The On-line WRRF Checklist is simplified into 4 checklists.
In urban municipal jurisdictions served by multiple WRRFs, this section may be significantly impacted by agency plans for plant specialization (centralization of certain processes) and the creation of a “WRRF Network” where optimization can be achieved through consolidation, modification, and enhancements of select functions at individual plants. For example, some plants may have centralized special functions (such as anaerobic digestion and/or dewatering) while other plants may be reduced in function or have now redundant features that may be decommissioned. To create efficient, healthy, and reliable systems, water management agencies should strive to optimize the collective network of operating WRRFs.
WRRF network optimization should also include examining interdependencies, potential exchanges, and reciprocities (synergies) across other utilities; power, transport, and waste management, especially organic waste handling. Some localities may decide to centralize their wastewater systems while others may opt for decentralization, i.e., the creation of more distributed, smaller systems as populations increase. However, as the operating technology of WRRFs becomes more sophisticated, requiring more highly trained specialists, there may be trade-offs favoring network consolidation. Long-term planning and additional cost/benefit analyses may be necessary to assess the overall network of plants in this regard.
This section details the range of programmatic elements that a WRRF campus could potentially incorporate as part of that expanded mission. With the food/water/energy nexus in mind, such co-located land uses may include, but not be limited to: the accommodation of on-site urban agriculture; provision of new public parkland or recreational facilities; an environmental visitor centers; new conference center; new job training facilities; new local commercial enterprises; and/or inclusion of other community-specific social services. Such a reinvented waterside complex could be a focal draw for neighborhood development already anticipated for many of the city’s underserved but potentially up-zoned districts, bringing with it tangible social, economic, and environmental benefits. This would allow the WRRF to become a “community hub” where residents and the general public also come to experience and appreciate the water, food, energy infrastructural nexus, and the benefits accruing from the potential reciprocal exchanges outlined in this guide—all within a zone designed for coastal resilience.
Collaboration with local community-based entities can also provide opportunities for educational curriculum integration as well as the training and further cultivation of the WRRF future workforce. Partnering with a full range of community organizations and incorporating community voices from the earliest stages of the project planning, are crucial for local buy-in and trust. Integrating with community organizations utilizes the most important resource, people, in addition to providing beneficial uses for the physical resources produced at WRRFs.
Part A: Community Assessment Plan
Step 1: Identify Relevant City Planning Goals at Multiple Scales and Associate Stakeholders
Identify policies that may impact land use and infrastructure development (e.g., city sustainability plans, up-zoning, coastal data and area resiliency plans, long-term housing plans, and economic condition forecasts).
Create a register of stakeholders, direct and indirect internal as well as external stakeholders, including those who have vested interest in a successful project outcome, and some key stakeholder of which it might be said that they hold a vested interest in project failure. Parties, in addition to relevant planning entities and line agencies and their consultants, would include but not be limited to community boards, community groups, local development corporations, and local enterprises.
Projects addressing sea-level rise, flood risk, and planned resiliency initiatives. In risk assessment, identify major area redevelopment initiatives affecting local drainage.
Step 2: Map Relevant Demographic and Neighborhood Information
Access federal, state and city government websites to collect relevant demographics (population, density, age, race, ethnicity, income, education, local job availability, employment rates) to assist in identifying local needs and find gaps in services.
Collect high priority needs information from community board websites – annual needs report, and goals of community civic associations, environmental and community-based organizations, business improvement districts, block associations, etc.
Map the above analytics at appropriate scales.
Step 3: Map Land Use/Zoning Information for Surrounding Area.
Identify borough, sewershed, district, neighborhood, community board for the WTTP site and surrounding parcels. Consider both current zoning and proposed zoning changes, such as up-zoning (zoning code changes to allow denser or taller buildings, and/or land use changes). Note whether either prohibit the expansion of the WRRF.
Map current and planned open space, parks, forests, recreational facilities, community gardens; current industry or waste-handling facilities, local air pollutants, contaminants, brownfields, etc.
Consider adjacent city-owned properties, private undeveloped space, and marginal space as areas for possible WRRF acquisition and expansion for inclusion of community-based civic, public, or private program activities, etc.
These may include but not be limited to, property owners, zoning, past use, square footage, and vacancy.
Consider municipality ownership, views, vacant or underutilized space, or other construction-ready property.
Step 4: Map Area Hydrology.
Identify not only the body of water the WRRF is sited on but also any relevant lakes, rivers, or creeks.
Assess the vulnerability of the general area surrounding the WRRF. Visit the Flood Map Service Center to find official flood maps in the United States.
Assess the vulnerability of the general area surrounding the WRRF. Visit the Flood Map Service Center to find official outlets in the United States.
Identify Combined Sewage Overflow (CSO) locations which result in contamination of waterways. Identifying CSOs highlights how communities and ecosystems can be affected when there are failures in the existing wastewater infrastructure.
Identify local community infrastructure and buildings at risk. Risks may include rising groundwater tables, coastal flooding, sewer backups, wet streets, etc.
Step 5: Identify and Map Existing Infrastructure in Area.
Consider the overall proximities and vulnerabilities of existing energy, transport, and waste infrastructure.
Energy
Including power plants, substations, and site transformers, as well as gas distribution lines. Identify area “load pockets,” or other limits on area services.
The electric utility’s below-ground mapping is likely to be closely held and will require special permission to access. The utility’s mapping is also likely to require electrical engineering expertise to understand. In this step it is important for the agency and its stakeholders to include appropriate personnel and skill sets, as well as utility contacts.
Determine availability of local network and feeder load profiles, differentiate between peak, and off-peak loading.
Consider the potential ability/capacity of nearby infrastructure to receive and store electricity and/or renewable fuel for cogeneration and potential interconnections with a WRRF microgrid.
Transportation
Map public access by train, bus, shuttle, or subway to the WRRF and surrounding areas.
Determine barriers to access, especially what impacts community access to the WRRF, such as highways or rail corridors.
Identify nearby infrastructure such as taxi and livery, municipal buses, intercity bus lines, bike lanes, and vehicle/bike shares.
Waste Management
Map public access by train, bus, shuttle, or subway to the WRRF and surrounding areas.
Document commercial enterprises responsible for generating organic waste such as stadiums, large grocery stores, and food distributors, food rescue organizations, processors, manufacturers, and restaurants.
Review commercial municipal organics laws identify current and proposed legislation affecting collection of commercial organic waste streams, including fats, oils, and grease (FOG).
Identify and map waste transfer sites and hauler routes (if possible) – identify methodology of recovery, reuse, and current disposal of organics.
Review the type of organic waste material being generated and assess suitability for anaerobic digestion.
Identify residential organic waste programs and organizations, and collection/composting sites, noting distance to WRRF. Consider these organizations possible future community partners.
Identify current area residential organic waste recovery rates and future projections and consider the quantity of collectable organics per capita and total collections.
Check municipal residential organics laws to see if residents are offered an option for curbside organics collection. There is improved collection feasibility if such a program is already in place.
Identify and map residential organics collection methodology in the wider district or borough if available.
Identify food scrap drop-off sites or landscape (yard) waste drop-off site these may be additional sources of organics.
Step 6: Community Facilities and Groups.
Locate community centers, senior centers, recreation centers, cultural institutions, libraries, and social services. Note specific types of facilities lacking. Identify the facilities’ proximity to WRRF, transportation, any flood zones, their vulnerability to sea-level rise, etc.
Map and Identify all Schools, Post-Secondary Institutions, and Training Institutions in Community
- Foodbanks and Community Kitchens
- Farmers Markets
- Commercial food markets (supermarkets)
- Breweries–(which have particular import for WRRF)
Locate playgrounds, community gardens, landscaped areas, and marginal spaces, and other passive recreational areas.
Locate fire stations, police stations, hospitals, evacuation centers, etc. in relation to the WRRF.
Part B: Wastewater Treatment Facility Assessment
Step 1: Wastewater Treatment Plant Capacity and Processes.
Identify sewershed population.
Identify, for example, mandates for effluent and air quality emissions as well as biosolid treatments.
Quantify the amount of wastewater that is received and processed by the WRRF on average dry and wet days.
Identify the frequency and duration of stormwater flows – Examine the range of inflows to plant, including inflows during historic peak storms and events when combined sewer overflows are triggered.
Describe methods of managing stormwater flows – Compare current to other possible methods and benchmark against similar facilities.
Quantify stormwater by-pass, if any.
Outline and diagram the WRRF processes and major equipment; create or update a line diagram of equipment; Sludge Processing, Final Water Treatment, Odor Control, Buildings.
Map the plant’s current layout including vacant and underutilized spaces at WRRF and adjoining areas (note location and distance relative to other municipal WRRF facilities and their processes if centralization of certain processes is under consideration).
Benchmark equipment ages and capacities in relation to projected future needs, industry norms (see Capital Planning sections below).
Review and assess plant SCADA, benchmark against industry standards.
Consider wastewater epidemiology applications.
Step 2: Plant Outputs.
Assess water quality issues, residuals of concern including:
Develop analytics (average effluent outflow as percentage of inflow).
Identify quantities of treated effluent to: a) receiving bodies of water, b) demand sites, c) surface or groundwater d) catchments for reuse.
Characterize final solids: quantify the amount, and characterize initial and final compositions.
Identify and describe drying equipment, other processing: drying results, energy use, and costs.
Describe final dispositions, disposal, and any recovery/beneficial re-use
Determine the costs of the above.
Step 3: Energy Analysis.
Identify major energy-using processes and equipment.
Include the amount of electricity, steam according to fuel type used by the WRRF for daily processing and non-processing functions (e.g., office space, locker rooms). Determine load profile, peak demand timeframes, and participation in Demand Response events. Note the facility’s goals and past performance during such events (Record to database or spreadsheet, if not already done).
If sub-metering is available, identify sub-metered equipment.
Identify current equipment linked to plant electrical systems, including pumps, fans, biosolids dewatering, and other equipment such as emergency generators and transformers. If sub-metering is not available, find what can be derived about system/equipment-level energy use from the plant’s automation system and consider sub-metering options.
Determine SCADA (supervisory control and data points) and data collected for major equipment.
Conduct benchmark type data analysis that normalizes performance to similarly-sized plants based on total flow and other factors. Comparisons to “similar plants” will require an understanding of those plant processes. These should be assessed for comparability to other cases and possible enhancements.
Identify plant connections to the distribution grid (feeders, sub-stations): the configuration and location of local distribution (substation and transformers, type of network), how many feeders, where the plant is, physically, within the network of feeders, the relation of the plant to other loads on the local network.
Identify Local Electrical Utility Contact(s).
Identify the type, age, and capacity of digesters: Find the maximum solids and hydraulic capacity of anaerobic digesters, Compare maximum capacity to current use and note room for increased capacity, for example, for co-digestion of fats, oils, and grease and pre-processed organic waste.
Characterize ADG production and utilization: Quantify potential ADG production based on plant flow, population. Quantify ADG used beneficially, flared, or fugitive. Determine what, if any, facility processes are fueled by the digester gas including power generation and standard combustion for heating. Sum the cubic feet of anaerobic digester gas used beneficially. Identify barriers to the beneficial use of ADG.
Identify possible off-campus users of treated ADG: Locate nearby vehicle fleets and nearby natural gas distribution.
Step 4: Climate Change Risk Assessment.
- Gather evaluations, assessments done to date. Use FEMA maps for current Advisory100-Year Floodplain, and Projected 2050s and 2100 100-Year Floodplain to evaluate portion of the campus and facilities subject to inundation and damage.
- Evaluate storm-surge and flood risk.
- Identify equipment elevation within the WRRF and determine susceptibility to inundation and flood damage
- Identify measures taken or planned to mitigate flood risk.
- Consider possible impacts of water table level rise.
Calculate the facility’s total annual output of greenhouse gas emissions (Quantify Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions according to EPA or other appropriate protocols in terms of metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalents).
Step 5: Capital Asset Planning – Short-Term and Long-Term Capital Improvements
Review and update equipment capital asset inventory, with age, conditions assessment.
Determine the lifetime of equipment and update capital improvement projects and asset replacement cycle plans as called for.
Identify Planned Equipment Replacements and Process Improvements.
Consider the extent and timeframe of planned upgrades, replacements, new equipment, and assets. List any equipment that will be replaced.
Identify Campus-wide Climate Change-related Adaptation and Resilience Measures.
Identify any long-term policy initiatives for the WRRF.
For example, moving from belt filter press to centrifuge for dewatering that may be in the planning stages (WRRF Consolidations, networking, re-purposing, retirement.
Consider any future plans such as consolidation or decommissioning or other potential operating economies of scale to be obtained by centralizing some of the processes of other existing WRRFs).
Part C: WRRF Transformative Elements
Step 1: Anticipate and Quantify Future Changes in Sewer Shed served by the WRRF.
Access government population growth projections to help identify demographic changes to neighborhoods or districts in the sewer shed and consequent changes in demand affecting the sizing of the future WRRF for 50-70 years. This is already performed as a basic planning function but in some cases may be improved by a more complete view of possible demographic changes.
Understand how possible up-zoning might affect the population and population density within the WRRF sewer shed. Coordinate with local community boards and planning departments.
Incorporate anticipated future wastewater, predicated on calculated volume changes in future designs.
Step 2: Capital Improvements – Identify a Strategic Vision for the WRRF.
Review operational practices for near-term improvement opportunities that can reduce energy use, requiring modest capital investment. For example, in secondary treatment, improvements in compressor control may be possible with improved sensor arrays and air distribution.
Look to multi-year strategic plans for general trends in wastewater resource recovery. Assess whether the WRRF is likely to alter or enhance processes currently being performed at the WRRF site (i.e., inclusion of thermal hydrolysis, nitrogen removal (per permitting requirements), additional ADG production from organic waste or biosolids processing, or in the longer term, valorization of biosolids).
Consider any plans to decommission or consolidate certain WRRF functions or features. Consider the expansion of certain plants where processes are to be consolidated. Consider the WRRF campus real estate freed up by any decommissioned parts of the plant for other beneficial use.
Review and consider Best Available Technology (BAT) options that may require substantial modifications to facilities. A consulting team should be commissioned to perform such a market survey if one is not already in hand. Some technologies may be interdependent. For example, thermal hydrolysis with its high thermal energy requirements may favor the implementation of cogeneration to limit the impact on energy costs and carbon footprint. Consider process changes for each major aspect of the plant, as suggested by the sections below.
Step 3: Evaluate and Plan for ADG as a Major Element for Carbon Neutrality.
For plant electricity production (and potential storage), heat production as a GHG reduction- and resiliency measure
Consider additional feedstock sources to the digesters: food waste, commercial FOG collection, and agricultural wastes.
Consider the Organic Waste Infrastructure options
Identify scale of infrastructure needed for ADG and associated issues.
Local Policy Goals – Look to local city and state goals for energy efficiency, alternative energy, and/ or resiliency – determine if the goals dictate one preferred use of biomethane (ADG) over another.
Emission Abatement Value – Given the evolving emissions reduction market, use scenario modeling to calculate the end-use value in carbon emission reductions for alternative uses of ADG.
Consider carbon impacts, costs and operational requirements of different ADG end-uses. Costs and operational requirements vary significantly for different end-uses:
- ADG for vehicle fuel
- Conversion from ADG to Biogas/Renewable Natural Gas (pipeline injection)
- Combined Heat and Power (CHP) (or co-generation/tri-generation)
Calculate the end-use value in dollars for alternative uses of ADG. Consider, calculate and compare electricity, heat (natural gas), and vehicle fuel (gasoline, diesel, or compressed natural gas). Include consideration of incentives available and the different capital requirements.
| Alternate Uses of ADG | Description | Calculation of Dollar Value of ADG | Calculation of Carbon Value of ADG |
|---|---|---|---|
| Generate Electricity | If electricity produced from ADG is replacing electricity purchased from the grid | Multiply the kilowatt-hours by the local cost of electricity in $/kWh; for a more complex view, consider demand charges and possibilities for storage and Time-of-Use rates | Use the regional electricity carbon-content multiplier |
| Generate Electricity | If electricity is generated via cogeneration/CHP | Include added value for recovered heat (see next section) | Add, using the carbon value of the displaced fuel |
| Generate Electricity | If electricity is sold back to the electric grid | May be at a lower wholesale rate than the value of kwh used on-site; consult with utility. If storage is available, may be held for higher-value ancillary service or demand-response under utility contract. | Use regional electricity multiplier. However, if stored for on-peak use, may be credited with higher carbon credit (for displacing inefficient “peaker” plants). |
| Heat | If the heat from ADG is replacing heat from purchased natural gas: Note: Heat may also be used for cooling via absorption or steam-turbine chillers under more capital-intensive scenarios. | Multiply the therms in ADG by the local cost of natural gas (or other fuel in use) | Use the carbon value of the displaced fuel |
| Renewable Natural Gas | If ADG is cleaned and compressed for injection into the utility natural gas grid, it may be sold at the utility’s wholesale purchase rate. | Check with the local utility regarding terms. | |
| Vehicle Fuel | If ADG is replacing energy from diesel fuel or gasoline. If replacing natural gas for a fleet that has already been converted to compressed natural gas (CNG) | Multiply the gallons of fuel replaced by the local price at the pump plus any incentives available. Convert using the gas utility’s rate for vehicle fueling |
Step 4: Renewable Energy.
Including photovoltaic panels, concentrated solar power, and/ or solar thermal sited within the WRRF campus.
Examine Possible Locations and Estimate Gross Square Footage (GSF) – Possible sites could include; above settling and treatment areas, on parking canopies, or building roofs.
Estimate the Electrical Capacity of Different Solar Technologies – Consider small-scale concentrated solar power if space constraints do not exist.
Examine possible locations and spatial requirements of a co-located wind turbine, based upon average wind speed at the site along with placement viability according to local requirements. Estimate capacity of different wind turbine technologies.
Consider if outfall water can become a source of energy.
The large amount of water discharged from the WRRF represents a large quantity of low-quality (i.e., low temperature) heat energy. This energy can be recovered and boosted in quality (temperature) by use of heat pumps, making it useful for district heating. If housing is closely located, this can provide the basis for a district heating and cooling system and address possible local goals of electrification of heating.
Step 5: Electric Demand Management, Microgrid and Storage.
This expertise will be necessary to engage effectively with the local utility and other stakeholders (vendors operators of other facilities etc.) as considerations become more technical.
In addition to its energy and carbon reduction goals, the WRRF can play an important role for the local electric utility and its management of the local distribution grid. Demand Response and other distribution services can be provided by the WRRF on a contracted basis. More radically, the WRRF can play a role in implementing a Microgrid. The value of these measures depends upon the specific local circumstances of electric distribution system loading and congestion, projected needs for substation upgrade, and should be explored with the local utility.
A microgrid moves beyond demand management of assets to establish a section of the electric utility distribution network that can operate in a disconnected, isolated mode if necessary. The Community Microgrid provides additional benefits of energy reliability and security for a risk-exposed coastal community.
- Identify Key Stakeholders in a future Community Microgrid
- Determine Feasibility of Energy Storage
Step 6: Post-Digestate Biosolids Management.
The goal is to utilize the biosolids through a circular or closed-loop cycle. The partially dried “cake” that is the end-product of the WWRF dewatering process may be valorized, sold, or otherwise beneficially utilized, including use as an agricultural fertilizer and/or as supplementary material for construction. Explore nutrient recovery routes and consider the development of a resource recovery process.
- On-site or nearby solar biosolids drying facility
- Investigate potential local use or sale of Class A biosolids
- Consider the reclamation of phosphorous using chemical or bio-based technologies
- Consider pelletization and pyrolysis
- Consider biosolids valorization as an additive construction material
- Consider sewage sludge ash (SSA) valorization with energy recovery
Step 7: Water Recycling and Re-use.
Water recovery and re-use is of variable priority based on the water supply situation of the locale. Water of potable quality may be attainable via various methods of tertiary treatment using advanced treatment technologies (microfiltration and reverse osmosis membranes and ultraviolet radiation). Tertiary-treated water may be suitable for agricultural use, and at a still lower level, for horticultural, industrial or cleaning uses. In other cases, the lower levels of re-use may be possible with present processing. There are various forms of tertiary treatment that may be explored, including chemical, ultraviolet, membrane, and biological.
Treatment via osmotic membranes can be very space-efficient but may require high energy use.
Biological treatment may be conducted in artificial constructs, such as John Todd’s “Living Machine” or established in natural environments with the use of specific plants, plant combinations, and oyster beds. There is a long history of biological treatments and many active examples. Such treatments may be usefully combined with coastal and wetland restoration projects and with resilience improvements such as “sponge parks”; wetlands themselves have important coastal protection and resilience benefits. As a tertiary treatment process, however, such natural-context biological methods will by necessity be quite space extensive and may require the plant authority to engage with other entities that regulate the larger water body.
Step 8: Odor Control.
Control of offensive odors is a key consideration in plants being accepted as positive parts of a community. While this may be accomplished by dispersal via large blowers, it requires significant energy use. Since odors are not created consistently in the plant, the application of sensors for variable speed drive control of the blower motors may be effective at reducing energy consumption. However, non-mechanical means of reducing odors should also be explored. These methods, subject to ongoing research, may include the use of biofilters, or collection and treatment via carbon media or other neutralization methods.
Step 9: Laboratory Facilities.
As the complexity of processes increases, there is an increasing scope for lab facilities to be built into the plant campus. Beyond the compliance-based need for testing of discharged water, emergent areas where lab testing may be important for process control include: food waste slurry feedstock to anaerobic digesters; anaerobic digester gas composition, post-digestion treated biosolids for feedstock to other products; and food quality in the case that local food industry is engendered. Besides direct line functions, such facilities can play a teaching role in the development of technical skills and new technicians.
Step 10: Climate Change Risk Assessment.
As WRRFs undertake facility major efficiency upgrades, expansions, as well as the integration of public-facing activities, an overarching imperative is a whole-campus design approach for long-term climate resiliency. Attention must be paid to the compounding factors of heavier rainstorms, sea-level rise, and storm surge, not only low frequency, extreme events, but also those of higher frequency but lower intensity. Saltwater intrusion and the implications of a rising shallow, unconfined coastal groundwater table are emerging variables in the phenomenon of sea-level rise.
Use data such as sea level rise-adjusted design flood elevations (DFE) into adaptation design of an enhanced campus.
Obtain current (and ideally also historical) data from groundwater coastal wells. Utilize dynamic modeling from multiple software.
Relocate as needed existing and elevate new campus equipment above storm surge height including pump stations. This could comprise placing within a newly constructed platform.
Consider placement of infrastructure within enclosing berms.
Constructed along the length of site boundaries deemed highly vulnerable over the longer term. To combat both storm surge and groundwater infiltration, consider a slurry wall to form a diaphragm or water-blocking wall with sheet piling down to bedrock.
In concert with a seawall, create an exterior berm, or revetment for further protection and an attempt at naturalizing the site in context.
Part D: Potential Community Specific Benefits
Step 1: Urban Planning.
Update stakeholders developed under Section 1.2.
Help stakeholders envision a desired series of program improvements.
Create a Community/Stakeholder process including citizen education.
Clearly outline communication and engagement strategies.
Conduct an ongoing series of formal stakeholder workshops as part of a participatory planning effort.
Document and share findings with the stakeholders and the community at large.
Update Local Governmental Stakeholders – based upon the Part A: Community Assessment Plan and updated directives of each.
Enlist the participation of appropriate city agencies as potential “project partners.”
Identify and engage with other elements of city and state government – gubernatorial and mayoral offices, city council, line agencies.
Consider development of an intergovernmental task force or similar organizational structure.
Create a Prioritization Plan.
Identify Adjacent Parcels of Land that Could be Acquired and Utilized by the WRRF.
Investigate ownership of any adjacent parcels, identifying zoning restrictions, land use changes and consider public accessibility to the site.
Highlight Areas with Desirable Characteristics: Include ease of local access, potential views, potential security features.
Investigate Procuring Land or other means of Securing Access/Rights to Additional land.
Use local mandates for site acquisition procedures and other regulatory and land-use change requirements.
Forecast demographic information.
Forecast neighborhood needs.
Create illustrative maps, drawings, and diagrams.
Assess Potential Additional Space Procurement in conjunction with Prioritization Plan.
Consider open spaces and parks that can double as coastal resiliency measures
These spaces can be integrated as encircling berms, raised platforms or other enlarged buffers that could incorporate sea walls, offering protected zones beyond the WRRF campus:
- “sponge park”
- berm or sea wall(s) in an integrated manner with the landscape
This “Prioritization Plan” will guide future development needs.
Step 2: Consider Community Energy Infrastructure in Prioritization Plan.
Study opportunities for integrating WRRF power generation into a local or community microgrid.
Consider how the microgrid could be supported and/or expanded with community-based rooftop solar.
Coordinate with WRRF future energy needs with electrical utility.
Determine the extent to which new transportation infrastructure (bus stops, shuttles, bikeways, etc., may be required to serve new community-facing programs and public access to the campus and waterfront.
Consider how new community-based facilities described below could improve local waste-handling programs and practices. These could include, for instance, workshops in materials sorting and recycling, upcycling, composting training, and facilities for the “fixer movement” such as the notion of “repair cafes.”
Step 3: Identify Synergistic Eco-Industrial Partnerships.
Such as:
On-site or nearby brewery that produces wastes capable of boosting anaerobic digestion.
Combined with a small hops-production facility for the brewery developed in concert with the agricultural facilities.
Combined with a brewpub in a neighborhood with a lack of such public-attracting amenities could produce jobs and enhance community wealth-building.
Determine the extent to which new transportation infrastructure (bus stops, shuttles, bikeways, etc., may be required to serve new community-facing programs and public access to the campus and waterfront.
Multiple private, non-profit, and governmental rental spaces could be made available on the WRRF campus.
Waste management co-digestion services.
ADG clean-up and distribution.
Cogeneration plant build-operate.
Final biosolids product development, treatment and re-use marketing.
Step 4: Incorporate WRRF Education and Training Programs / Partnerships within the Community.
Workforce development is an important pathway toward social justice and financial equity. Workforce training works best when accompanied by employment opportunities. A training center at the enhanced WRRF could contribute to such workforce skills development, even providing the new skillsets necessary for different WRRF and its ancillary enterprises’ operations.
As part of a longer-term outreach to the community, develop educational programs that provide pathways to entry into these career and technical training programs.
Wastewater agencies should look to establish partnerships with advanced skills training providers based upon future plant operational requirements. These could include such diverse skill training such as: facility operating engineers, laboratory technicians, green infrastructure maintenance workers, controlled environment agriculture staff, and other IT personnel or office staff.
Step 5: Incorporate Community Gardening, Agriculture and Food Infrastructure
The nutrients recovered from anaerobic digestion (those that achieve the status of Grade A biosolids) can be utilized in community-based agriculture and/or as a feedstock to a controlled environment food-producing enterprise.
A Food Hub could consist of multiple components, from urban gardening to a fresh food marketplace to indoor vertical farming facilities, hydroponics, hops and/or other advanced indoor food production technologies, as well as a food bank or food processing facility.
Food Bank or Food Pantry.
Community Kitchen.
Local Farmers Market.
Secondary Food Processing.
Retail Food Outlet.
Possible shared infrastructure (eg – refrigeration, transport center) using FEW linkages.
Identify Partnerships Opportunities with Concessions.
From a public education perspective, the emphasis on juxtaposing a food hub with a WRRF is instructive in many ways. To the public, it highlights the food/water/energy nexus and the benefits of co-locating these interdependent activities. It beneficially uses a waste product (nutrients) while also bringing fresh food to nearby underserved communities—many typically considered food deserts.
Depending on the available space on-site or within an adjacent acquired property, the urban food hub can be a collection of diverse food production and consumption related activities.
Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA): indoor food production including conventional greenhouse production, hydroponics, aeroponics or aquaponics systems. Production can be maximized by using available horizontal and vertical space.
Conventional greenhouse space can be mounted atop enclosed facilities, and, as security permits, allow for public access and use.
Conventional raised-bed agriculture can be operated by local community garden associations.
