FINAL BIOSOLIDS MANAGEMENT PLAN Prepared by February 2008 WB022008001GNV Contents Section Page Executive Summary ...................................................................................................................... ES-1 Background ....................................................................................................................... ES-1 Biosolids Management Program .................................................................................... ES-1 Detailed Evaluation and Ranking of Biosolids Management Alternatives .............. ES-2 1. Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 1-1 1.1 Background ............................................................................................................. 1-1 1.2 Project Scope ........................................................................................................... 1-1 1.3 Evaluation Approach ............................................................................................. 1-1 1.3.1 Task 1 – Workshop No. 1: Project Kickoff.............................................. 1-1 1.3.2 Task 2 – Workshop No. 2: Framing the Issue ........................................ 1-2 1.3.3 Task 3 – Workshop No. 3: Preliminary Screening of Alternatives ..... 1-2 1.3.4 Task 4 – Workshop No. 4: Evaluation and Ranking of Screened Biosolids Alternatives ............................................................................... 1-2 1.3.5 Task 5 – Workshop No. 5: Development of Draft BMP Report .......... 1-3 1.3.6 Task 6 – Workshop No. 6: Development of Final BMP Report ........... 1-3 1.4 Report Organization .............................................................................................. 1-3 1.5 Acknowledgements ................................................................................................ 1-3 2. Biosolids Regulations and Issues .................................................................................... 2-1 2.1 Biosolids Regulations ............................................................................................. 2-1 2.1.1 Federal Regulations ................................................................................... 2-1 2.1.2 Pending Federal Regulations ................................................................... 2-9 2.1.3 State of Florida Regulations ................................................................... 2-11 2.1.4 Pending State of Florida Regulation ..................................................... 2-12 2.2 Other Concerns ..................................................................................................... 2-14 2.2.1 Comprehensive Nutrient Management Planning Trends ................. 2-14 2.2.2 Public Acceptance ................................................................................... 2-16 Potential Impacts to GRU – Public Acceptance ............................................... 2-17 3. Review of Existing Facilities and Loads ........................................................................ 3-1 3.1 Kanapaha Water Reclamation Facility (KWRF) ................................................. 3-1 3.2 Main Street Water Reclamation Facility (MSWRF) ........................................... 3-1 3.3 Current Biosolids Loads at GRU Facilities .......................................................... 3-6 3.4 Land Application Program ................................................................................... 3-7 4. Preliminary Selection of Biosolids Management Alternatives ................................. 4-1 4.1 End-Use Alternatives ............................................................................................. 4-1 4.1.1 Agricultural Land Application ................................................................ 4-1 4.1.2 Forest Land Application ........................................................................... 4-2 4.1.3 Land Application at a Reclamation Site ................................................. 4-2 4.1.4 Land Application at a Public Contact Site ............................................. 4-3 4.1.5 Landfill Disposal ....................................................................................... 4-3 GNV31013363707.DOC/062350078 II CONTENTS, CONTINUED Section Page 4.1.6 Thermal Oxidation .................................................................................... 4-4 4.2 Biosolids Treatment Alternatives ......................................................................... 4-4 4.2.1 Aerobic Digestion ...................................................................................... 4-5 4.2.2 Anaerobic Digestion .................................................................................. 4-6 4.2.3 Alkaline Stabilization and Pasteurization .............................................. 4-9 4.2.4 Composting .............................................................................................. 4-10 4.2.5 Thickening and Dewatering Applications ........................................... 4-11 4.3 Results from Preliminary Screening of Biosolids Management Alternatives ........................................................................................................... 4-13 5. Biosolids Management Alternatives Selected for Detailed Evaluation ................... 5-1 5.1 Conceptual Design Criteria ................................................................................... 5-1 5.2 Cost Estimating Methodology .............................................................................. 5-2 5.2.1 Capital Costs .............................................................................................. 5-2 5.2.2 O&M Costs ................................................................................................. 5-5 5.3 Proposed End-Use Alternatives ........................................................................... 5-9 5.3.1 Land Application at Whistling Pines Ranch .......................................... 5-9 5.3.2 Land Application at Dedicated New Agricultural Site (DNAS) ...... 5-11 5.3.3 Forest Application (FOR) ....................................................................... 5-13 5.3.4 Composting (COMP) .............................................................................. 5-14 5.3.5 Lime Pasteurization (LIMSTAB) ........................................................... 5-17 5.3.6 Thermal Oxidation (TOX) ...................................................................... 5-18 5.4 Biosolids Treatment Alternatives ....................................................................... 5-18 5.4.1 Conventional Aerobic Digestion ........................................................... 5-19 5.4.2 Conventional Anaerobic Digestion (AND) ......................................... 5-29 5.4.3 Advanced Anaerobic Digestion (AAND) ............................................ 5-37 5.4.4 Composting (Comp) ............................................................................... 5-46 5.4.5 Lime Stabilization (LIMSTAB) .............................................................. 5-48 5.4.6 Thermal Oxidation (TOX) ...................................................................... 5-53 6. Evaluation and Ranking of Biosolids Management Alternatives............................. 6-1 6.1 Preliminary Screening ............................................................................................ 6-1 6.2 Non-Monetary Criteria and Benefit/Cost Ratio Analyses ............................... 6-5 6.3 Risk Based Evaluation of Alternatives .............................................................. 6-10 6.3.1 Consideration of Alternatives ................................................................ 6-10 6.3.2 Risk Based Evaluation Comparison ...................................................... 6-12 7. Recommended Plan and Implementation Issues ......................................................... 7-1 7.1 Overview ................................................................................................................. 7-1 7.2 Facility Improvements for Recommended Plan ................................................ 7-1 7.2.1 Kanapaha Water Reclamation Facility ................................................... 7-1 7.2.2 Main Street Water Reclamation Facility ................................................. 7-2 7.2.3 Whistling Pines Ranch .............................................................................. 7-2 7.2.4 Selected Plan Implementation Capital Costs ......................................... 7-2 7.3 Implementation Issues and Contingency Planning ........................................... 7-2 8. References ............................................................................................................................ 8-1 GNV31013363707.DOC/062350078 III CONTENTS, CONTINUED Appendixes A Preliminary List of Potential Biosolids Management Alternatives B Minimum Land Requirement Based on Nitrogen Loading Rates C Cost Benefit Score D GRU Biosolids Contingency Plan E Cost Summary of Different Alternatives Exhibits Page ES-1 Selected Alternatives from the Preliminary Screening of Biosolids Management Alternatives ............................................................................................... ES-1 ES-2 Benefit/Cost Ratios and Ranking of the Top Ten Alternatives ................................. ES-2 2-1 Flow Chart for Subpart B - Land Application