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After hearing about County Commissioner Raquel Regalado’s presentation on waste water management and the different ways Miami-Dade county is dealing with this costly effort. We knowthere are solutions available that have been developed right here in Florida.
As Miami-Dade County grapples with mounting waste management costs and an increasing carbon footprint, an innovative wastewater treatment technology could provide the solution. Biofermentation®, a breakthrough method pioneered by Florida-based Advanced Biofermentation Services Inc. (ABS), promises to drastically reduce sludge disposal costs, cut carbon emissions, and make wastewater treatment more energy efficient and less expensive.
A Game-Changing Solution: Biofermentation®
A new, nature-based process called Biofermentation® could revolutionize wastewater treatment. The method enhances natural bacterial activity in wastewater treatment plants by introducing manufactured probiotics. These probiotics help accelerate the breakdown of organic waste, reducing the energy required for treatment while minimizing biosolids production—one of the biggest operational burdens for wastewater facilities.
The key benefits of Biofermentation® include:
- 60%+ lower biosolids production, significantly reducing sludge disposal costs and associated transportation emissions
- 25-40% increased capacity at existing treatment plants without requiring costly infrastructure expansions.
- 20-25% lower electricity usage, which would cut WASD’s power consumption by 83.7 GWh/year—equivalent to removing thousands of cars from the road.
- A major reduction in carbon footprint, contributing to Miami-Dade’s sustainability targets.
Economic and Environmental Benefits
Currently, Miami-Dade is trucking a significant portion of biosolids to North Florida for disposal, due to the restriction on landfill and land application disposal methods—all these methods are costly and environmentally unsustainable. Land application of biosolids, once considered a sustainable solution, has been increasingly restricted due to its contribution to harmful algae blooms in Florida’s waterways, and presence of microplastics and other micropollutants.
By cutting biosolids production by more than half, Biofermentation® would alleviate these problems while saving the county millions of dollars annually in waste disposal costs. Moreover, by reducing the need for new wastewater treatment infrastructure, this technology eliminates the “embodied carbon” of construction, which is often overlooked in sustainability planning.
The Carbon Footprint Crisis in Miami-Dade
Wastewater treatment is an often-overlooked contributor to carbon emissions, responsible for 3% of global CO2 output—or a staggering 31.5 billion tons annually. In Miami-Dade, the Water and Sewer Department (WASD) is the county’s second-largest electricity consumer, consuming 340 GWh/year. Traditional treatment methods rely on energy-intensive processes that not only strain budgets but also significantly contribute to Miami-Dade’s carbon footprint.
Despite efforts to curb emissions, Miami-Dade’s carbon footprint has increased by 8.5 million tons per year since its initial reduction target was set in 1998. To meet environmental regulations and sustainability goals, the county needs a paradigm shift in wastewater treatment technology.
A Proven Approach
After 25 years of field testing and commercial applications in the USA, Biofermentation® is now well proven, validated and verified as a technology to control the biology in both industrial and municipal sectors. The technology has been adopted for 16 years by the city of Dublin, GA for eliminating chemical usage for clarity only to discover that on average biosolids reduction has been reduced 70% over this time. Crescent City has been using the technology for over 5 years and has never hauled sludge during that period, and the Department of Corrections will begin its first contract in 2025. ABS has already proven the technology at two facilities: John Szafranski at DOC Hardee County attained 60%+ reduction was obtained and Florida State Prison which did not haul any sludge during the trial.
Abroad in the UK, Northern Ireland Water (NIW) has been demonstrating the technology at full scale for five years, with remarkable results. According to their engineer Sam Phillips, the process has exceeded expectations, producing cleaner wastewater, increasing plant capacity, and dramatically reducing energy consumption.
A full-scale demonstration in Starke, Florida, saw similar success. The city eliminated the need to haul 100,000 gallons of biosolids per month for five years—representing a 90% reduction in sludge disposal costs. Starke’s wastewater treatment facility now runs more efficiently, consuming less electricity and saving taxpayers money.
The Road to a Greener Miami-Dade
Miami-Dade County has already set ambitious sustainability goals, including generating 72 GWh of energy from methane co-generation by 2030. However, adopting Biofermentation® could generate 85 GWh/year, exceeding the county’s target by 115%. If combined with Advanced Digestion technology—a further refinement of the Biofermentation® process—energy savings could reach 142% of the county’s original goal.
As cities worldwide commit to net-zero carbon emissions, Miami-Dade has an opportunity to lead the way in sustainable wastewater treatment. By embracing innovative solutions like Biofermentation®, the county can reduce costs, shrink its carbon footprint, and ensure a cleaner, greener future for residents.
Testimonials from users:
- Crescent City update on 5 years without hauling: https://youtu.be/i5nMmpiEy-4
- Kyle Jerrels update on no hauling City of Starke FL: https://youtu.be/7hCColCPY4E
- Port St Lucie, FL – : https://youtu.be/zaRx5_x4S3g
- City of Dublin treated since 2008 Acquired Evergreen Contract 2017 – to date: https://youtu.be/IHwmkPTwjxs
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