NEW Water: Our History at a Glance - Magazine - Page 25
“R2E2 represents a change in philosophy by
valuing waste as a resource to recover, rather
than something to dispose.”
– Tom Sigmund, Executive Director, (2007 - present)
Back to the Future
“Back to the Future” for NEW Water meant
being able to produce electricity again, after a
hiatus of several decades. Why? Technological
advances. The makeup of the wastewater
coming to NEW Water changed significantly
after industries began sending wastewater from
their processes for treatment.
Prior to accepting industrial waste in the
1970s, NEW Water had harnessed anaerobic
digestion to produce electricity. This was no
longer possible when industrial waste began
being accepted for treatment at the Green Bay
Facility. Additional treatment processes were
incorporated to accommodate the industrial
needs of the area, which aided in economic
development, as well as helped usher in cleaner
waters for the community.
After nearly 50 years of that solids’ handling
equipment being in use, upgrades were needed
to replace the aging equipment, meet stricter
environmental regulations, and address
capacity needs. A study by the Team concluded
that anaerobic digestion to produce electricity
could once again be possible. That project
came online in 2018 and is known as Resource
Recovery and Electrical Energy, or R2E2. Using
anaerobic digestion and other technologies, the
facility produces electricity, as well as recovers
heat.
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