Sewage treatment plant # 4 (STP 4) at the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) serves as the ultimate treatment facility for the vehicle assembly building (VAB) area sanitary sewer system. STP 4 was designed as a standard domestic treatment facility. Approximately 100,000 gallons per day of influent pass through a grit channel, an oxidation ditch, a clarifier, a chlorine contact chamber, a polishing and dechlorination pond, with the final effluent discharge on premises as per zero discharge permit.
Due to the highly technological nature of manufacturing and maintenance at KSC, a wide variety of natural and synthetic organics have the potential for entry into the wastewater treatment collection system.
Prior to Munox inoculation, KSC experienced periodic operational upsets due in part to the suspected entry of toxic organics. Some difficulty was experienced meeting permit requirements for effluent nutrient levels, primarily total nitrogen. Upsets were often worst during shuttle launch and return periods with total nitrogen removal of only 28%.
Munox addition proved very beneficial in enhancing the overall operation of STP 4. BOD & TSS removal increased and total nitrogen removal increased. Furthermore, no evidence of shock upset was experienced during Munox addition, although two shuttle launches did occur during the inoculation period.
The addition of Munox has not only reduced the susceptibility to, and recovery from, organic shock upset, but also stabilized the overall performance of STP 4.
