b'ENVIRONMENTALPSC65from the economic development director at The Port Authority ofthe accumulation of solids. Secondly, the worms ingest solids Pasco, which manages both the Port of Pasco and PSC.and microbes as they burrow. As a result, the system does not BioFiltro offers a patented nature-based process for wastewaterproduce a lot of sludge or biosolids. Instead, it produces worm treatment. Its BIDA (Biodynamic Aerobic) system relies on apoop or vermicompost, a premium quality bio-fertilizer and soil filtration method powered by composting worms, which help treatamendment. If inclined, PSC could use the natural byproduct for wastewater by consuming organic matter and maintaining aerobiclandscaping, in a circular upcycling of its waste. conditions.Green AdvantagesAfter learning more about the companys technology, TaftAnother eco-friendly benefit of the BIDA system is low energy quickly saw potential for collaboration. In April 2024, the companyconsumption. Typical aerobic treatment systems that pump air or and airport launched a pilot program that was initially set to last sixoxygen into water or those that use a pressurized system to push months but was extended to one year due to its promising results. water through a membrane can consume a lot of energy, Beckett says. Most of our energy consumption comes from relatively How Does It Work? low horsepower pumps because the worms are assisting in that Although PSC is the first airport to trial BioFiltros worm-poweredaeration process.system, the company is already established in the food/beverage and livestock industries. Patrick Beckett,The system also has no to low chemical inputs, although some the vice president of quality and research/ applications require a base, like potassium hydroxide, to adjust development for BioFiltro, cites wineries asthe pH level. The wastewater at PSC was supplemented with one example of a sector where the companynitrogen and phosphorus to make it more nutritionally balanced has a proven track record. Wineries, hefor the worms. explains, produce wastewater thats highlyAnother upside is simplicity. Although some training is required, concentrated in organic waste, with high BODBeckett notes that the operational burden is relatively low levels. They also face increasing regulatoryPATRICK BECKETT compared to most traditional wastewater technologies. Generally, action and dont find it cost-effective to devotethat includes basic preventive maintenance and monitoring a great deal of land to dispose of wastewaterboth issues airportsthe pipes and pumps. The systems have telemetry and control also face. features that monitor the water level in the tank, the status of Beckett reports that BioFiltro removes 90 to 99% of the BODpumps, and the water chemistry before and after treatmentsall from wastewater at wineriesreducing it from tens of thousandsfrom a remote computer or cellphone. of milligrams per liter (mg/L) to just tens. In comparison, PSCs deicing wastewater has BOD in the 30,000 mg/L range. Part of a Larger ProjectThe BIDA wastewater treatment system is The pilot program at PSC uses an onsite mobile treatment unita small component of a $2.5 million deicing housed in a 20 -by 8-foot shipping container. The BIDA systempad expansion being designed by Mead & inside includes a vermifilter, which is a woodchip filter inoculatedHunt. Ryan Bergstrom, project manager with with up to a few million composting worms (vermi is Latin forthe firm, has been collaborating with BioFiltro worm). BioFiltros rule of thumb is to use thousands of wormsto get the industrial discharge permitting per square meter or hundreds per square foot. The worms areapproved with the city of Pasco.sourced from the companys existing systemsin this case, aRYAN BERGSTROMtreatment system at a winery also in Washington. In February, the project team was working through the FAA-required environmental process for the overall Under the woodchip filter layer is a mesh that prevents the chipsinitiative. Once approved, the project is slated for design in 2025 from falling through, and a drainage pallet that allows water toand construction to begin in 2026.drain to the bottom and helps create a small air chamber at the bottom of the filter. Standard irrigation equipment is used to pumpThe project will expand the current footprint of PSCs deicing wastewater from the storage tank and apply it to the surface ofpads to accommodate the growing number and size of aircraft at the filter. After water hits the surface, gravity causes it to percolatethe airport, including a shift from 70-seat regional jets to 150-seat through the filter and drain out the bottom. From there, it ismainline aircraft. The current footprint doesnt accommodate the pumped into a storage tank where it awaits discharge into the citysimultaneous deicing of two mainline aircraft. system. The entire process takes about four hours. As wastewaterThe expansion will include a permanent home for the now-flows through the filter, organic matter is broken down. The resultmobile vermifilter, and tie it into the current trench drains and is cleaner water with significantly lower BOD levels.other deicing infrastructure. We dont need to reinvent the The worms play two prominent roles in this process. First,wheel, Bergstrom remarks. We want to build upon whats as they burrow throughout the filter, they eat and help maintainalready there and repurpose and reconfigure the existing aerobic conditions by opening up channels and preventingpavements and infrastructure as much as we can.AirportImprovement.comMarch | April 2025'