Successful Start-Up of an Activated Sludge Treatment System Following an Extended Mill Closure, 2002 Environmental Conference Proceedings

M. Lacey and L. Janes

One of the challenges potentially facing any pulp and paper mill is the successful resumption of effluent treatment following an extended mill closing. During the summer of 1999, Corner Brook Pulp & Paper Limited, a TMP mill producing newsprint, was required to close for an indeterminate period of time as a result of a labor dispute. Key among the challenges of this closure was the requirement that the integrity of the activated sludge treatment plant be maintained so that the mill could immediately begin production upon resolution of the dispute, discharging a final effluent in compliance with all environmental regulations. As a friendly reminder, Environment Canada officials informed mill representatives of their policy of "zero tolerance for non-compliance."

To meet the challenge, measures were taken prior to and during the closure, and prior to start-up. These measures proved successful in allowing the mill to start-up at full capacity within two days of a 28-day shut. Food or biomass addition was not required. Environmental violations during the closure were also prevented.