Partnering with POTWs to Use P2 to Achieve Industrial Phosphorus Reduction Cindy McComas University of Minnesota—MnTAP

Point vs Non Point Phosphorus Sources--Minnesota River Basin High flow Non point90 % Point source10 % Low flow 36 % 64 %

Challenges Facing WWTFs Reduce phosphorus and other pollutant loading Prepare Phosphorus Management Plans Meet 1 mg/L limit Aging systems

Three Strategies for Phosphorus Reduction Industrial/commercial/institutional Residential education Removal at POTW

Industrial Assistance Approach Contact with POTWs in three basins: Upper and Lower Mississippi Rivers, Minnesota River Identify industrial phosphorus contributors Provide phosphorus reduction assistance to industrial contributors (site visits, interns, teams)

MnTAP, University of Minnesota Site visits Student interns Facilitated industry teams Resources for mercury elimination

Industrial Sources of Phosphorus Metal conversion coatings (prior to painting) Food processing and food waste Cleaning and sanitizing operations

Electrolux, St. Cloud Manufactures freezers Switched two cleaning/conversion coating lines to no phosphorus Reduced phosphorus by 90% from 42 lb/day to below 5 lb/day

Bongards Creameries, Norwood Butter, cheese and whey powder Changes: –clean in place systems –dry cleanup prior to wet cleanup –installed level sensors on tanks Reduced phosphorus by 60% from 150 lb/day to 60 lb/day

Schwan Food Company, Marshall Frozen foods Switched to low/ no P cleaners and sanitizers Reduced P from 36 lb/day to 13 lb/day; 8,400 lb/yr 30% reduction at the same time as a 31% increase in flow

Industrial Loading Impact on POTW City of Richmond and meat locker Wastewater treatment plant went from influent of ppm (9.4 lb/day) to 5 ppm (4.2 lb/day) Meat locker reduced 1,092 lb phosphorus/yr by keeping material off the floor and moving to no- phosphorus cleaners

Activity Results Contacts: 200 POTWs 131 industrial facilities Site visits: 62 POTWs 113 industries Intern projects: 7

Outcome Results Reduced –Phosphorus65,950 lb –BOD/TSS 7.5 million lb –Water 104 million gal Cost savings to businesses –$3.2 million

Lessons Learned Partnering with POTWs to reach industries P2 is an effective tool to reduce P and other pollutants to POTWs Regulatory requirements are motivators (PMP and P limits) Industries save money due to more efficient use of raw materials POTWs cut costs for chemical use

Next Steps—Community Wide Reduction Effort Partner with cities Inventory businesses Educate business and residential contributors Provide assistance to identify phosphorus reduction options Measure reductions

Project Support U.S. EPA Region 5 The McKnight Foundation Minnesota Office of Environmental Assistance Minnesota Pollution Control Agency