Pima County’s wastewater reclamation department contracted with a European company to use an innovative system designed to improve the plant’s sustainability. The system captures phosphorus as struvite, which can then be sold as a fertilizer additive. The process, referred to as the nutrient recovery system, has improved plant operations, reduced maintenance and operating costs, decreased chemical use and ultimately will provide a new revenue stream. The technology used is called NuReSys, and this is the first time the process has been used in the U.S.
Project challenges included creating the first struvite sequestration system in the country and constructing it during the pandemic. The team relied completely on 3D modeling tools to design the system and employed design-build delivery to balance cost and quality.