BCUA LOAN CLOSING

The Bergen County Utilities Authority (BCUA) recently closed on an $18,700,000 loan with the NJ Water Bank for sludge digester improvements that will increase the volatile solids reduction, reduce sludge volume, and maximize biogas production. The five existing steel floating digester covers will be replaced with expanding dual membrane digester covers, providing in-situ gas storage capability. Installation of the membrane covers will require removal and relocation of the existing roof mounted digester gas flares due to their proximity to the existing digesters. The new flares will be installed in a new flare facility, next to the digester facility. While the digesters are out of service for cleaning, their internal structures will be inspected, and any necessary repairs will be performed. Additional work includes the installation of a positive displacement sludge transfer pump adding two 400 standard cubic feet per minute variable speed gas compressor systems with cooling to convey biogas to Cogen Engines and the provision of a new natural gas feed line to the existing CoGen engines and various other improvements.