Enviormental Engineering – �鶹��Ƶ

The Village of Monticello Wastewater Treatment Facility

Victor Manzanilla — Thu, 26 Oct 2023 23:27:42 +0000

Wastewater treatment is the process of removing contaminants and creating an effluent that
can be returned to the water cycle with minimal impacts. Municipal wastewater treatment includes
streams from household sewage and sometimes industrial wastewater. Physical, chemical, and
biological processes can be used to remove contaminants, including excessive nutrients, to produce
an effluent that is safe enough to be released to the environment.
Excessive nutrients (e.g. phosphorus, nitrogen) in the water causes algae to grow faster
than ecosystems can handle, which is called eutrophication. Significant increases in algae harm
water quality, food resources, and ecosystems by decreasing the oxygen that fish and other aquatic
life need to survive. Large growths of algae are called algal blooms; algal blooms can completely
eliminate oxygen availability in the water, which leads to decreases in biodiversity and increases
in water toxicity. Elevated toxin levels can be harmful to humans by direct contact or through
indirect pathways, such as the consumption of tainted fish or contaminated water. Therefore, it is
crucial to control nutrient levels, particularly limiting nutrients (e.g. phosphorus), to ensure the
well-being of the environment and society.
The effectiveness of phosphorus removal can vary, depending on the available equipment
and the treatment methods used. At the Monticello WWTF, phosphorus removal to the desired
levels (1 mg/L) is accomplished by alum addition. However, currently employed techniques are
not fulfilling the future phosphorus emission DNR limitations (0.075 mg/L). To meet the new
phosphorus effluent standards, two alternatives are analyzed in this report. The first alternative is
SorbX-100, which is a chemical treatment approach and uses a rare earth metal chloride solution
for phosphorus removal in municipal and industrial wastewater streams. The other alternative is
the CLEARAS ABNR System, which uses algae and other biological organisms to recover excess
phosphorus, nitrogen and other high-profile contaminants in wastewater. SorbX-100 and
CLEARAS ABNR systems have previously been tested in the Monticello WWTF as pilot systems
to evaluate their performance with respect to phosphorus removal. The system boundaries are set
to include input and output flows of material and energy resources for the operation of the systems
over a 20-year period.
The goal of this study is to assess and make a recommendation on the most appropriate
phosphorus removal strategy based on the three paradigm of sustainability (environmental,
economic, and social impacts). This goal is achieved by quantitatively modeling and evaluating
the environmental life cycle assessments, as well as social and economic assessments of the two
ix
phosphorus removal strategies applied at the Monticello WWTF (SorbX-100 and CLEARAS
ABNR). In this work, a comprehensive LCA, considering multiple impact categories, is performed
using SimaPro 8.5.2 Software and TRACI 2.1 Impact Assessment Methodology. Regarding the
environmental impacts, CLEARAS ABNR System is found to have less overall impact compared
to SorbX-100 (<7%). With respect to economic assessment, SorbX-100 is found to have less total present cost compared to CLEARAS ABNR System (~23%). Considering social aspects, both options proposes relatively comparable results. A weighting matrix is used to compare the two phosphorus removal options using the three paradigm of sustainability. The weights assigned to each paradigm were based on discussions with stakeholders of the Monticello WWTF. Environmental impacts are given a weight of one, economic impacts are given a weight of three, and social impacts are given a weight of one. Each of these weights were multiplied by the relative impact in comparison to the other option. Based on weighting matrix, the recommended option from this analysis is SorbX-100, which received a total sustainability score of 2.68 in comparison to CLEARAS ABNR which received 4.07. Even though the environmental impacts of CLEARAS ABNR were less significant than SorbX-100, the final recommendation is driven by the differences in economic impacts, which are more critical in this analysis. Read the final student report delivered to the local gov/community partner.

UniverCity Year Contact Info
Gavin Luter
Managing Director
gavin@cows.org
608-261-1141

University Faculty Contact
Andrea Hicks
Civil and Environmental Engineering

hicks5@wisc.edu

Local Government / Community Contact
Scott Anderson

Teacher at Juda School

Lowering Phosphorus Levels in Browntown

Victor Manzanilla — Thu, 26 Oct 2023 23:27:15 +0000

The WI DNR has changed legislation regarding phosphorus levels in municipal
wastewater. The change, lowering standards from 4.8 mg/L to 0.075mg/L, created
noncompliance issues for the Browntown, WI municipal wastewater treatment facility. The
system operator, Rob, has emphasized that any changes to the system must comply with the
city’s public budget of $270,000 (for all divisions). Rob made a previous attempt to lower the
effluent phosphorus level to 1.0 mg/L, an intermediate level set by the WDNR. 0.75 gallons
alum over three days were applied at the start of this trial period and after failure to achieve
1mg/L, dosage was increase to 0.75 gallons each day, which still failed to reach target levels.
The goal of this project was to examine the chemical treatment trial for possible errors,
investigate alternative methods for lowering effluent phosphorus levels, and review WDNR
variances which could provide relief from the economic difficulty of achieving 0.075 mg/L
phosphorus in effluent wastewater.
Throughout the analysis of methods, the three paradigms of sustainability –
environmental, social and economic – were utilized to assess each method’s potential impact.
The scope of our project considers phosphorus level in the effluent the most important
environmental impact factor. High levels of phosphorous in effluent can cause eutrophication in
the receiving waters. The economic impact of each method was considered in the context of
potential excess cost that would fall on the public budget and down the line, the citizens of
Browntown. A new system may cut into Browntown’s already tight public budget, and again
could increase tensions in the community. These primary ideals were used to assess and analyze
the proposed solutions.

Read the final student report delivered to the local gov/community partner.

UniverCity Year Contact Info
Gavin Luter
Managing Director
gavin@cows.org
608-261-1141

University Faculty Contact
Andrea Hicks
Civil and Environmental Engineering

hicks5@wisc.edu

Local Government / Community Contact
Scott Anderson

Teacher at Juda School

Wind Energy Recommendations for Juda School District

Victor Manzanilla — Thu, 26 Oct 2023 23:27:06 +0000

The objective of this assessment was to provide the Juda School District, a small school district
located in southern Wisconsin, with a sustainability analysis of installing a wind turbine.
Considering the effect and impact of climate change, using more clean and renewable energy is a
goal of the Juda School District.
To get a better rounded understanding on the environmental, economic, and social sustainability
of wind turbines, established literature and information was researched. From this it was found
that the positive impacts of using wind energy is that it does not generate any greenhouse gas
emission, it uses less water than coal energy production, and that it disturbs the least amount of
wildlife and local environments. Negative aspects were also noted. The two most prominent
negative impacts was its effects on birds and bat mortality and the sound and visual concerns
expressed by local communities. The different kinds of turbines were also looked at to see if any
type of turbine was more advantageous.

Read the final student report delivered to the local gov/community partner.

UniverCity Year Contact Info
Gavin Luter
Managing Director
gavin@cows.org
608-261-1141

University Faculty Contact
Andrea Hicks
Civil and Environmental Engineering

hicks5@wisc.edu

Local Government / Community Contact
Scott Anderson

Teacher at Juda School

Salem Transportation Saftey Analysis

Victor Manzanilla — Thu, 26 Oct 2023 23:26:07 +0000

Presently, Juda School District, a small school in southern Wisconsin, receives a small
amount of energy from renewable energy sources while having a large scale utility company,
Alliant Energy, supply the rest. The schools current renewable energy source consists of a 36
panel solar system which offsets the schools energy usage by between 4.5% and 5.5% each year.
In order to increase the school’s commitment to sustainability, the school has created a program
called the Green Initiative. One aspect of this program is to decrease the schools reliability on
non-renewable sources of energy as well as to increase the overall efficiency of the school.
The goal of this project sought to research and analyze a solar energy system that would
increase the schools energy independence while also being the most sustainable option in terms
of environment, economics, and social. Each system was analysed by its inputs and outputs
which included emissions, cost, manufacturing materials, end of life, and energy output. These
categories of inputs and outputs were defined by the scope of the project, as other inputs and
outputs would need significantly more analysis. The scope of this project also included a final
recommendation of manufacturing company, and installation company that would meet the
School’s Green Initiative goals.
Previous literature pointed to the result that systems made of mono-crystal solar cells had
higher efficiency rates in terms of energy absorption, and conversion than those made of
poly-crystal solar cells. Previous literature also concluded that recycling solar panels at the
panels end of life proved difficult due to hazardous materials and metals used to manufacture the
panels.
3
Comparison of manufacturing companies showed that Sunpower fulfill

Read the final student report delivered to the local gov/community partner.

UniverCity Year Contact Info
Gavin Luter
Managing Director
gavin@cows.org
608-261-1141

University Faculty Contact
Andrea Hicks
Civil and Environmental Engineering

hicks5@wisc.edu

Local Government / Community Contact
Scott Anderson

Teacher at Juda School

The Village of Monticello Wastewater Treatment Facility

Ada Inman — Tue, 07 Sep 2021 18:05:43 +0000

Wastewater treatment is the process of removing contaminants and creating an effluent that can be returned to the water cycle with minimal impacts. Municipal wastewater treatment includes
streams from household sewage and sometimes industrial wastewater. Physical, chemical, and
biological processes can be used to remove contaminants, including excessive nutrients, to produce
an effluent that is safe enough to be released to the environment.
Excessive nutrients (e.g. phosphorus, nitrogen) in the water causes algae to grow faster
than ecosystems can handle, which is called eutrophication. Significant increases in algae harm
water quality, food resources, and ecosystems by decreasing the oxygen that fish and other aquatic
life need to survive. Large growths of algae are called algal blooms; algal blooms can completely
eliminate oxygen availability in the water, which leads to decreases in biodiversity and increases
in water toxicity. Elevated toxin levels can be harmful to humans by direct contact or through
indirect pathways, such as the consumption of tainted fish or contaminated water. Therefore, it is
crucial to control nutrient levels, particularly limiting nutrients (e.g. phosphorus), to ensure the
well-being of the environment and society.
The effectiveness of phosphorus removal can vary, depending on the available equipment
and the treatment methods used. At the Monticello WWTF, phosphorus removal to the desired
levels (1 mg/L) is accomplished by alum addition. However, currently employed techniques are
not fulfilling the future phosphorus emission DNR limitations (0.075 mg/L). To meet the new
phosphorus effluent standards, two alternatives are analyzed in this report. The first alternative is
SorbX-100, which is a chemical treatment approach and uses a rare earth metal chloride solution
for phosphorus removal in municipal and industrial wastewater streams. The other alternative is
the CLEARAS ABNR System, which uses algae and other biological organisms to recover excess
phosphorus, nitrogen and other high-profile contaminants in wastewater. SorbX-100 and
CLEARAS ABNR systems have previously been tested in the Monticello WWTF as pilot systems
to evaluate their performance with respect to phosphorus removal. The system boundaries are set
to include input and output flows of material and energy resources for the operation of the systems
over a 20-year period.
The goal of this study is to assess and make a recommendation on the most appropriate
phosphorus removal strategy based on the three paradigm of sustainability (environmental,
economic, and social impacts). This goal is achieved by quantitatively modeling and evaluating
the environmental life cycle assessments, as well as social and economic assessments of the two
ix
phosphorus removal strategies applied at the Monticello WWTF (SorbX-100 and CLEARAS
ABNR). In this work, a comprehensive LCA, considering multiple impact categories, is performed
using SimaPro 8.5.2 Software and TRACI 2.1 Impact Assessment Methodology. Regarding the
environmental impacts, CLEARAS ABNR System is found to have less overall impact compared
to SorbX-100 (<7%). With respect to economic assessment, SorbX-100 is found to have less total
present cost compared to CLEARAS ABNR System (~23%). Considering social aspects, both
options proposes relatively comparable results.
A weighting matrix is used to compare the two phosphorus removal options using the three
paradigm of sustainability. The weights assigned to each paradigm were based on discussions with
stakeholders of the Monticello WWTF. Environmental impacts are given a weight of one,
economic impacts are given a weight of three, and social impacts are given a weight of one. Each
of these weights were multiplied by the relative impact in comparison to the other option. Based
on weighting matrix, the recommended option from this analysis is SorbX-100, which received a
total sustainability score of 2.68 in comparison to CLEARAS ABNR which received 4.07. Even
though the environmental impacts of CLEARAS ABNR were less significant than SorbX-100, the
final recommendation is driven by the differences in economic impacts, which are more critical in
this analysis.

Read the final student report delivered to the local gov/community partner.

UniverCity Year Contact Info
Gavin Luter
Managing Director
gavin@cows.org
608-261-1141

University Faculty Contact
Andrea Hicks
Civil and Environmental Engineering

hicks5@wisc.edu

Local Government / Community Contact
Scott Anderson

Teacher at Juda School

Lowering Phosphorus Levels in Browntown

Ada Inman — Tue, 07 Sep 2021 18:04:31 +0000

The WI DNR has changed legislation regarding phosphorus levels in municipal wastewater. The change, lowering standards from 4.8 mg/L to 0.075mg/L, created
noncompliance issues for the Browntown, WI municipal wastewater treatment facility. The
system operator, Rob, has emphasized that any changes to the system must comply with the
city’s public budget of $270,000 (for all divisions). Rob made a previous attempt to lower the
effluent phosphorus level to 1.0 mg/L, an intermediate level set by the WDNR. 0.75 gallons
alum over three days were applied at the start of this trial period and after failure to achieve
1mg/L, dosage was increase to 0.75 gallons each day, which still failed to reach target levels.
The goal of this project was to examine the chemical treatment trial for possible errors,
investigate alternative methods for lowering effluent phosphorus levels, and review WDNR
variances which could provide relief from the economic difficulty of achieving 0.075 mg/L
phosphorus in effluent wastewater.
Throughout the analysis of methods, the three paradigms of sustainability –
environmental, social and economic – were utilized to assess each method’s potential impact.
The scope of our project considers phosphorus level in the effluent the most important
environmental impact factor. High levels of phosphorous in effluent can cause eutrophication in
the receiving waters. The economic impact of each method was considered in the context of
potential excess cost that would fall on the public budget and down the line, the citizens of
Browntown. A new system may cut into Browntown’s already tight public budget, and again
could increase tensions in the community. These primary ideals were used to assess and analyze
the proposed solutions.

Read the final student report delivered to the local gov/community partner.

UniverCity Year Contact Info
Gavin Luter
Managing Director
gavin@cows.org
608-261-1141

University Faculty Contact
Andrea Hicks
Civil and Environmental Engineering

hicks5@wisc.edu

Local Government / Community Contact
Scott Anderson

Teacher at Juda School

Wind Energy Recommendations for Juda School District

Ada Inman — Tue, 07 Sep 2021 18:04:08 +0000

The objective of this assessment was to provide the Juda School District, a small school district located in southern Wisconsin, with a sustainability analysis of installing a wind turbine.
Considering the effect and impact of climate change, using more clean and renewable energy is a
goal of the Juda School District.
To get a better rounded understanding on the environmental, economic, and social sustainability
of wind turbines, established literature and information was researched. From this it was found
that the positive impacts of using wind energy is that it does not generate any greenhouse gas
emission, it uses less water than coal energy production, and that it disturbs the least amount of
wildlife and local environments. Negative aspects were also noted. The two most prominent
negative impacts was its effects on birds and bat mortality and the sound and visual concerns
expressed by local communities. The different kinds of turbines were also looked at to see if any
type of turbine was more advantageous.

Read the final student report delivered to the local gov/community partner.

UniverCity Year Contact Info
Gavin Luter
Managing Director
gavin@cows.org
608-261-1141

University Faculty Contact
Andrea Hicks
Civil and Environmental Engineering

hicks5@wisc.edu

Local Government / Community Contact
Scott Anderson

Teacher at Juda School

Solar Panel Recommendations for Juda School District

Ada Inman — Tue, 07 Sep 2021 18:01:32 +0000

Presently, Juda School District, a small school in southern Wisconsin, receives a small amount of energy from renewable energy sources while having a large scale utility company,
Alliant Energy, supply the rest. The schools current renewable energy source consists of a 36
panel solar system which offsets the schools energy usage by between 4.5% and 5.5% each year.
In order to increase the school’s commitment to sustainability, the school has created a program
called the Green Initiative. One aspect of this program is to decrease the schools reliability on
non-renewable sources of energy as well as to increase the overall efficiency of the school.
The goal of this project sought to research and analyze a solar energy system that would
increase the schools energy independence while also being the most sustainable option in terms
of environment, economics, and social. Each system was analysed by its inputs and outputs
which included emissions, cost, manufacturing materials, end of life, and energy output. These
categories of inputs and outputs were defined by the scope of the project, as other inputs and
outputs would need significantly more analysis. The scope of this project also included a final
recommendation of manufacturing company, and installation company that would meet the
School’s Green Initiative goals.
Previous literature pointed to the result that systems made of mono-crystal solar cells had
higher efficiency rates in terms of energy absorption, and conversion than those made of
poly-crystal solar cells. Previous literature also concluded that recycling solar panels at the
panels end of life proved difficult due to hazardous materials and metals used to manufacture the
panels.
3
Comparison of manufacturing companies showed that Sunpower fulfill

Read the final student report delivered to the local gov/community partner.

UniverCity Year Contact Info
Gavin Luter
Managing Director
gavin@cows.org
608-261-1141

University Faculty Contact
Andrea Hicks
Civil and Environmental Engineering

hicks5@wisc.edu

Local Government / Community Contact
Scott Anderson

Teacher at Juda School