Implementing Cost-Effective Nutrient Removal Using Deammonification

Presentation Description: Silicon Valley Clean Water (SVCW) is proactively upgrading its wastewater treatment plant to comply with the forthcoming nitrogen discharge limits for the San Francisco Bay, set to take effect in 2035. Nutrient (nitrogen) control remains critical for protecting aquatic ecosystems and meeting regulatory requirements. This presentation highlights SVCW’s strategic approach to nutrient removal by focusing on the treatment of the dewatering filtrate sidestream—a concentrated, high-ammonia, high-temperature stream that presents unique operational challenges.
Faced with a range of potential technologies, SVCW conducted a rigorous pre-selection process to identify the most suitable deammonification solution. Ultimately, the DEMON® suspended growth process supplied by World Water Works was chosen for its efficiency and proven track record. A key aspect of SVCW’s strategy was maximizing cost-effectiveness by repurposing existing tanks and infrastructure to house the new filtrate equalization tank and biological reactors.
Throughout the project, SVCW is addressing several challenges, including:
• Managing excess solids loading and removal to enhance process stability.
• Maintaining optimal reactor temperatures for effective sidestream treatment.
• Mitigating the risk of struvite precipitation in a lengthy influent conveyance system.
Engineering solutions and lessons learned—including vendor selection considerations, process mechanical design adaptations, and operations optimization—will be discussed in detail. Attendees will gain actionable insights on sidestream deammonification, technology evaluation, and implementation within existing facilities, providing a practical roadmap for agencies pursuing nutrient removal objectives under regulatory and budgetary constraints.