Need to return call by / at/between and . Signature: ___________________________

Project No.: 0172.07.029.030 DISTRIBUTION

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Project Name: Steam Electric Detailed Study 

TELEPHONE CALL RECORD

 Outgoing Call

Date: 12/3/09 Time: 10:00 am EST

Company Name: Duke Energy

 W. H. Zimmer Power Station

Contact Name: Jim Steiritz

Phone No.: (513-287-2269)

Name: Kurt Blohm Eastern Research Group

GENERAL SUBJECT : Duke Energy’s W. H. Zimmer Power Station Flue Gas Desulfurization (FGD) and FGD Wastewater 

Treatment Systems

TOPICS DISCUSSED AND ACTION TAKEN

On Wednesday, December 2, 2009, I contacted Jim Steiritz of W.H. Zimmer Power Station (W.H. Zimmer). I 

explained to Mr. Steiritz that I was contacting him to collect information regarding the operation of the FGD 

system and the FGD wastewater treatment system at the W.H. Zimmer plant to inform EPA’s decision on which 

plants to sample as part of the effluent guidelines rulemaking for the steam electric industry. I asked Mr. 

Steiritz if he would be able to answer some questions regarding W.H. Zimmer’s FGD system and FGD 

wastewater treatment system. Mr. Steiritz stated that he would be available to answer my questions at 10:00 

A.M. on Thursday, December 3rd. 

Mr. Steiritz called me on Thursday, December 3rd at 10:00 AM. The following is a description of what was 

discussed during the call.

Mr. Steiritz explained that the plant has one generating unit which has a net capacity of 1,300 MW. He stated 

that the plant operates a FGD system on the generating unit to control sulfur dioxide emissions. Mr. Steiritz 

explained that the FGD system was previously operated as an inhibited-oxidation system; however, in 2001 the 

plant converted the system to a thiosorbic lime (magnesium-enhanced lime) forced-oxidation system. Mr. 

Steiritz stated that the plant does not have any plans to add a new unit or new FGD systems in 2010. 

Mr. Steiritz explained that the FGD wastewater treatment system is a chemical precipitation system with lime 

softening. The treatment system is operated continuously at a flow rate of approximately 600 gpm and consists 

of a mixing tank followed by a clarifier. Prior to entering the clarifier, lime and polymers are added to the

mixing tank. Mr. Steiritz stated that the plant may use several different types of polymers and the use of the 

different polymers depends on several factors (e.g. coal composition and weather conditions). The overflow 

from the clarifiers is transferred to the plant’s wastewater pond where it is combined with all other wastewaters 

generated at the plant. These wastewaters include low volume wastewaters (plant sumps), coal-pile runoff, and 

landfill runoff. The effluent from the wastewater pond is transferred to a clearwater pond, which then discharges 

into the Ohio River via outfall 005. The underflow solids from the clarifier are rich in magnesium and are sent 

to the magnesium hydroxide recovery plant. The recovered magnesium hydroxide is injected into the furnace

for SO3 control. 
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Mr. Steiritz stated that the FGD wastewater treatment system was a joint project designed by plant personnel, 

the plant’s lime supplier (Carmeuse), and Orbital. The FGD wastewater treatment system began operating in 

2003 or 2004.

Mr. Steiritz stated that the FGD wastewater treatment system was originally designed to remove dissolved 

solids. In 2001 when the plant converted the FGD system from inhibited-oxidation to forced-oxidation, the 

FGD wastewater stream contained high TDS concentrations. As a result, the plant had troubles meeting its 

whole effluent toxicity limits on outfall 005. Therefore, the plant installed the treatment system primarily to 

address the toxicity issue. Mr. Steiritz stated that the original intent of installing the treatment system was not 

to remove metals.

I asked Mr. Steritz what pollutant levels the wastewater treatment system is trying to achieve and what levels it 

typically achieves. He said that W. H. Zimmer primarily operates the system to meet the effluent toxicity limit, 

and that this information is available online. He stated that the plant has been successful in meeting the effluent 

toxicity limit since installing the wastewater treatment system. Mr. Steiritz stated that he did not know the 

typical effluent concentrations from the treatment system but stated that he could forward this request on to 

someone else at the plant.

Mr. Steiritz stated that the plant will have a 10-day outage in Spring 2010, but he did not know the exact dates 

of the outage.