In-Situ Biological Secondary Sludge Reduction in an ASB Pond at a Containerboard Mill, 2002 Environmental Conference Proceedings

D. Massengill, R. Pazderski and S. MacDonald

Georgia-Pacific’s containerboard manufacturing facility in Cedar Springs, GA needed to remove excess secondary sludge from its 92-acre ASB pond to maintain satisfactory efficiency in the wastewater treatment system. The ASB sludge inventory was estimated to be approximately 780,000 cubic yards, approximately 40% of the total usable volume of the lagoon. Upon investigation, the sludge holding pond was filled to capacity. Consequently, the alternative dredging solution required high-cost dewatering and off-site disposal. The selected method for managing the inventory was to biologically degrade the secondary sludge in-situ. Remediation Resources, Inc. (RRI) of Pembroke, Georgia was chosen to conduct a twelve-month demonstration of a unique biological process. This process involved the addition of a facultative microbial consortium into the ASB, via a 20,000 gallon bio-reactor installed on site, utilizing mill effluent in the hydration/acclimation of the proprietary microbial mixture. Sludge volumes were measured every six weeks using advanced hydrographic surveying equipment. Over a thirteen-month period, the baseline sludge inventory was reduced by 118,600 cubic yards with no additional increase in TSS or BOD.