SWWA 2024 Conference & Trade Show

Wastewater treatment lagoons in Canada often struggle to meet ammonia removal targets in cold weather due to the reduced activity of nitrifying bacteria. Upgrades to improve performance typically involve replacing the lagoon with either a mechanical plant or post lagoon process, both of which can be complex, energy-intensive, and costly.  Many communities, however, often face budget constraints when choosing an upgrade option. This presentation will discuss the Gift Lake Metis Settlement in Northern Alberta, which has opting to install low-energy, fixed-film Bishop BioCord™ Reactors directly into their lagoon to improve the removal of ammonia and BOD. BioCord's in-situ design eliminates the need for additional infrastructure, significantly reducing capital costs.This project is partially funded by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities' Green Municipal Fund, which supports innovative technologies that offer significant environmental, economic, and social benefits.BioCord technology provides optimal conditions for microorganism growth and metabolism on a high-surface-area polymer substrate. The system enables the growth of a stable biofilm, which insulates temperature-sensitive nitrifiers against cold conditions and reduces washout of bacteria for continuous treatment, even during winter. Each BioCord Reactor is integrated with a unique fine bubble diffuser for more efficient oxygen transfer, consuming less energy than conventional systems.This presentation will discuss the operational challenges of the lagoon, the design of theBioCord Reactor, and the performance targets for biological and aeration processes.The installation, start-up, operational methodologies, capital and operating cost advantages, as well as the mechanism and performance validation for BioCord's upregulation of microbial activity, will be explained.