{"id":{"repo_id":"vt","oai_identifier":"oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/140810"},"canonical_url":"https://search.dev.ndltd.org/etd/vt/oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/140810","repository":{"repo_id":"vt","name":"Virginia Tech","base_url":"https://vtechworks.lib.vt.edu/oai/request"},"display":{"title":"Tertiary Phosphorus Removal Hampton Roads Sanitation District (HRSD) Virginia Initiative Plant (VIP): Technology Selection and Operational Considerations","abstract":"Excess phosphorus and nitrogen released in treated wastewater can harm rivers and coastal ecosystems by promoting algal blooms and reducing water quality. Beginning in 2032, the Hampton Roads Sanitation District (HRSD) must meet a much stricter limit for phosphorus in treated wastewater at its Virginia Initiative Process (VIP) facility. This change requires both improvements to existing biological treatment and the addition of advanced treatment steps to remove the remaining nutrients before discharge. To identify effective solutions, HRSD tested two different treatment technologies that remove phosphorus using chemicals and physical separation. Both approaches successfully met the new phosphorus limit, but one option, the cloth media filtration system, required fewer chemicals and eliminated the need for an additional additive, making it simpler to operate. However, this system produced more return flows to the plant, which could increase hydraulic demands during certain operating conditions. In parallel, this research evaluated ways to improve nitrogen removal reliability by upgrading an existing treatment process that protects beneficial bacteria from toxic cyanide. A pilot system using attached-growth microorganisms was tested and showed strong performance even under high loading, elevated temperatures, and after operational disturbances. The system recovered quickly and exceeded design expectations. Overall, this study demonstrates practical, scalable strategies to help HRSD meet future nutrient limits while minimizing new construction, reducing chemical use, and improving treatment reliability. The results provide guidance for selecting technologies that protect water quality while maintaining efficient and resilient wastewater treatment operations.","abstract_html":"Excess phosphorus and nitrogen released in treated wastewater can harm rivers and coastal ecosystems by promoting algal blooms and reducing water quality. Beginning in 2032, the Hampton Roads Sanitation District (HRSD) must meet a much stricter limit for phosphorus in treated wastewater at its Virginia Initiative Process (VIP) facility. This change requires both improvements to existing biological treatment and the addition of advanced treatment steps to remove the remaining nutrients before discharge. To identify effective solutions, HRSD tested two different treatment technologies that remove phosphorus using chemicals and physical separation. Both approaches successfully met the new phosphorus limit, but one option, the cloth media filtration system, required fewer chemicals and eliminated the need for an additional additive, making it simpler to operate. However, this system produced more return flows to the plant, which could increase hydraulic demands during certain operating conditions. In parallel, this research evaluated ways to improve nitrogen removal reliability by upgrading an existing treatment process that protects beneficial bacteria from toxic cyanide. A pilot system using attached-growth microorganisms was tested and showed strong performance even under high loading, elevated temperatures, and after operational disturbances. The system recovered quickly and exceeded design expectations. Overall, this study demonstrates practical, scalable strategies to help HRSD meet future nutrient limits while minimizing new construction, reducing chemical use, and improving treatment reliability. The results provide guidance for selecting technologies that protect water quality while maintaining efficient and resilient wastewater treatment operations.","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Blair, Aidan Wallace"],"institution":"Virginia Tech","degree_name":"Master of Science","degree_level":"masters","degree_discipline":"Civil Engineering","degree_department":"Civil and Environmental Engineering","school":null,"contributors":[],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":["Pruden-Bagchi, Amy Jill","Bott, Charles B."],"committee_members":["Knocke, William R."],"year":2026,"date_issued":"2026-01-14","date_published":"2026-01-14","updated_at":"2026-07-22T22:19:53Z","subjects":["chemical phosphorus removal","cloth media filtration","precipitation","ballasted sedimentation","moving bed biofilm reactor"],"languages":["en"],"rights":["In Copyright"],"rights_urls":["http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/"],"identifier_entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier.other","label":"Dc Identifier Other","values":["vt_gsexam:45634"],"render_values":[{"text":"vt_gsexam:45634","href":null,"code":true}]}]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://hdl.handle.net/10919/140810","outbound_label":"Handle","outbound_source":"dc:identifier.uri"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor.committeechair","label":"Committee Chair","values":["Pruden-Bagchi, Amy Jill","Bott, Charles B."]},{"key":"dc:contributor.committeemember","label":"Committee Member","values":["Knocke, William R."]},{"key":"dc:contributor.department","label":"Department","values":["Civil and Environmental Engineering"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Blair, Aidan Wallace"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date.accessioned","label":"Dc Date Accessioned","values":["2026-01-15T09:00:27Z"]},{"key":"dc:date.available","label":"Dc Date Available","values":["2026-01-15T09:00:27Z"]},{"key":"dc:date.issued","label":"Date","values":["2026-01-14"]},{"key":"dc:publisher","label":"Institution","values":["Virginia Tech"]},{"key":"dc:type","label":"Dc Type","values":["Thesis"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["Civil Engineering"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["masters"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Master of Science"]},{"key":"thesis:institution_name","label":"Thesis Institution Name","values":["Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["chemical phosphorus removal","cloth media filtration","precipitation","ballasted sedimentation","moving bed biofilm reactor"]}]},{"id":"language_rights","label":"Language and Rights","entries":[{"key":"dc:language.iso","label":"Language (ISO)","values":["en"]},{"key":"dc:rights","label":"Dc Rights","values":["In Copyright"]},{"key":"dc:rights.uri","label":"Rights URI","values":["http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier.other","label":"Dc Identifier Other","values":["vt_gsexam:45634"]},{"key":"dc:identifier.uri","label":"Identifier URI","values":["https://hdl.handle.net/10919/140810"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstractgeneral","label":"General Abstract","values":["Excess phosphorus and nitrogen released in treated wastewater can harm rivers and coastal ecosystems by promoting algal blooms and reducing water quality. Beginning in 2032, the Hampton Roads Sanitation District (HRSD) must meet a much stricter limit for phosphorus in treated wastewater at its Virginia Initiative Process (VIP) facility. This change requires both improvements to existing biological treatment and the addition of advanced treatment steps to remove the remaining nutrients before discharge. To identify effective solutions, HRSD tested two different treatment technologies that remove phosphorus using chemicals and physical separation. Both approaches successfully met the new phosphorus limit, but one option, the cloth media filtration system, required fewer chemicals and eliminated the need for an additional additive, making it simpler to operate. However, this system produced more return flows to the plant, which could increase hydraulic demands during certain operating conditions. In parallel, this research evaluated ways to improve nitrogen removal reliability by upgrading an existing treatment process that protects beneficial bacteria from toxic cyanide. A pilot system using attached-growth microorganisms was tested and showed strong performance even under high loading, elevated temperatures, and after operational disturbances. The system recovered quickly and exceeded design expectations. Overall, this study demonstrates practical, scalable strategies to help HRSD meet future nutrient limits while minimizing new construction, reducing chemical use, and improving treatment reliability. The results provide guidance for selecting technologies that protect water quality while maintaining efficient and resilient wastewater treatment operations."]},{"key":"dc:description.degree","label":"Dc Description Degree","values":["Master of Science"]},{"key":"dc:format.medium","label":"Dc Format Medium","values":["ETD"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Tertiary Phosphorus Removal Hampton Roads Sanitation District (HRSD) Virginia Initiative Plant (VIP): Technology Selection and Operational Considerations"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor.committeechair":["Pruden-Bagchi, Amy Jill","Bott, Charles B."],"dc:contributor.committeemember":["Knocke, William R."],"dc:contributor.department":["Civil and Environmental Engineering"],"dc:creator":["Blair, Aidan Wallace"],"dc:date.accessioned":["2026-01-15T09:00:27Z"],"dc:date.available":["2026-01-15T09:00:27Z"],"dc:date.issued":["2026-01-14"],"dc:description.abstractgeneral":["Excess phosphorus and nitrogen released in treated wastewater can harm rivers and coastal ecosystems by promoting algal blooms and reducing water quality. Beginning in 2032, the Hampton Roads Sanitation District (HRSD) must meet a much stricter limit for phosphorus in treated wastewater at its Virginia Initiative Process (VIP) facility. This change requires both improvements to existing biological treatment and the addition of advanced treatment steps to remove the remaining nutrients before discharge. To identify effective solutions, HRSD tested two different treatment technologies that remove phosphorus using chemicals and physical separation. Both approaches successfully met the new phosphorus limit, but one option, the cloth media filtration system, required fewer chemicals and eliminated the need for an additional additive, making it simpler to operate. However, this system produced more return flows to the plant, which could increase hydraulic demands during certain operating conditions. In parallel, this research evaluated ways to improve nitrogen removal reliability by upgrading an existing treatment process that protects beneficial bacteria from toxic cyanide. A pilot system using attached-growth microorganisms was tested and showed strong performance even under high loading, elevated temperatures, and after operational disturbances. The system recovered quickly and exceeded design expectations. Overall, this study demonstrates practical, scalable strategies to help HRSD meet future nutrient limits while minimizing new construction, reducing chemical use, and improving treatment reliability. 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