GCA-Washburn Tunnel

Year Submitted: 2003

Process: Wastewater Treatment

Industry: POTW

Wastes Reduced: Energy

Equipment: Dissovled Oxygen Meter

Location: Pasadena TX

No. of employees: 35

Contact: George Meriwether

Phone: (713) 472-5507

Description:

The Gulf Coast Authority is a publicly owned waste treatment authority that operates several treatment facilities in the Houston area. To control the electrical cost associated with running aerators, the Washburn tunnel facility installed a continuous Dissolved Oxygen (D.O.) monitoring system. By optimizing the D.O. concentration in the treatment tanks and not continuously running aerators, significant energy savings were achieved.

Environmental Benefits:

The reduced use of aerators not only saves the energy (and the pollutants associated with electrical generation), but also increases the length of service and decrease wastes generated as a result of equipment maintenance.

Details of Reductions

Additional Information :

In 1986, before this system was installed GCA used 1.03 KWhr/# of BOD. In 1994 the rate was 0.86 KWhr/# of BOD. At the 1986 rate this would have cost GCA an additional $270,000 in utility expenditures.

Source: TCEQ