Cleaning up the Hudson Andrew Brown

The Hudson River Official Source- Lake Tear in the Clouds in Adirondack Mountains Official Source- Lake Tear in the Clouds in Adirondack Mountains Empties into Atlantic Ocean- divides New York and New Jersey Empties into Atlantic Ocean- divides New York and New Jersey

Background General Electric- had two plants in upstate New York (Hudson Falls and Fort Edward) where they produced capacitors and transformers General Electric- had two plants in upstate New York (Hudson Falls and Fort Edward) where they produced capacitors and transformers One of the main materials used were polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB’s) One of the main materials used were polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB’s) –Stable (electrically) and non-conducting fluid used as insulation

PCB’s PCB’s have serious health implications- carcinogen, Liver damage, skin sores, brain damage in young people, weakened immune system PCB’s have serious health implications- carcinogen, Liver damage, skin sores, brain damage in young people, weakened immune system PROBLEM: Between 1947 and 1977 GE released up to 1.3 million pounds of them into the Hudson River in waste water and contaminated a large area of the river PROBLEM: Between 1947 and 1977 GE released up to 1.3 million pounds of them into the Hudson River in waste water and contaminated a large area of the river

Polluted Area The waste water polluted a 40 mile stretch of the river south of Hudson Falls The waste water polluted a 40 mile stretch of the river south of Hudson Falls Sediment on the bottom of the river was and is still contaminated with PCB’s Sediment on the bottom of the river was and is still contaminated with PCB’s From 1977 until 1995 fishing had to banned due to very high levels-catch and release now allowed From 1977 until 1995 fishing had to banned due to very high levels-catch and release now allowed

What to do about it? Some people want to just leave the river as it is…nothing serious has happened yet Some people want to just leave the river as it is…nothing serious has happened yet Others (including the government) want the area cleaned up…this is what is scheduled to happen (Summer 09) Others (including the government) want the area cleaned up…this is what is scheduled to happen (Summer 09) –Massive dredging process Debate continues…………………..

What is Dredging? Dredging- removal of sediments at the bottom of a body of water Dredging- removal of sediments at the bottom of a body of water –Pros: Most of the PCB’s are removed and the water will be free of contaminants –Cons: Very long and messy process, disturbance of aquatic ecosystems

The Clean Up Process Clean Up to be done in 2 phases Clean Up to be done in 2 phases –1 st Phase- dredge about 265,000 cubic yards of the river bottom Location: 90 acres in Thompson Island Pool Location: 90 acres in Thompson Island Pool Equipment: 8 Mechanical Clamshell Dredgers Equipment: 8 Mechanical Clamshell Dredgers Habitat Reconstruction Habitat Reconstruction

Sludge Treatment Sludge will be brought to a 110 acre site along Champlain Canal Sludge will be brought to a 110 acre site along Champlain Canal Much of the site will be lined with geomembrane liner Much of the site will be lined with geomembrane liner

Storm Water Storm basins installed to prevent storm water from carrying the PCB’s out of the treatment site Storm basins installed to prevent storm water from carrying the PCB’s out of the treatment site –Enough capacity to contain 100 years flood –Water collected will be brought directly to Waste Water Treatment Plant on site –8300 feet of drainage pipe

Processing Facilities Sediment Separation Sediment Separation Thickening and Dewatering Thickening and Dewatering Water Treatment Plant Water Treatment Plant

Sediment Separation Trommel (Bar) Screens Trommel (Bar) Screens -removal of oversize materials (5/8 in debris) -Capacity=451 wet tons per hour Hydrocyclone System Hydrocyclone System -2 which can each handle 2,250 gpm -recovers sediment 200 to 400 mesh

Trommel Screen Hydrocyclone System

Thickening and Dewatering 80 ft. diameter gravity thickener (primary settler 80 ft. diameter gravity thickener (primary settler Plate and Frame Filter Presses- with coagulant and flocculent polymer addition Plate and Frame Filter Presses- with coagulant and flocculent polymer addition Goal: solid concentration=55%

Water Treatment Plant Capacity=2 Million Gallons per Day Capacity=2 Million Gallons per Day Numerous filters Numerous filters –Inclined plate separators –Multi-Media Filters –Activation Carbon Units –Bag Filters This is the most important step

Inclined Plate Separators and Multi- Media Filters Inclined Plate Separators Inclined Plate Separators –Like the lamellar separators discussed in class –Mechanical cleaning Multi-Media Filters Multi-Media Filters –Mechanical cleaning –Filter made of 3 levels about 40 inches in total depth –Top layer big and light material while bottom level fine and dense

Activation Carbon Units and Bag Filters Activation Carbon Units Activation Carbon Units –Chemical cleaning –Contaminant is more attracted to the carbon surface than the molecule Bag Filters Bag Filters –Mechanical cleaning –Made of synthetic materials such as nylon and polyester –Holes as small as 1 micron

Finally…the Water is Clean Once the water has passed through all filtration then it will be discharged back into the Champlain Canal Once the water has passed through all filtration then it will be discharged back into the Champlain Canal Second Phase- to be completed once an assessment is done as to where more dredging is needed Second Phase- to be completed once an assessment is done as to where more dredging is needed

References acility_Design_Overview.pdf acility_Design_Overview.pdf g g g g filters.htm filters.htm astewater_Treatment_Plant-001.jpg astewater_Treatment_Plant-001.jpg