EnBiorganic Technology Demonstration: EBS-Di

Location: Wastewater Lagoon at Kindersley, Saskatchewan.
AbstractThe demonstration project at the Kindersley wastewater lagoon successfully proved the effectiveness of EnBiorganic Technology in treating wastewater treatment systems. The proprietary, natural, soil-based microbiology formulation was delivered by the patents-pending EnBiorganic process as an active and adapted state in high concentrations to eliminate 67.5% of Total Solids in a short period of time. This showed only a small glimpse of what the Enbiorganic process would be capable of when connected to a wastewater system. It also demonstrated the ability of microbiology to eliminate the highly toxic microcystin produced by cyanobacteria (Blue-Green Algae) responsible for harmful algae blooms. The results ultimately led the Kindersley Town Council to approve the use of two EBS-Di units to maintain the health of the collection system and lagoon going forward.A. Liski, MSc.3, R. Dickerson, P.E.1,21. Global Micro Bio Technologies, LLC; 2. Environmental Bioorganic Sciences Corp.; 3. Enbiorganic Technologies IntroductionThe traditional methods used in desludging a wastewater treatment lagoon are highly arduous and expensive. The subsequent disposal of the removed sludge poses a serious health and environmental threat to areas surrounding the disposal site. Municipalities across North America spend millions of dollars to clean their lagoons in a continuous cycle and perpetuate the inevitable risks to the environment. Furthermore, the traditional method hardly solves other operational issues involving odour and inefficiencies caused by sludge buildup.EnBiorganic Technologies (EnBiorganic) eliminates the risks to the environment and the high cost of traditional methods while achieving better results. The EnBiorganic process eliminates sludge and odour, reduces costs, and increases system efficiency all within a turnkey EBS-Di solution. This state-of-the-art system for wastewater management is highly effective, compact and compatible with all existing infrastructures.The EBS-Di is a remotely monitored autonomous microbial generator that creates massive concentrations of the soil bacteria in an active and adapted format trained on the target material. These EBS-Di generated microbes work more than 10 times faster than the typical standard of inactive spore state microbes currently sold in the market. In time, the generated soil bacteria will reach the entire collection sewer system improving its overall performance and health. The EnBiorganic microbes work by outcompeting harmful microbes because the Enbiorganic consortium is selected to work synergistically and thrive in the same conditions as the harmful microbiology, reproducing rapidly and efficiently.In partnership with an EnBiorganic licensee, Con-Tech General Contractors Ltd. (Con-Tech), the demonstration project was placed at a wastewater lagoon in Kindersley, Saskatchewan, to determine the effectiveness of the EnBiorganic technology and the viability of a less intrusive alternative to traditional lagoon remediation.Prior to the consideration of the demonstration project, the town council of Kindersley had recently awarded Con-Tech the contract work for the additions and renovations to Kindersley wastewater infrastructure that included a new lift station, additional new lagoons to accompany the already present 30 acres of wastewater lagoons. The work also included the yet to be started desludging of the existing lagoons using traditional expensive mechanical and physical methods.

ProcessCon-Tech sectioned off a portion of the lagoon labelled Cell 3 containing the effluent and sludge to be treated. To do this Con-Tech placed an 8’ x 40’ container in the lagoon at the north end. Figures 3-5 show the container with its floor and roof removed. When placed, the removed floor allowed the container to settle to the clay liner of the lagoon floor, while the top remained open for equipment access and observations. Con-Tech estimated that 32,000 litres of effluent and sludge were contained.On May 27 an EBS-Di unit was placed inside a mobile equipment building, provided by Con-Tech, positioned roughly 60 feet from the contained section. Figure 6 shows the area from the top of the container. The EBS-Di was operated for a total of 10 days delivering approximately 2200 liters of active microbiology into the container.The Saskatchewan Research Council (SRC) was engaged by Con-Tech as a third party to perform the independent testing of the progression of samples collected by Con-Tech. The sample testing was to measure 4 key metrics to determine success. The first three, Total Solids (TS), E-Coli (EC), and Coliforms (CO) are conventional metrics used in these types of projects. Total Solids (or sludge) in particular, is important for measuring the success of the process because sludge build up is a primary pain for wastewater treatment plants.Microcystin (MI) toxin produced by Cyanobacteria - Blue Green algae, was measured as an additional metric to prove other capabilities of the process. It is a bonus that the process can eliminate MI from lagoons, as this ability of the technology is more applicable to lakes, ponds, dugouts, and other types of bodies of water that struggle with harmful Blue- Green algae blooms.

ResultsThe data to support this project was gathered by members of the onsite Con-Tech staff and analyzed by the SRC. The Con-Tech team drew samples from inside the test area and in the main section of the lagoon, just outside the container, for baseline and comparison tests. There were 5 tests done from May 27 to June 17, 2020. Unfortunately, due to an oversight, SRC did not include TS or MI testing. Upon discovery of the oversight TS & MI testing was completed for the remaining samples drawn.To accommodate a baseline for TS, EnBiorganic and Con-Tech elected to refer to the lagoon testing completed in May of 2018 for AECOM Canada, the consulting engineering company for Kindersley. The assumption being that TS would have only increased from then until June of 2020.The analysis of the results from the SRC testing clearly show that the process decreased the amounts of TS, MI, EC, and CO. The process had a major effect on EC with a 99.18% total decrease (Figure 7). Similar results are seen in the total decrease of CO with 93.15% (Figure 7). The process also performed its primary function by decreasing the sludge totals in the test area. Comparing the TS from 2018 to the final day of the testing on June 30, 2020, there was a 67.5% total drop and a short term drop of 46.51% by the end of the test period using only the SRC data (Figure 9).Remarkably, it can also be seen in Figure 10 that MI was virtually eliminated. While the graph shows MI reduced to zero by the end of the period, the results from the SRC analysis only show that MI levels were reduced to a level of less than 0.1 ug/L, the reliable detection limit. Stated differently, there is some small amount of MI present, but it cannot be measured. Below this limit is considered safe by all regulatory agencies, including the World Health Organization.

LimitationsA major concern during the project was how well the container was able to seal to the lagoon’s clay liner. While the container weighed nearly 10,000 lbs, the surface of the clay liner is not flat level. This ineffective seal would allow for sludge and microbes to seep in and out of the test area. The typical observation of small active bubbles on the surface, indicating that the EnBiorganic microbiology was working well, were present both inside the container and at the perimeter outside the container. This confirmed the suspicions and indicated that there was leaking occurring at the base of the container.However, this leakage does not invalidate the findings. The decrease in TS, Ml, EC, and CO show the EnBiorganic microbiology from the EBS-Di had major impact on the test area despite the lack of a total seal at the base of the container. Leakage would have allowed for the microbiology to leach out, meanwhile the water pressure would have forced more sludge into the container as the microbes consumed and softened the sludge along the bottom edge of the container. This condition would only hinder the ability of the microbiology to work away on the key metrics. The results of this demonstration in less than ideal conditions clearly indicate the process performance results would be greater when connected in line with a wastewater treatment plant and/or lagoon.The bottom edge leak also explains the jumps in data over the timeline of the project. This can be seen in Figure 7 between June 17 and June 22. For example, the CO analysis for June 17 shows 670 MPN/100ml, yet on June 26 there are 5000 MPN/100ml. The EnBiorganic microbial formulation does not include these bacteria and in no way is it possible for these levels to increase unless there was an inflow from the main section of the lagoon into the contained test area. With that said, the observation made on June 26 for CO is still 93% less than it was on May27. Therefore, it can safely be stated that the process was functioning properly.ConclusionThe ability to eliminate 67.5% of TS in the short period of time shows only a glimpse of what the process is capable of in a long-term or permanent placement. Importantly, this project also demonstrated the ability of the microbiology to eliminate cyanobacteria microcystin toxins rapidly and eiciently.In review and presentation to the Kindersley Town Council, both the project consulting engineer from AECOM Canada and the town engineer made the recommendation for the use of the EnBiorganic Technology and EBS-Di unit for the on-going maintenance of the sewer collection system and lagoons. The town council approved the EBS-Di maintenance proposal and has submitted application for funding. The installation and commissioning of two EBS-Di units will remove the remaining biomass in the sewer collection system and maintain the health of the both the collection system and lagoon going forward.ln conclusion, the sustainability, cost-effectiveness, and efficiency demonstrated in this project show the EnBiorganic Technology process is widely capable to improve wastewater systems with the combination of EBS-Di generator and the proprietary soil microbiology formulation.