GREEN BAY (WTAQ-WLUK) – Wastewater will soon put to a new use with a 169 million dollar project.
It’s called R2E2. New equipment will start turning Green Bay wastewater into resources.
“So now our solids process will be generating electricity and reducing the amount of electricity we need to purchase,” said Nathan Qualls, Director of Technical Services for NEW Water tells Fox 11.
Metropolitan Sewerage District takes in 38 million gallons of waste water. For decades, the water has been treated, the solids processed and incinerated. But what was once seen as just waste, is now being viewed as potential resources.
“We’re adding anaerobic digestion which is a process that’ll break down those solid wastes, reduce the amount and it will also generate a bio gas,” said Qualls.
That methane bio gas can then be converted into electricity. The separated liquid will also undergo a process to extract a mineral that can be sold for use in fertilizer mixtures.
Project manager Bill Angoli gave FOX11 a personal tour of the new operation.
“The whole industry keeps changing,” said Angoli. “What we’re trying to do is look at waste water as a resource, not just as a waste that goes out.”
It is estimated that this project could result in residents saving around $2 million dollars a year, which would lower residents bills.
“The 2019 budget will be the first year all the enhancements will be taken into account.”
NEW Water, the brand name for the Green Bay Metropolitan Sewerage District, serves 15 municipal customers and 232,000 residents. The municipal customers include: Green Bay, De Pere, Allouez, Ashwaubenon, Bellevue, Hobart, Howard, Luxemburg, Pulaski, Suamico, Ledgeview, Lawrence, Pittsfield, Scott, Dyckeville San. District, New Franken San. District, Royal Scot San. District, and the Bayshore San. District.
