. Following the desktop evaluation, Hazen and NYCDEP closely collaborated on a one year, on-site, full-scale pilot study to refine the evaluation of GBT performance, O&M requirements, and assess economic impacts.
Project Outcomes and Benefits
- Hazen helped NYCDEP determine that GBTs could offer significant benefits compared to the existing thickening centrifuges. Projections indicate that GBTs could potentially reduce annual O&M costs by $3 million by improving performance, simplifying operations, reducing maintenance, and decreasing energy consumption.
- The Study provided NYCDEP with a strong foundation to make informed decisions and pursue thickening improvements in the future.
- NYCDEP received the prestigious American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) New York Diamond Award for the project in 2015.
Mo Abu-Orf is Hazen’s Biosolids and Residuals Group Leader and is experienced in master planning, process optimization, evaluation of innovative technologies, and conceptual design in the areas of sludge dewatering, drying, stabilization, and energy recovery.
