Marlay-Taylor Water Reclamation Facility

Environmental Upgrades and New Co-Generation System Add Value

St. Mary's County, Maryland

The Marlay Taylor Water Reclamation Facility is the largest wastewater treatment plant operated by the St. Mary’s County (MD) Metropolitan Commission.

In addition to producing electrical power locally, the co-generation infrastructure will substantially reduce the carbon footprint for the entire treatment facility by limiting the amount of heating fuel consumed.

Innovative process supplements such as Integrated Fixed Film Activated Sludge or BioMag were considered to facilitate the treatment process without the addition of any new process tankage.

The facility now employs the four-stage Bardenpho process to meet low nitrogen and phosphorous discharge requirements.

St. Mary’s County Metropolitan Commission was able to initiate this upgrade by funding through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

The EPA awarded St. Mary’s County Metropolitan Commission the 2010 PISCES Award for the methane gas recovery and electric generation project at the Marlay Taylor WRF.

Based on results of a value engineering study we conducted on the Marlay-Taylor Water Reclamation Facility in St. Mary's County, Maryland, we designed and implemented a new 320kw co-generation system that allows the county to take advantage of their methane resource rather than simply disposing of it. The system provides power to the treatment facility during peak periods and feeds the electrical grid during low-demand periods, resulting in an offset credit under Maryland's net metering provisions.

320kw

co-generation system

We also upgraded the facility to meet the new Enhanced Nutrient Removal standards required through the Chesapeake Bay Initiative. The new facility design will meet low nitrogen and phosphorous discharge requirements, and be modernized with sludge storage facilities, a new headworks facility, and a fats, oils and grease receiving station.

Owner/Client

St. Mary's County Metropolitan Commission (MetCom)

Awards

PISCES Award

USEPA

Cost

$30 million

Services

Engineering

Markets

Water

Regions

Mid-Atlantic