Walker County Water & Sewerage Authority (Authority) has partnered with Stircor—a biosolid processing company—to dry all of the Authority’s biosolids at its wastewater treatment facility in Chickamauga, GA.
“This partnership means that the Authority will produce Class A biosolids that comply with the most stringent limits in the US EPA Part 503 biosolids rule,” said Brandon Whitley, Interim General Manager and Superintendent of the Walker County Wastewater treatment plant. “Utilizing this new technology to treat biosolids puts our community on the cutting edge of environmentally sustainable solutions.”
Stircor aims to partner with local municipalities and wastewater treatment facilities to provide on-site biosolid drying solutions. Stircor manages the entire biosolid drying process, including dryer installation, operation, and maintenance. The company utilizes innovative direct drying technology to produce Class “A” biosolids (as defined by the Environmental Protection Agency’s CFR 40 Part 503), providing wastewater treatment plants with a nutrient-rich soil amendment suitable for agricultural reuse. The proprietary Stircor drying process reduces moisture content by approximately eighty percent, providing wastewater treatment plants with a significant reduction in biosolid volumes in addition to an environmentally safe end-product. The company also offers gasification services and PFAS remediation solutions.
“Stircor’s exclusive partnership with Astec Industries, a "best in class" global manufacturer of drying systems, gives us the confidence that Stircor can meet the growing demands of our biosolid production. We are excited that Stircor chose Walker County to be home for their global headquarters for hosting demonstrations and training other wastewater treatment facilities around the world," said Shannon Whitfield, Chairman of the Walker County Water and Sewer Authority.
“Our work with Walker County Water marks the beginning of a mutually beneficial relationship for our organizations,” said Forrest Porterfield, CEO of Stircor. “We believe that we can help communities solve the problems of biosolid disposal in a cost-effective manner that ultimately provides a more green and sustainable solution for the environment. It’s a win-win-win for Walker County Water, our company and the environment.”
Wastewater treatment facilities face increased regulations around the management of biosolids from the Environmental Protection Agency and local and state regulatory agencies. Utilities dedicate a sizable portion of their annual wastewater operating budget, ranging from 40%-60%, to treating and disposing of biosolids.
It's projected that an additional 56 million people will connect to centralized wastewater treatment plants in the United States by 2032—a 23% increase.
