Cleaning up the HudsonCleaning up the Hudson

Andrew BrownAndrew Brown

The Hudson RiverThe Hudson River

• Official Source-Official Source-Lake Tear in the Lake Tear in the Clouds in Clouds in Adirondack Adirondack MountainsMountains

• Empties into Empties into Atlantic Ocean-Atlantic Ocean-divides New York divides New York and New Jerseyand New Jersey

BackgroundBackground

• General Electric- had two plants in General Electric- had two plants in upstate New York (Hudson Falls and upstate New York (Hudson Falls and Fort Edward) where they produced Fort Edward) where they produced capacitors and transformerscapacitors and transformers

• One of the main materials used were One of the main materials used were polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB’s)polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB’s)– Stable (electrically) and non-conducting Stable (electrically) and non-conducting

fluid used as insulationfluid used as insulation

PCB’sPCB’s

• PCB’s have serious health implications- PCB’s have serious health implications- carcinogen, Liver damage, skin sores, carcinogen, Liver damage, skin sores, brain damage in young people, brain damage in young people, weakened immune systemweakened immune system

• PROBLEM: Between 1947 and 1977 GE PROBLEM: Between 1947 and 1977 GE released up to 1.3 million pounds of them released up to 1.3 million pounds of them into the Hudson River in waste water and into the Hudson River in waste water and contaminated a large area of the rivercontaminated a large area of the river

Polluted AreaPolluted Area

• The waste water The waste water polluted a 40 mile polluted a 40 mile stretch of the river stretch of the river south of Hudson Fallssouth of Hudson Falls

• Sediment on the Sediment on the bottom of the river bottom of the river was and is still was and is still contaminated with contaminated with PCB’sPCB’s

• From 1977 until 1995 From 1977 until 1995 fishing had to banned fishing had to banned due to very high due to very high levels-catch and levels-catch and release now allowedrelease now allowed

What to do about it?What to do about it?

• Some people want to just leave the river Some people want to just leave the river as it is…nothing serious has happened as it is…nothing serious has happened yetyet

• Others (including the government) want Others (including the government) want the area cleaned up…this is what is the area cleaned up…this is what is scheduled to happen (Summer 09)scheduled to happen (Summer 09)– Massive dredging processMassive dredging process

Debate continues…………………..Debate continues…………………..

What is Dredging?What is Dredging?

• Dredging- removal Dredging- removal of sediments at the of sediments at the bottom of a body of bottom of a body of water water – Pros: Most of the Pros: Most of the

PCB’s are removed PCB’s are removed and the water will be and the water will be free of contaminantsfree of contaminants

– Cons: Very long and Cons: Very long and messy process, messy process, disturbance of disturbance of aquatic ecosystemsaquatic ecosystems

The Clean Up ProcessThe Clean Up Process• Clean Up to be Clean Up to be

done in 2 phases done in 2 phases – 11stst Phase- dredge Phase- dredge

about 265,000 cubic about 265,000 cubic yards of the river yards of the river bottombottom•Location: 90 acres in Location: 90 acres in

Thompson Island PoolThompson Island Pool•Equipment: 8 Equipment: 8

Mechanical Clamshell Mechanical Clamshell DredgersDredgers

•Habitat Habitat ReconstructionReconstruction

Sludge TreatmentSludge Treatment

• Sludge will be Sludge will be brought to a 110 brought to a 110 acre site along acre site along Champlain CanalChamplain Canal

• Much of the site Much of the site will be lined with will be lined with geomembrane geomembrane linerliner

Storm WaterStorm Water• Storm basins installed Storm basins installed

to prevent storm to prevent storm water from carrying water from carrying the PCB’s out of the the PCB’s out of the treatment sitetreatment site– Enough capacity to Enough capacity to

contain 100 years contain 100 years floodflood

– Water collected will be Water collected will be brought directly to brought directly to Waste Water Waste Water Treatment Plant on Treatment Plant on sitesite

– 8300 feet of drainage 8300 feet of drainage pipepipe

Processing FacilitiesProcessing Facilities

• Sediment SeparationSediment Separation• Thickening and DewateringThickening and Dewatering• Water Treatment PlantWater Treatment Plant

Sediment SeparationSediment Separation

• Trommel (Bar) ScreensTrommel (Bar) Screens

-removal of oversize materials (5/8 in -removal of oversize materials (5/8 in debris)debris)

-Capacity=451 wet tons per hour-Capacity=451 wet tons per hour

• Hydrocyclone SystemHydrocyclone System

-2 which can each handle 2,250 gpm-2 which can each handle 2,250 gpm

-recovers sediment 200 to 400 mesh-recovers sediment 200 to 400 mesh

Trommel Screen

Hydrocyclone System

Thickening and DewateringThickening and Dewatering

• 80 ft. diameter gravity 80 ft. diameter gravity thickener (primary settlerthickener (primary settler

• Plate and Frame Filter Plate and Frame Filter Presses- with coagulant Presses- with coagulant and flocculent polymer and flocculent polymer additionaddition

Goal: solid concentration=55%

Water Treatment PlantWater Treatment Plant

• Capacity=2 Million Capacity=2 Million Gallons per DayGallons per Day

• Numerous filtersNumerous filters– Inclined plate Inclined plate

separatorsseparators– Multi-Media FiltersMulti-Media Filters– Activation Carbon Activation Carbon

UnitsUnits– Bag FiltersBag Filters

This is the most This is the most important stepimportant step

Inclined Plate Separators and Inclined Plate Separators and Multi-Media FiltersMulti-Media Filters• Inclined Plate Inclined Plate

SeparatorsSeparators– Like the lamellar Like the lamellar

separators discussed in separators discussed in classclass

– Mechanical cleaning Mechanical cleaning

• Multi-Media FiltersMulti-Media Filters– Mechanical cleaningMechanical cleaning– Filter made of 3 levels Filter made of 3 levels

about 40 inches in total about 40 inches in total depthdepth

– Top layer big and light Top layer big and light material while bottom material while bottom level fine and denselevel fine and dense

Activation Carbon Units and Activation Carbon Units and Bag FiltersBag Filters

• Activation Carbon Activation Carbon UnitsUnits– Chemical cleaningChemical cleaning– Contaminant is Contaminant is

more attracted to more attracted to the carbon surface the carbon surface than the moleculethan the molecule

• Bag FiltersBag Filters– Mechanical cleaningMechanical cleaning– Made of synthetic Made of synthetic

materials such as materials such as nylon and polyesternylon and polyester

– Holes as small as 1 Holes as small as 1 micronmicron

Finally…the Water is CleanFinally…the Water is Clean

• Once the water has passed through Once the water has passed through all filtration then it will be discharged all filtration then it will be discharged back into the Champlain Canalback into the Champlain Canal

• Second Phase- to be completed once Second Phase- to be completed once an assessment is done as to where an assessment is done as to where more dredging is neededmore dredging is needed

ReferencesReferences

http://www.cscos.com/pdf/ExpoPresentations/5.5_Hudson_River_Prochttp://www.cscos.com/pdf/ExpoPresentations/5.5_Hudson_River_Processing_Facility_Design_Overview.pdfessing_Facility_Design_Overview.pdfhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dredginghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dredginghttp://www.epa.gov/region02/superfund/npl/0202229c.pdfhttp://www.epa.gov/region02/superfund/npl/0202229c.pdfhttp://www.co.jackson.ms.us/press%20releases/2008%20dredging%2http://www.co.jackson.ms.us/press%20releases/2008%20dredging%20web.jpg0web.jpghttp://www.co.jackson.ms.us/press%20releases/2008%20dredginghttp://www.co.jackson.ms.us/press%20releases/2008%20dredging

%20web.jpg%20web.jpghttp://www.freedrinkingwater.com/water-education2/814-multi-http://www.freedrinkingwater.com/water-education2/814-multi-

media-filters.htmmedia-filters.htmhttp://doultonusa.com/HTML%20pages/http://doultonusa.com/HTML%20pages/

activated_carbon_water_filtration.htmactivated_carbon_water_filtration.htmhttp://www.geizer.com/eng/Geizer_english/pages/catalogue/http://www.geizer.com/eng/Geizer_english/pages/catalogue/

magistral_meshok.htmlmagistral_meshok.htmlhttp://www.durhamcountync.gov/departments/ceng/images/http://www.durhamcountync.gov/departments/ceng/images/

Utility_Division/Wastewater_Treatment_Plant-001.jpgUtility_Division/Wastewater_Treatment_Plant-001.jpg