University Area Joint Authority breaks ground for new biosolids project

STATE COLLEGE — The University Area Joint Authority held a groundbreaking ceremony for its new biosolids project at its State College facility on Friday, April 26. The ceremony kicked off the demolition of the existing original biosolids plant.

Formed in 1969, the University Area Joint Authority is a municipal authority which implements sustainable practices in managing wastewater. It provides wastewater treatment, biosolids management and water reuse for the Borough of State College, College Township, Ferguson Township, Harris Township and Patton Township. 

Biosolids are organic matter which is recycled from sewage and then typically used in agriculture. The new Biosolids Project will allow the authority to continue to produce biosolids to industry standards, expand sustainability in the region and improve the financial impact of biosolids processes. 

The University Area Joint Authority will build an advanced anaerobic digestion and drying facility. This new facility will turn the community’s biosolids into a useful soil product and also generate renewable natural gas, making it one of the biggest sources of renewable natural gas in Pennsylvania.

“Today is the culmination of many years of planning and efforts by the authority to ensure that we are employing the most cost-effective technology and harnessing the value of our community’s wastewater,” said Cory Miller, UAJA executive director. “Our existing biosolids process — composting — started in 1994 and was among the few operational facilities of its kind in the nation. Having reached its retirement, the Authority is excited to replace these facilities with biosolids digestion and drying that will position the Authority for the next 30 years.”

According to the University Area Joint Authority, the composting process which has been used up until this point is an aged process, and the creation of a new biosolids project will allow for a more efficient process. The authority reported that the old composting process was successful, selling out of the soil product each year for decades. The byproducts of the biosolids process create a biogas that then gets converted into renewable natural gas, which can be used as a replacement to traditional pipeline natural gases.

“This process allows the authority to reduce operational costs from the current composting process, while generating new revenue for the authority through regionalization and sale of the renewable energy,” stated Jason Wert, market leader for water and renewable energy at RETTEW, the project engineer. “It will be one of the largest RNG producers in Pennsylvania and is anticipated to send over 100 million cubic feet of RNG to the regional pipeline each year, equivalent to 1,400 homes’ worth of natural gas.”

Three groups were selected for the construction of the $74 million upgrade: Quandel Construction Group LLC, from Harrisburg; Myco Mechanical Inc., from Telford; and Hayden Power Group, from Bloomsburg.

RETTEW is the consulting firm selected as the project engineer. The company provides civil transportation, environmental and subsurface utility engineering, as well as safety consulting, land planning, surveying and geophysics.