Evoqua to expand KWRU’s wastewater treatment capacity

Evoqua Water Technologies has been selected to expand US-based KW Resort Utilities’ (KWRU) existing biological wastewater treatment capacity in Key West in a bid to meet nutrient removal requirements in the region’s fragile marine environment.

As part of the project, Evoqua will install a DAVCO field-erected biological treatment plant and expand capacity by 350,000 gallons per day (GPD).

The existing facility treats 500,000 GPD at present.

KWRU president Christopher Johnson said: “We’re thinking about our future in this densely populated, fragile marine environment.

“Evoqua has helped make great progress in addressing our community’s needs over the last 33 years, and we expect this project to help us to continue to meet those needs for 33 more.”

The three-stage biological nutrient removal (BNR) activated sludge plant includes 90ft steel outer walls that are 20.5ft high.

Evoqua will also supply steel tanks, internal components for the wastewater plant, field erection, field painting and commissioning.

In 1983 Evoqua supplied a 250,000 GPD extended aeration DAVCO field erected treatment plant to KWRU and a second identical plant was erected in 1997 doubling the capacity to 500,000 GPD.

A 56,000 gallon stand-alone clarifier was erected during 2007 and the two existing plants were converted into a three-stage biological nutrient removal process as effluent requirements became stringent.

The new 350,000 GPD plant is expected to start up next year giving the utility a total treatment capacity of 850,000 GPD.