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Toledo water utility seeks authority to pilot rare-earth chlorides for phosphorus removal
Summary
The Department of Public Utilities asked council to add rare-earth chlorides to the city's bulk-chemical ordinance so the water reclamation facility can pilot the product, which staff said could precipitate phosphorus and reduce biosolids disposal costs; staff said the pilot would begin this summer and findings would be reported to council.
The Toledo Department of Public Utilities presented proposed changes to the city's bulk-chemical ordinance on April 15 to add certain rare-earth chloride chemicals so the water reclamation facility can run a pilot test.
Patika Bannister, deputy director for Public Utilities, introduced Commissioner Andrew McClure, who said the addition is uncommon but necessary when the plant needs new products. McClure said the city sought bids and is planning a summer pilot at the water reclamation facility to test whether the chemical performs as vendor claims.
McClure explained that rare-earth chlorides are a byproduct of rare-earth metal processing and are effective at precipitating phosphorus, a nutrient the facility targets for removal. He told council staff need to verify vendor claims about performance and cost, noting a salesman might say a chemical is "7 times more effective but it only costs 5 times as much." The pilot will help quantify real operational benefits, including potential reductions in biosolids disposal costs and improvements in digestion-related buildup in pipes.
Staff said bids have already been solicited so the pilot can begin this summer and that the pilot should run long enough to show effects under varying influent conditions; McClure suggested a six-week run when septic conditions are present to capture full process benefits.
Council asked whether the ordinance would lock in prices; staff said procurement would still go out for bid under standard procurement rules. Staff agreed to present pilot findings to council following the test.
At agenda review, the chair recommended SEP to allow the ordinance to proceed to the council docket; no final ordinance adoption occurred at the review meeting.
