Tetra Tech delivered engineering design plans and construction management services for a 50,000 gallons per day reverse osmosis (RO) leachate treatment system to reduce contaminant concentrations.
The Marquette County Solid Waste Management Authority was required to bring leachate discharges into compliance with the requirements of its National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit and an Administrative Consent Order (ACO), including limits for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Given an extremely tight deadline, Tetra Tech prepared construction plans and technical specification for a new leachate treatment system that would meet discharge limits for PFAS, whole effluent toxicity (WET), metals, organics, and color.
Benefits
- Prepared engineering plans and specifications for a dual-stage, high pressure RO treatment system
- Provided program management and quality assurance for the treatment system construction
- Developed a Project Plan Amendment changing the Basis of Design to RO
- Nominated for the George F. Ames Performance and Innovation in the SRF Creating Environmental Success Program
We demonstrated that an RO treatment process was better suited to meet existing and future permit requirements and resulted in reduced cost compared to the originally proposed membrane biological reactor and granulated activated carbon process. Our proposed solution also was demonstrated to reduce capital and operating costs, and lower staffing requirements. Our team conducted pilot tests and completed analytical work and environmental testing to demonstrate compliance while working to develop the engineering and contract documents using high-pressure, multistage RO technology.
Since January 2024, Tetra Tech has prepared a Project Plan Amendment and steered it through a rigorous comment and approval process; completed the basis of design; conducted a pilot study; coordinated with U.S. federal and state authorities; and prepared contract documents, technical specifications, and engineering plans. Tetra Tech also is providing program management services for a $7 million Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) grant awarded for the leachate treatment system.
2025 Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy nominee for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency CWSRF Award
