Prototype Studies of
Combined Treatment of Wastes from
22 Tanneries and Two Municipalities
N. L. NEMEROW, Professor
Civil Engineering Department
Syracuse University
Syracuse, New York
R. ARMSTRONG, Associate
Morrell Vrooman Engineers
Gloversville, New York
GENERAL PROBLEM
The general problem was set forth in an earlier paper (l)and is reviewed here
in summary. Tannery wastes are usually alkaline hot and contain a relatively
high concentration of BOD. In addition, they include some sulfites and chromium
and are dishcarged in slugs depending upon the tanning operation. The cities of
Gloversville and Johnstown in Fulton County, New York, with populations in 1960
of 21, 741 and 10, 390, respectively, are the home of a large tanning industry.
Within the two cities are located 22 tanneries, eight other major wet industries
including textile dyeing facilities, and a large glue manufacturer. Wastewater
from abutting communities is discharged to Cayadutta Creek. In Gloversville,
wastes pass through Dortmund settling tanks prior to being discharged to the Cayadutta. Untreated wastewater from the City of Johnstown enters the Cayadutta at
two points. Wastewater from the glue manufacturer is discharged within the
Johnstown city limits, without treatment, directly to Cayadutta Creek (Figure 1).
Low flow of Cayadutta Creek, for a 10 per cent occurrence, has been estimated at 11.2 cfs. The Creek joins the Mohawk River at Fonda, New York, after
flowing 12 miles and failling approximately 450 ft (Figure 1). Secondary treatment of the wastewater is required to meet New York State stream standard requirements.
Design loadings for the joint wastewater treatment plant are shown in Table
I.
Approximately 50 per cent of the flow and 60 per cent of the BOD are attributed to the tanneries. The glue manufacturer contributes an estimated 10 per
cent of the flow and 14 per cent of the BOD.
Secondary treatment of tannery waste, in significant percentages with domestic sewage, exists only in a few instances in the United States and Canada (1).
Considering the size of the investment and lack of comparable paralleling experience elsewhere, it was considered necessary to build a prototype plant to confirm
earlier laboratory tests on the treatability of the wastewater.
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