The City of Alba announced that it has completed installation of a cutting-edge wastewater treatment system to eliminate built-up organic sludge in a cost-effective and environmentally responsible manner.

 The Blue Frog System by Absolute Aeration, LLC, was installed last Thursday at the city’s wastewater treatment plant, which is comprised of two ponds. The proprietary technology is expected to digest the built-up sludge, thereby eliminating the need to dredge the sludge mechanically.

Currently, Alba uses a small-flow system comprised of an Imhoff Tank/lagoon combination system in its wastewater ponds, which have been steadily filling up with sludge.

Andy Spicher, project engineer and a managing partner of Hartwell Environmental Corporation, introduced the Blue Frog System to Schaumburg & Polk, Inc. for consideration for Alba’s wastewater treatment plant. Alba and its consulting engineering firm had been seeking a sustainable solution to eliminate mechanical dredging and to comply with their discharge requirements.  

“Alba represents our firm’s second Blue Frog System installation,” said Jeremy Buechter, project engineer with Schaumburg & Polk, Inc. “The first system in Cushing has been meeting all our design discharge parameters while significantly decreasing odor issues at the site. We anticipate the same success for Alba.”