Sludge Watch ==> Des Moines Iowa - Energy from Sludge - MicroSludge

[Maureen Reilly]

WRA Plant Turns Sewage into Energy







FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:                                  Contact:         
Amelia Hamilton Morris

Public Information Office

515 283-4795

                                                                             
                                Paradigm Environmental Technologies

Filipe Figueira, Director of Marketing

Phone: (604) 742-0360 x 222

E-mail: ffigueira at microsludge.com

www.microsludge.com


DES MOINES, IOWA --- December 12, 2007 --- Sixteen communities in the Des 
Moines metro area are joint owners of the Metropolitan Wastewater 
Reclamation Authority (WRA) and together they have moved central Iowa into 
the future by installing new technology that turns sewage into energy.  A 
MicroSludge System has been installed at the WRA facility. It is a 
technology that processes sewage sludge and converts the sewage sludge to 
biogas which contains methane that can be used by power generators.  The new 
system was installed this fall and data on cost savings will be collected 
for the first six months of operation.

This new source of energy generated by the wastewater plant can be used at 
the wastewater facility for a number of other operations, such as heating 
the buildings and therefore reduces the amount electricity that is purchased 
by the plant.

            Paradigm Environmental Technologies Inc. the creator of 
MicroSludge says that the WRA system is the third full-scale MicroSludge 
System in operation and very first commercial installation in the United 
States.  “MicroSludge allows wastewater treatment plants to generate clean, 
sustainable bioenergy from sewage. Wastewater treatment plants use 
considerable amounts of energy and are greenhouse gases generators, but with 
our technology, plants can become much more energy self-sufficient and 
reduce pollution,” said Dr. Rob Stephenson, inventor of the process and 
Paradigm’s Chief Technology Officer.

            The MicroSludge installation at WRA has attracted considerable 
interest in North America and internationally. The Water Environment 
Research Federation, the wastewater industry’s

-more-



research arm, will include MicroSludge in a research project evaluating 
technologies that reduce sewage biosolids generated at wastewater treatment 
plants.

“The WRA has promoted beneficial reuse of human waste for many years, 
including recycling water for agricultural and recreational reuse in the Des 
Moines River as well as promoting the safe land application of biosolids," 
said WRA Director William Stowe.  “The WRA now adds enhanced ‘green energy 
production’ to its accomplishments of sustainable uses. Through this 
additional investment in technology, the WRA continues to lead the metro Des 
Moines area in environmental stewardship that connects every household and 
business with environmentally sound energy management,” Stowe added.

The technology has already demonstrated considerable benefits in earlier 
demonstrations. By converting much more of the sewage sludge to biogas, less 
sludge is left for disposal by the plant.

About the Des Moines Metropolitan Wastewater Reclamation Authority

Des Moines Metropolitan Wastewater Reclamation Authority (WRA) is made-up of 
16 metro area municipalities, counties and sewer districts in central Iowa.  
The WRA includes the cities of Altoona, Ankeny, Bondurant, Clive, Des 
Moines, Johnston, Pleasant Hill, West Des Moines, Urbandale, Waukee and 
Cumming as well as Polk County and Warren County in addition to the 
Urbandale Sanitary Sewer District and the Urbandale-Windsor Heights Sanitary 
District.  WRA’s goal is protecting the public health and to enhance the 
environment by recycling wastewater and being the preferred treatment 
facilities for hauled liquid wastes.

About Paradigm Environmental Technologies Inc. (Vancouver, BC)

Paradigm Environmental Technologies Inc. is a private company located in 
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada that has developed MicroSludge®, a 
patented technology to process wastewater at municipal sewage treatment 
plants and at industrial facilities.

            MicroSludge is a sustainable technology for municipal wastewater 
treatment plants (WWTPs) that significantly enhances the anaerobic digestion 
process, thereby reducing operating costs and increasing plant capacity. 
MicroSludge is modular, and can be easily deployed at existing WWTP 
facilities. MicroSludge can also be used to process industrial waste, 
including petrochemical waste, and pulp and paper waste.

            For more information contact the City of Des Moines Public 
Information Office, Amelia Hamilton Morris Chief Communications Officer at 
515-283-4795.