The BNR Revolution: An Overview of Montana’s Newest Method for Wastewater Treatment
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Authors
Robson, Oliver
Date of Issue
2025-04-25
Type
Presentation
Language
en_US
Subject Keywords
Other Titles
Abstract
The Biological Nutrient Removal (BNR) type plant is the newest innovation in municipal wastewater treatment. Utilizing microorganisms in a carefully curated environment, BNR plants can easily exceed their predecessors without the use of chemicals and at a lower operating cost. While BNR plants have existed in the United States since 1978, the first BNR plant in Montana was not built until 1992 in Kalispell. Since then, virtually every major city in Montana has upgraded to a BNR type plant including Missoula, Butte, Great Falls, Bozeman, Billings, and Helena. This presentation aims to give an overview of how today’s wastewater plants operate, and along the way, explain how they are able to exceed the types of plants that came before them.