Due to rapid population growth in its service area, Verrado Water Reclamation Facility (WRF) in Verrado, Arizona faced a challenge. Its existing treatment capacity of 1.54 millions of gallons per day (MGD) had become insufficient to meet the rising demand and comply with both Total Suspended Solids (TSS) and Total Nitrogen (TN) permits.

With a budget constraint under $1 million and a need to postpone additional treatment tank construction for several years, Verrado WRF needed an innovative solution to enhance its treatment efficiency. That’s where WWW™ Arxtera came in.

Implementing WWW™ miGRATE Process Intensification Technology

To overcome these challenges, we implemented our WWW™ miGRATE migrating biofilm carrier (MBC) technology, which enhances treatment capacity without the need for extensive infrastructure changes. Without disrupting plant operations, we incorporated hemp-based migrating carriers into the existing treatment process at the designed fill rate and installed a rotary drum screen for each train in the Waste Activated Sludge (WAS) line.

We collaborated closely with Verrado WRF throughout the whole implementation process and deployed our miGRATE technology with minimal downtime. Within one week of startup, the facility saw decreased TSS spikes in the secondary effluent, as well as enhanced TN removal, aligning with regulatory requirements.

Thanks to these upgrades, Verrado WRF was successfully able to accommodate the area’s population growth while maintaining regulatory compliance — all with a modest investment and minimal infrastructure modifications.

To learn more about this application, read our case study.