61    ANAEROBIC TREATMENT OF WINERY WASTEWATERS
J. Kevin Farmer, Managing Engineer
O'Brien & Gere Engineers, Inc.
Syracuse, New York 13221
A. A. Friedman, Professor
Department of Civil Engineering
Syracuse University
Syracuse, New York 13244-1190
Wallace C. Hazen, Plant Engineer
Canandaigua Wine Company, Inc.
Canandaigua, New York 14424
INTRODUCTION
Canandaigua Wine Company, Inc. (CWC1) produces a variety of wines and wine products at its
Canandaigua, New York winery. Winery wastewaters are treated on-site with an extended aeration
treatment system prior to discharge to the City of Canandaigua's Publicly Owned Treatment Works
(POTW). During the last few years, expanded winery activities have resulted in overloading of the
pretreatment system and occasional contravention of POTW pretreatment standards. Consequently,
CWCI initiated an effort to expand the on-site wastewater treatment plant (WWTP). O'Brien and
Gere Engineers were retained to evaluate expansion alternatives.
Given the high strength nature of the waste (1987 average COD of about 15,700 mg/L), the
relatively high power and sludge disposal costs associated with aerobic biological treatment, along
with site expansion limitations, it was determined that anaerobic treatment might prove cost-effective
for pretreatment of winery wastewaters. In order to evaluate the feasibility and operating conditions
associated with anaerobic treatment of winery wastewaters, an on-site pilot plant study was
undertaken.
The pilot plant study was conducted with an upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor
followed by an aerobic polishing reactor. The UASB process was selected based on several factors,
including the ability to treat high organic loading rates, the successful operation of numerous full-
scale UASB systems, reported resistance to upset, and economic considerations.
Prior to initiating design, further evaluations of other proprietary anaerobic treatment processes
were conducted. This paper contains a description of the overall selection process, including the pilot
plant study, and economic and process comparisons of alternative biological treatment systems for
treatment of winery wastewaters.
EXISTING FACILITIES
CWCI produces several products at its Canandaigua facility, including sparkling wines, still wines,
and wine coolers. Waste sources include tank and floor washdowns, bottling lines, grape crushing
wastes and filter aids, spills, leaks, and cooling tower blowdown. The WWTP receives these wastewaters, plus limited quantities of non-contact cooling water, along with contaminated stormwater
runoff from bermed tank storage areas. Sanitary wastes are discharged separately to the POTW and
most cooling waters are recycled.
The on-site WWTP (Figure 1) comprises influent pumping, equalization, neutralization, nutrient
addition, extended aeration activated sludge, aerated polishing and clarification prior to discharge to
the POTW. Waste activated sludge is dewatered via vacuum filtration and residuals are handled off-
site. Table 1 provides WWTP design features.
The WWTP influent loading is highly variable, ranging from less than 1,000 kg COD/d to greater
than 30,000 kg COD/d. Typically, 80 to 90% of the total influent COD is soluble. The POTW's
discharge limits for COD, BOD5, and TSS are 600 mg/L, 300 mg/L, and 350 mg/L, respectively.
43rd Purdue Industrial Waste Conference Proceedings, © 1989 Lewis Publishers, Inc., Chelsea, Michigan 48118.
Printed in U.S.A.
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