Illinois Water Environment Association
Date/Time
11/14/2025
11:00 AM - 1:00 PM Central
11:00 AM - 1:00 PM Central
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Event Description
FRWRD Plant Tour
Friday November 14, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Lake County Central Permit Facility, 500 W Winchester Rd, Libertyville
The tour of Fox River Water Reclamation District (FRWRD) will highlight two technologies: the Algae Wheel pilot program and the MagPrex® system.
- Algae Wheel Pilot Program: This rotating algal contactor uses sunlight, CO2, and nutrients to grow algae and bacteria in a balanced, self-sustaining cycle. Algae convert CO2 into oxygen and sugars, while bacteria consume those sugars and release CO₂ back to the algae, enhancing BOD reduction and ammonia removal through nitrification. The algae then uptakes the resulting nitrates and dissolved phosphorus, improving effluent quality for both nitrogen and phosphorus while reducing energy use and carbon emissions—without adding operational complexity.
- MagPrex® Phosphorus Precipitation System: Installed between anaerobic digestion and dewatering, this process removes soluble reactive phosphorus by precipitating it as struvite, a magnesium-ammonia-phosphate compound (NH4MgPO4·6H2O). The MagPrex® process can achieve this precipitation through the addition of Magnesium chloride and diffused air strips CO2 to raise pH to the ideal level for struvite formation. The struvite is then separated and removed, preventing phosphorus from recycling back into the treatment process and reducing scaling in downstream equipment and piping.
This tour will provide an up-close look at how FRWRD is advancing sustainable, energy-efficient nutrient management.
Lunch will be provided following the tour
Members $30 / Non-Members $40
Hosted by IWEA's Research and Innovation Committee
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