Proceedings

With environmental regulations continuing to restrict the discharge of phosphorus from wastewater
treatment facilities across the globe, traditional methods of phosphorus removal are proving
inadequate. Facilities have received new upcoming phosphorus discharge limits and must explore
viable options to achieve these limits, some as low as 0.07 mg/L-P. Many facilities in the United
States have chosen to use a new rare earth technology to meet their phosphorus discharge permit
due to its unique and effective reactivity with phosphate and, in addition, its ability to reduce sludge
volumes and prevent the formation of struvite. Case studies from wastewater treatment facilities in
Wisconsin, Minnesota & Pennsylvania will be presented which review the performance of rare earth
technology to meet each facility’s upcoming phosphorus permit level below 0.1 mg/L-P as well as
show the sludge reduction properties and dewatering benefits of rare earth technology in their facility