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RDO Foods Wastewater Treatment Improvements

Grand Forks, North Dakota, August 1996

RDO Foods Wastewater Treatment

The existing on-site wastewater treatment plant for this potato flake plant was overloaded as a result of increased production. The city was receiving odor complaints and the plant operators were not able to stay within discharge limits. Rein and Associates was chosen for process design and Lightowler and Johnson for the civil design.

Their choice was adding a covered anaerobic treatment cell to the existing treatment plant for pretreatment of the wastewater. This would eliminate odors, substantially reduce the load on the existing plant, and provide menthene as an alternative fuel source for the boilers in the production facility.

The plant is located near a river so the specifications for the anaerobic cell required a liner of 40 mil HDPE geomembrane to prevent groundwater contamination. An insulated cover of 60 mil HDPE was chosen to seal the cell to improve the anaerobic process, capture the menthene, and prevent the escape of odors.

Environmental Fabrics Inc. of Gaston, SC was chosen for the geomembrane work on this project. The geomembrane work started late summer and was completed on schedule. The cell was placed in operation and the liner and cover system have functioned as designed with little required maintenance.

This covered anaerobic cell has allowed the wastewater treatment plant to stay within its discharge limits, ended odor complaints to the city, and is providing boiler fuel to the plant.