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One Civic Square Carmel, IN 46032
Contact: Nancy Heck
E-Mail: nheck@carmel.in.gov
Phone: (317) 571-2494
Nancy Heck
The
Department of Community Relations
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City of Carmel
One Civic Square Carmel, IN 46032
News Release
Date:
March 7, 2008
Contact:
Nancy Heck
(317) 571-2494
Release:
Immediate
Carmel included in National
League of Cities “Best Practices”
Carmel, IN – Carmel was recently
notified that its
Wastewater Treatment process will be added to the “Best
Practices” database for the National League of Cities (NLC).
This database provides the 18,000 members of the NLC with
information on a wide range of issues.
Carmel had previously submitted an entry called “A
High Tech Approach to Wastewater Treatment” to the
NLC’s Award of Municipal Excellence competition. The NLC
selected Carmel’s process to highlight in the database from
that entry.
Carmel installed the first municipal BioPasteur system in
the U. S. to process solid biological waste (sludge) from
municipal wastewater. With that process, it produces Class A
biosolids which can be blended with soil and other materials
to produce a form of topsoil. The BioPasteur system began
operating at Carmel’s Wastewater Treatment Facility at 96th
Street and Hazel Dell Parkway in October 2005.
Before installing this system, Carmel had to transport its
biosolids up to 40 miles away to find acceptable land
application sites. Utility Department personnel began
exploring options to upgrade the sludge handling process,
enhance environmental protection, reduce costs to Carmel for
waste treatment and convert a liability into an asset.
Here’s how it’s different from
traditional processing:
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Sludge is stored prior to the
BioPasteur process. From the mixing tank the sludge
is ground and pumped through a series of heat
exchangers.
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The BioPasteur process heats the
sludge to a temperature of 160 degrees F or higher.
The sludge is held at the elevated temperature for
30 - 60 minutes. The pasteurization process is
followed by anaerobic digestion then dewatered to
meet all requirements to produce Class A biosolids.
Benefits include:
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No impact on other portions of
the treatment plant; no operating changes were
necessary.
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Carmel is using existing wastewater
treatment facilities that are already paid for.
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The process produces few odors -- a
substantial consideration since the plant is near
high quality residential developments and a new
parkway.
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The methane gas produced from
anaerobic digestion is utilized within the process
to conserve energy, making it a “Green Energy
Project.”
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The potential to generate revenue
because there is a market for Class A Biosolids.
Carmel continues to grow which will increase
the volume of waste to treat. Class A biosolids are expected
to save the city approximately $200,000 per year in fuel
cost savings, employee labor, equipment maintenance and
permitting. Carmel has plans to market the biosolids and
generate revenue from this new asset.
-end-
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