Doctors Lake Enhanced Phosphorus Removal
Fleming Island, Florida
Phosphorous Elimination
Owner: Clay County Utility Authority
Engineer: Green Earth Operations
Installation: January, 2020
Technical Description:
PES Media
PES Pressure Distribution System
Each day, 2.04 million gallons of treated wastewater with high phosphorus concentrations from the Fleming Island Wastewater Treatment Facility in Clay County is pumped onto the 46,000 sq. ft. facility. The Phosphorus Elimination System (PES) media has be especially formulated to effectively remove both particulate and soluble phosphorus (P) loads. The PES system provides effective P removal approaching 88% for its design life of six years.
The spent media containing very high amounts of P is then used as soil amendment. This amendment provides all the P needed for plants, all the while not leaching out any P. In this way, the system not only removes a substantial proportion of the Doctors Lake P loads during operation, its media will eventually reduce similar loads from golf courses and other fertilized landscapes. As a result, the PES is the most cost-effective and sustainable approach to reduce P loads available.
Updates:
05/01/2024
Natural plant reestablishment.
April 2024
Vegetation before harvest.
Media beds after harvesting biomass.
09/27/22
SWIG is doing final preparations for Hurricane Ian's arrival in NE Florida. We have tightened all valve actuator covers, will be temporarily halting operations and draining down the PES media bed at our Doctors Lake facility in Clay County, FL.
We hope everyone stays safe!
06/09/21
Canna lilies loves growing in PES bed
4/1/2021 Site visit
The PES vegetated beds with lush plant growth and a high soil moisture regime makes it a favorite place for amphibians, reptiles, and birds.
12/07/2020 Site visit
Members of the SJRWMD Governing Board and Clay County Utility Authority participating in a socially distanced tour of our Doctors Lake advanced phosphorus removal system. This system has treated over 200,000,000 gallons and removed 1,600 lbs. of P to date. Our removal efficiency is over 94%.
10/14/2020 ANOTHER MILESTONE!
Our facility has removed over 1,000 pounds of phosphorus to date, with >97% removal rate
10/05/2020 Site Visit
Great to meet with Vince Seibold, Bureau Chief of District Projects and Construction Division of Projects, St. Johns River Water Management District at the project site.
Checking to see of our ReoLink video system is up and running.
Coffee and donuts ready for clients and guests visiting the site.
09/30/2020
Vegetation was cut back on September 30th to remove biomass prior to winter plant dieback.
PES bed before biomass removal
PES bed after biomass removal
09/23/2020 WE ARE IN FULL SWING
Facility now operating 24/7, both pumps at full flow rate (>2.0 MGD)
09/15/2020 PES wildlife
06/18/2020 Our plants are looking great!
SWIG planted seven different Florida native wetland species in the PES media bed. SWIG will measure plant density and growth rates over time. So far, all species seem to love this nutrient and water rich environment.
06/05/2020 The big night
SWIG completed the final connection to the Fleming Island Wastewater Treatment Facility at 4am on Friday morning, June 5, 2020. This involved taping into the facility’s 36-inch ductile iron effluent line which allows our system to pump flows to the Phosphorus Removal System (PES) for treatment.
Taping the effluent line:
Saw cuts were made along the effluent pipe.
Removing the Pipe Section:
The cut pipe section is lifted out of the diversion box.
Pipe Inserts:
Steel plates are inserted to force water to overflow in the diversion box which will be pumped to the PES.
04/16/2020
03/06/20 interview
Clay County, FL. SWIG being interviewed with our partners, SJRWMD and CCUA by Steve Paterson, environmental reporter of the Times Union. We are starting operations and meeting our phosphorus removal targets. (from left to right) Mark Merkelbach @SWIG, Steve Paterson @Times Union, Jeremy Johnston @CCUA , Vince Seibold @SJRWMD
02/24/2020
02/02/2020 construction progress
