BIOLOGICAL NITROGEN REMOVAL IS TOPIC OF TODAY'S ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING SEMINAR

Erika L. Bailey of Malcolm Pirnie, Inc., will present "An Investigation of High-Temperature Biological Nitrogen Removal," at 11 a.m. today in the Education Building, Room 157. It is free and open to the public.

As part of the environmental engineering seminar series, the presentation will highlight a two-year nitrogen removal study performed at the Hopewell Regional Wastewater Treatment Facility (HRWTF), one of the largest point dischargers of nitrogen to the Chesapeake Bay.

Due to the industrial nature of the influent wastewater, the HRWTF faces many challenges in achieving biological nitrogen removal. One of the key challenges in achieving biological nitrogen removal, particularly nitrification, at this facility is the high influent wastewater temperature, which averages 37 degrees celsius and routinely exceeds 45 degrees celsius during the summer months.

As a result of the novel findings from this investigation and the positive steps that the HRWTF is taking toward reducing their nitrogen discharge to the Chesapeake Bay, this project was awarded the American Academy of Environmental Engineer's 1999 Superior Achievement Award, the highest award given by the Academy.

For more information, call 757-683-3753 or e-mail gschafra@odu.