Eagleridge's MicroPoP

No-Cost Demo Description

Waste activated sludge (WAS) is a byproduct of every sewage treatment plant—and managing it accounts for approximately 50% of a wastewater facility’s operating and capital costs. Most cities are paying to haul, process, or dispose of sludge that, with the right technology, could be converted into valuable savings and a renewable energy resource. Facilities also face growing pressure to meet climate action targets, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and align with circular economy principles—all with constrained budgets and aging infrastructure.

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MicroPoP, developed by Eagleridge Innovations, is a cell disruption technology that liquifies  waste activated sludge into bio available food for the microbes back in the process, whether aerobic or anaerobic.  This new food is readily metabolized by the microbes, eliminating the WAS  solids leaving zero solids residuals for disposal, while also significantly increasing biogas production. That biogas can be used for combined heat and power (CHP) or converted to renewable natural gas (RNG), generating new energy revenue and reducing the city’s dependence on the grid. Typical MicroPoP  ROI payback is between  6 to 12 months  when the biogas can be valorized.

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This no-cost “Small MicroPoP Demo (SMD)” providing “proof of concept” results is a structured, 30-day on-site validation that gives cities direct evidence of MicroPoP’s performance. Cities receive:

• A plug-and-play self contained Small MicroPoP Demo (SMD)  unit, delivered and commissioned on-site with full operator training

• A 30-day testing protocol with defined KPIs, including aerobic and anaerobic bench-scale reactor testing that directly compares unprocessed WAS to MicroPoP-processed WAS. The difference will be very noticeable based on data collected and analyzed locally.

• Weekly data review meetings and a final collaborative report validating performance claims with site-specific data

• On-site support from an Eagleridge advisor during commissioning, with continued remote support throughout the pilot period

• A MicroPoP Local Feasibility Review scoping the projected economic benefits achievable at the city’s specific wastewater treatment facility.  The best demo location is where the technology can fit well as an add-on to existing infrastructure and where the benefits can be significant.

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The pilot requires one or two city operators and access to a WAS source at or near the treatment facility. Eagleridge manages all equipment, testing protocols, and data analysis. Access to a local laboratory (preferably on site) for standard tests will be required.  

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Beyond cost savings, MicroPoP increases facility throughput capacity of WAS by shortening HRT by a factor of 3 to 4) —deferring expensive expansion projects by a decade or more—while supporting energy self-sufficiency, GHG reduction, and UN Sustainable Development Goal alignment.

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For cities ready to consider new cost effective technologies in wastewater treatment , this pilot offers a ,  low commitment first step toward achieving long-term sustainability goals  with substantial financial savings.