Document Type

Thesis - Open Access

Award Date

1972

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department / School

Civil Engineering

Abstract

During the 1970-1971 and the 1971-1972 processing seasons, Fairfield Products Inc. experienced serious waste disposal problems. Data obtained in June of 1971, shortly after the processing season ended, indicated that the 5-day Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) of the Contents of the stabilization pond was 1180 mg/l. Numerous complaints from the citizens of Clark concerning the odor problem that had developed because of the overloaded treatment system were received by Fairfield Products Inc. as well as the State Department of Health. Acting upon these complaints, the State Health Department ordered Fairfield Products Inc. to retain a consulting engineer to design adequate treatment facilities and to construct these facilities prior to the beginning of the 1971-1972 processing season. Because the parameters used in the design of the new wastewater treatment facilities had not previously been measured at the Clark installation, the treatment system was designed on an empirical basis using values observed in similar installations. The Health Department arranged for Kenneth Dostal, an official of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), of Corvallis, Oregon, who has performed extensive studies on potato processing wastes, to visit the Clark plant in June of 1971. Mr. Dostal, the State Health Department, and the company consultant discussed the basis for the design of the treatment facilities and established the parameter's to be used in the design. The type of treatment system recommended was an anaerobic lagoon followed by a mechanically aerated basin which in turn discharged into the stabilization pond. This method of treatment had previously proven to be a successful and economic method for high-strength, high temperature wastes. 3 Acting upon the recommendations, the consulting firm designed an anaerobic lagoon followed by a mechanically aerated basin preceding the stabilization pond. Although the State Health Department recommended diffused aeration because of possible freezing problems, the consulting firm selected surface aerators for installation. The consultant determined that the anaerobic lagoon and aerated basin should be installed in the southwest corner of the original 25.2-acre pond. Aeration equipment was not installed at the beginning of the 1971-1972 processing season; however, on March 26, 1972, shortly after the State Health Department ordered Fairfield Products to install the aerators or cease plant operations, the aerators were installed and put into operation. The Civil Engineering Department at South Dakota State University became involved in the waste disposal problem at Fairfield Products Inc. in the summer of 1971 during the planning stage of the new treatment facilities. This involvement occurred because of the desire to provide assistance to industries in the state requiring information for the design and operation of waste treatment facilities. The purposes of this study of Fairfield Products Inc. waste treatment system were as follows: 1. to determine the adequacy of the existing treatment system before aeration equipment was installed. 2. to obtain removal efficiencies of the system after it begins operation as a combined anaerobic-mechanically aerated system. 3. to determine waste loads placed upon the treatment system.

Library of Congress Subject Headings

Potatoes
Sewage lagoons
Sewage disposal plants
Potato waste

Format

application/pdf

Number of Pages

65

Publisher

South Dakota State University

Download

Share

COinS