HURRICANE KATRINA PROJECT
Challenge
To process wastewater clean enough to discharge directly into the ocean. In 2005, Hurricane Katrina destroyed huge tracts of New Orleans and the Louisiana coast. Homes, commercial real estate, and one of the worlds’ busiest ports were decimated, and offshore oil rigs suffered major damage. Coordinating immediate repair work was an incredible challenge on such a large scale. Large workforces required direct access to the oil rigs for weeks at a time. This required additional on-site housing and a viable plan for Hurricane Katrina wastewater processing, immediately.
River barges were available as flat platforms to build worker housing, but none were capable of processing wastewater. The State of Louisiana could not allow a force of 120 workers to discharge standard wastewater directly into the rivers and bayous. They needed a self-contained septic system built into the barge.
Flat river barges were available as platforms to build worker housing, but what about sewage? Louisiana couldn’t allow a force of 120 workers to dump its effluent directly into the rivers and bayous. What they needed was a self-contained septic system built into the barge.
Solution
SludgeHammer™ Aerobic Bacterial Generators (ABG) – Self-contained and portable. SludgeHammer™ was engaged by an offshore contractor to design a self-contained wastewater treatment facility on a barge that would house 150 workers, with the capability to discharge certified clean effluent directly into the ocean – with a 3 week window to completion.
The SludgeHammer™ technical team rushed to New Orleans, demonstrated the technology and proven results. A crucial factor for the contractor – the wastewater system would be operational almost immediately. As the system’s main component, the SludgeHammer ABG is modular, scalable and can be configured for any size project.
In only three weeks, this floating hotel had an advanced wastewater system, MARPOL approved, and certified by Lloyds of London to be capable of processing a 10,000 gallons per day loading for safe reintroduction back into an ocean environment.
Everything about this project was innovative
- Shipping containers serving as individual apartments were combined with shower and toilet facilities for 150 workers
- Construction of a temporary, in-house, self-contained sewage treatment plant, processing effluent to secondary levels
- No daily accumulation of bio-solids that would require disposal
- The cafeteria on-board was also serviced by the wastewater treatment plant
Implementing this wastewater treatment plant was a challenge but the unique flexibility and portability of SludgeHammer’s ABG technology got it operational even before the worker housing was complete. The contractor achieved the necessary worker housing to facilitate oil rig repairs and the sensitive river environment was protected. This project is an immense source of pride for SludgeHammer™ Technology.
