Clear Savings, Proven Impacts
Knowldege + Experience = Real Results
Our Experience Case Study Examples
We introduced the first advanced water treatment process in Arizona producing high-quality drinking water from treated wastewater effluent. This collaborative project included Pima County, Tucson Water, City of Phoenix, Flagstaff, Scottsdale, Town of Marana, and ADEQ. The project was instrumental for changing state regulations allowing for direct potable reuse and provided the ideal vehicle for education and public outreach, including the AZ PURE Brew Challenge. This highly successful project received WateReuse's Project of the Year Award, and AZ Forward Governor's Crescordia Award for Environmental Excellence.
Watch this brief video to learn more.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_ffVtxZuzM
Advanced Water Treatment
AWP Pilot Demonstrations and Public Outreach
Struvite Control
NuReSys Struvite Abatement Process
Struvite is an unfortunate menace for which almost every wastewater treatment plant must contend with at some point. Common treatment strategies included the use of corrosive ferric slats and substantial post dewatering dilution for combating struvite accumulation.
Unfortunately, the price of ferric salts have increased by over 300% in recent years so many utilities are exploring alternative options. Modern process like Ostara, MagPrex and NuReSys break the anaerobic digestion phosphorus recycle loop decreasing struvite formation while enhancing biosolids dewatering. We initiated a successful pilot demonstration of the MagPrex process for struvite control and ultimately opted for the first full-scale implementation of the NuReSys process in North America for struvite precipitation.
This project was also a recipient of AZ Forward Governor's Crescordia Award for Environmental Excellence.
Watch this brief video to learn more.
https://youtu.be/SE0MzS2Pyk8
Side Stream Deammonification
AnitaMOX Pilot Demonstrations
Electrical costs associated with aerobic treatment of wastewater is the typically the largest operational cost for most utilities, often representing 50% - 60% of overall electrical usage. Side stream wastes following the dewatering of anaerobically digested biosolids contain high concentrations of ammonia thereby increasing overall aeration costs.
We designed, constructed, and operated a pilot demonstration of two alternative anammox processes for the treatment of concentrated ammonia rich centrate waste following the dewatering of biosolids.
The annamox process provides considerable savings by treating side stream wastes including the following benefits:
Biogas Upgrading to RNG
Biogas Upgrading Processes
Biogas conversion to RNG represents the latest efforts in resource recovery, providing a supplemental revenue source for utilities. However, it is currently implemented at fewer than 40 wastewater treatment facilities nationwide. Our team members have extensive RNG process experience, chairing WEF's RNG Task Force while hosting annual biogas and RNG workshops at WEF conferences.
Our expertise spans the creation of RFPs, negotiating interconnect operating agreements, RIN generation and sales, safety procedures and staff training. Our members led a nationwide coalition of authors for the creation of a reference manual written for the boots on the ground operators and maintenance personnel entrusted with these systems. The book title is Guidelines for the Safe Operation of Biogas and RNG Facilities and is available through WEF's online bookstore at https://connect.wef.org/s/store#/store/browse/detail/a2nRP000001VmuDYAS
Energy Reduction and Decarbonization
PFAS Treatment and Destruction
Biosolids and Land Application
90% ammonia removal in side stream wastes
60% savings for aeration oxygen demand compared to conventional BNR processes
90% reduction in biomass production compared to conventional BNR processes
Energy consumption as low as 1.1kWh/kg of nitrogen removed
Can be highly automated for operational ease
The project represents the first AnitaMOX installation in Arizona!
Watch this brief video to learn more about the benefits of RNG production and resource recovery. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6IEhwOtLEAI
We continue to lead the way in the evaluation of innovative solutions for reducing PFAS concentrations in wastewater effluent and biosolids for over a decade.
We are currently conducting pilot demonstrations for evaluating the effectiveness of foam fractionation, followed by electro-oxidation, for the removal and destruction of PFAS following wastewater treatment.
This valuable work represents the first real-world demonstration of PFAS treatment for wastewater processes with preliminary results indicating up to 60% reduction in total effluent PFAS concentrations making it a cost-effective option for wastewater treatment and reuse opportunities in addition to RO brines wastes.
Wastewater treatment often represents the largest energy expenditure for many municipalities and energy costs are expected to rise substantially. Understanding where energy is consumed within a facility, and equipment demands within each process, is a key step towards initiating changes.
We have developed proven strategies for benchmarking and optimizing energy usage. We will create an intelligent water systems roadmap for reducing energy usage and achieving your decarbonization goals. We start by evaluating your data systems and performing a comprehensive process evaluation for prioritizing opportunities and developing an implementation strategy.
We will evaluate demand management and process equipment for the creation of an implementation strategy to achieve the greatest energy reduction along with a scoring matrix for ease of implementation.
Watch this brief video to learn more about our research and innovation pilot program and partnership with the University of Arizona. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZXO8yNxc3M&t=247s
Land application of biosolids is practiced by over 50% of municipalities nationwide as an effective nutrient rich fertilizer improving both soil health and crop yield. In Arizona, the figure approaches 90%, along with an additional 30% contributions imported from California. However, urban encroachment on agricultural lands and uncertainty relating to PFAS can make long term planning difficult and increase operational expenses for utilities.
Public perception and scrutiny relating to potential contaminants will always be a concern requiring agencies to be forever diligent in monitoring biosolids quality while addressing public safety concerns.
We are actively involved with numerous agencies and affiliations including NACWA, EPA, CASA, NEBRA, WRF, and WEF. These partnerships advance research on contaminant profiles, soil mobility, and crop uptake. In fact, we serve on the advisory committees for many of these agency projects. Let us help you secure an effective biosolids management strategy that meets your immediate goals and your future planning needs.
Wastewater treatment plants are increasingly becoming factories for resource recovery. Public benefits include recycled water, renewable natural gas, power generation, and agricultural fertilizers.
This graphic provides a simplistic depiction demonstrating the synergistic relationship between energy inputs and the many renewable outputs that can be achieved.
We can help optimize your resource recovery strategies along with energy reduction options approaching energy neutral resource recovery.
Resource Recovery
Proof, Not Promises
Understanding biogas upgrading needs provided the needed expertise for drafting robust RFPs needed for procurement solicitation and award.
NYDEP, 2025
Intelligent Water Systems Award for energy benchmarking and targeted energy usage reductions
WEFTEC, 2019
Nationwide Collaborative PFAS Study for land application of biosolids, soil mobility, and crop uptake
Ian Pepper, University of Arizona WEST Center