David Ellis was asked to present at the 1st Canadian International Water Association (IWA) Young Water Professionals (YWP) Conference, “Leading from the Future.” The event was hosted virtually from June 23 – 25, 2021.
Hosted by and for young professionals and students who are under the age of 35, this conference showcased the leadership and technical abilities of YWPs across Canada. The conference also helped the YWPs to build skills and their professional network via technical sessions, a poster competition, workshops, and networking sessions.
David shared his expertise gained over 30+ years of experience in the anaerobic digestion industry through a workshop entitled, “Fundamentals and Practical Experience on Anaerobic Digestion.” David spoke about the operational challenges and troubleshooting of anaerobic digester systems. His discussion centered on two key topics: 1) the top 5 technical things to look for when identifying the root cause of an upset and 2) the skills required to be a good trouble-shooter.
David also shared a case study from a market-digester. This digester normally received pre-consumer source separated organics (SSO), food processing plant wastes, and other mixed food waste feedstock. After struggling with margin biogas production for many months, the digester experiencing a complete failure. Following a detailed investigation and intervention, the digester recovered 80% of the total potential biogas production within 2 months and achieved full production a few weeks afterwards.
David is committed to helping mentor the next generation of engineers and water professionals and was grateful to be part of this event. If you would like to learn more about the IWA Young Water Professionals Canada group, please visit their website.