We often think of environmental compliance as something that’s primarily expected of manufacturers, utilities, and other big corporations. Actually, there are environmental ordinances that impact professionals at all levels and in virtually every industry, including small farmers and agriculturalists. Indeed, every farmer should be aware of what’s expected of them by the Environmental Protection Agency, as well as local regulating bodies.

This is especially pertinent when it comes to wastewater treatment. Consider that the water used in different agricultural practices can very easily mix with fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides, all of which contaminates the water and makes it unsafe for release back into the environment. Failure to acknowledge this, or to properly treat and dispose of the water, can result in legal problems, including fines.

Agriculture and Wastewater Treatment

It’s not just fertilizers and pesticides that farmers have to worry about. For example, agricultural processing centers tend to produce water with high levels of suspended solids. In particular, fruit and vegetable effluent can be incredibly common in the water discharged by farmers and agriculture centers.

There are a number of ways in which the water generated through agricultural practice may be contaminated. As such, those in this field must be aware of a number of different wastewater treatment strategies.

Options for Wastewater Treatment

The most basic option is for farmers to implement full wastewater treatment systems, which separate solids and other particles from the water itself. Separating solid contaminants is generally required to make the water legally dischargeable.

A traditional wastewater treatment system tends to be complicated and may require both a lot of chemicals as well as a lot of labor. Even an automated process usually requires at least one technician to oversee it, which represents a lot of overhead for smaller farming operations.

Another option is simply to haul the water away to a treatment center. The problem with this is that it’s extraordinarily costly, simply because transporting contaminated water is very expensive.

Thankfully, new technologies have made it much easier and more cost-effective for farmers to separate sludge and solids from their wastewater, and to discharge their water more efficiently.  For example, centrifuge-based systems can be a great option to separate the liquid from the solid, resulting in clean water that can be discharged back into the environment without violating any EPA regulations. The solids, meanwhile, are often turned into lightweight wafers or cakes, which can be hauled off for disposal much more affordably.

Find Out More About Wastewater Treatment

This is just one example of how technology has changed the game for farmers looking for wastewater treatment options, and it happens to be something we know a lot about here at PHS. We’ve been providing wastewater treatment solutions for decades, and would love to share more information about cost-effective technologies available to help farmers. Reach out to us whenever you’d like to start that conversation.

Wastewater is a fairly generic term, simply denoting water that contains any kind of solid or liquid contaminant. For example, municipal wastewater contains organic sludge (e.g., human waste), while industrial wastewater might contain inorganic sludge (e.g., industrial chemicals that have been disposed of).

Wastewater usually accumulates in large volumes, which often means a high concentration of solid waste. To dispose of this waste quickly and effectively, allowing for the proper treatment of the water itself, it’s critical to separate the solid and liquid elements of wastewater.

There are a number of technologies that can be used to achieve this goal, but one of the most dependable is the wastewater centrifuge. 

Wastewater Centrifuges at a Glance

So, what is a wastewater centrifuge, exactly?

A wastewater centrifuge is a type of separation machine. Using several thousand Gs of centrifugal force, it separates the sludge from the rest of the wastewater. The sludge accumulates along the periphery of the centrifugal tank or bowl, where it may then be discharged. The remaining, solid-free liquid may then pass through a liquid outlet, typically located at the other end of the tank or bowl.

What are the Different Types of Wastewater Centrifuge?

There are three basic types of centrifuges that can be applicable in wastewater treatment.

Sludge Thickening/Dewatering Type

This type of centrifuge removes water from slurries, thereby thickening the sludge. To put it differently, this type of centrifuge dewaters and concentrates (or thickens) sludge. This can be helpful for continuously processing large quantities of sludge-ridden water. Most often, this type of centrifuge is used to deal with oilfield drilling mud, livestock manure, and municipal sewage.

Clarifying Type

The wastewater clarifier is a disc-stack type, producing high speeds and high centrifugal forces to separate suspended particles at the micron level. These particles are pushed to the edges of the bowl and automatically purged. This type of centrifuge application is most commonly employed in mining applications.

Oily Wastewater Separator

Often, industrial wastewater is accompanied by oil, as well as sludge. This presents a unique challenge, as the oil cannot be disposed of through normal drains. This type of centrifuge is specifically designed to provide a liquid-liquid-solid separation effect.

The Benefits of Wastewater Centrifuges

There are a number of benefits to the centrifugal method of treating wastewater. These benefits include:

• Reduced transportation and disposal costs.
• Greater durability for the wastewater treatment equipment.
• A relatively low operating expense.
• Minimal operator requirements.
• Compact size.

Explore Your Options for Wastewater Separation

To find out more about the benefits of a wastewater centrifuge, or to explore the types of centrifuges that might benefit your company, we recommend talking to a pro. Here at PHS, we have decades of experience providing best-in-class centrifuge technology for dewatering and wastewater separation. We’d love to tell you more about our portable, low-maintenance, highly effective solutions.

To find out more, reach out to PHS at your convenience.

Breweries tend to produce large quantities of wastewater, the natural byproduct of the brewing process. Surprisingly, this wastewater can be very harmful to the environment, as it’s usually dense in sugar, alcohol, and other residuals that cannot simply be released untreated. For this reason, breweries must place rigorous wastewater treatment processes in place.

 

This can be easier said than done. Brewery wastewater treatment usually involves an aeration process, which requires advanced technology, lots of power, and high electricity costs. Nevertheless, it’s crucial for breweries to find a way to treat their effluents effectively, avoiding any regulatory non-compliance.

 

So, what should breweries know about managing their wastewater treatment process? Here are a few guidelines to keep in mind.

 

Tips for Brewery Wastewater Treatment

• Breweries must meet discharge limits. If you send your wastewater into the local sewer system, then you need to make sure you comply with local limits and prohibitions. The specifics can vary by municipality.

• It’s crucial to manage total suspended solids (TSS). Spent yeast, hops, and barley can potentially clog the sewage system. Breweries that release them into the local sewer may be subject to fines or other regulatory penalties. Be sure your wastewater treatment process involves the filtration of solids.

• Acidity is also an issue. Brewery wastewater often has a high level of acidity, which can corrode storage containers and also damage sewer systems. It’s important to check local limits on wastewater pH level, properly aerating wastewater to keep that acidity level in check.

• Temperature matters, too. Discharging wastewater at a high temperature can also present some complications, resulting in regulatory concerns. Again, it’s important to check the local municipality’s guidelines and restrictions.

• Seek a discharge permit, as needed. Depending on the size of your brewery and the amount of wastewater you discharge, you may need to apply for a local permit. The local sewage and wastewater management system can provide further information.

• You may also need to install an access point. Some municipalities will require you to have an easy-access monitoring point, allowing representatives of the city or county to come take samples or test your wastewater at their convenience.

 

Find Out More About Brewery Wastewater Treatment

 

Every brewery must be strategic and intentional in its wastewater treatment efforts, ensuring in-house efficiency but also legal compliance. Having the right technology can certainly help. To learn more about effective wastewater treatment for your brewery, reach out to the national experts at PHS. We have decades of experience in this field and are happy to tell you more about customizable technology solutions.

Within the automotive industry, water is used in countless ways. For example, automotive plants use water to:

 

• Wash products, equipment, and parts.
• Cool down air conditioning units and boilers.
• Run spray paint booths.
• Provide new vehicles with surface treatments.

 

These are just a few examples among many. Because the automotive sector uses so much water, and for such a wide range of applications, it goes without saying that auto plants produce a large amount of wastewater. And while this is a natural result of industrial activity, it presents automotive companies with some unique challenges.

 

Handling Wastewater in the Automotive Sector

 

The big problem with automotive wastewater, of course, is that it’s usually quite dirty. Automotive wastewater may be heavily contaminated with grease, oil, fats, coolant, radiator fluids, and various suspended solids.

 

Many of these substances are flammable, and pretty much all of them can be toxic to humans and to the natural environment. As such, it would be dangerous for automotive companies to simply release this water into the ecosystem. Not only that, but it would be illegal: Environmental regulations prevent manufacturing companies from disposing of their wastewater without first treating it. To release untreated wastewater would result in massive penalties, to say nothing of a tarnished public image.

 

The Benefits of Wastewater Treatment

 

As such, there are a number of benefits to wastewater treatment in the automotive sector… and some of them are pretty obvious. For instance, automotive companies should treat their wastewater to avoid legal consequences, if for no other reason.

 

But there can be other good reasons to treat wastewater, too. For example, treating water may mean that automotive manufacturers can recycle it. Given the sheer amount of water required to make cars, this can be an incredible way for automotive companies to operate in a more cost-effective way.

 

What are the Options for Automotive Wastewater Treatment?

 

There are a number of options available for automotive manufacturers seeking effective wastewater treatment.

 

• Chemical treatments can be fast-acting and effective, though they can also be expensive.
• Biological processes can also be used to purify water, often through oxygen deprivation.
• Centrifuge technology can be employed to separate solids from liquids, resulting in lightweight, high-density cakes that can be affordably hauled off and recycled.

 

To explore the different options for wastewater treatment, automotive companies are encouraged to reach out to technology providers like PHS.

 

Explore Your Options with PHS

 

For decades, our company has been at the forefront of wastewater treatment technologies. We supply advanced centrifuge systems to companies spanning countless industries, including automotive manufacturing. And that’s just one example of the best-in-class technology our team can provide. To explore your options further, reach out to PHS at your convenience.

Wastewater Treatment in a Hotel Setting: Key Considerations

Across the globe, the hotel industry is booming. Travel remains an incredibly popular pursuit, with tourists flocking to urban areas as well as more rural and suburban locales throughout the world. Naturally, every hotel management team desires to create an optimal guest experience, ensuring the kinds of comfort and convenience that allow them to maintain a competitive edge.

 

There are many obvious aspects to creating a great hotel experience, from spacious rooms to robust room service options, but one aspect that may be less obvious is wastewater treatment. Simply put, hotels need to have a functional and effective wastewater treatment system to ensure the comfort of their guests as well as to maintain compliance with local environmental statutes.

 

Key Considerations for Hotel Wastewater Treatment

 

As hotel managers think about their options for wastewater management, a few factors should be top-of-mind.

 

The Purity of Natural Water Sources

 

If a wastewater treatment system somehow leads to pollution or contamination of local, natural water systems, that could be both an ecological disaster and a PR nightmare for the hotel. Thankfully, if a septic system is properly installed and well-maintained, there is little risk of a contamination issue, even if the system is giving some trouble. Still, repairing a septic system can be costly, and will need to be done quickly to ensure continued quality-of-life at the hotel. For this reason, it’s usually smarter to invest in a more state-of-the-art wastewater treatment system.

 

Different Types of System

 

That raises a question: What types of wastewater treatment system can a hotel management team choose from? There are a number of options, and also several determinative factors:

 

• How many rooms/wastewater-generating units are at the hotel?
• What’s the daily wastewater volume?
• What are the peak volumes both on-season and off?

 

Based on these factors, hotels may find that chemical-based or UV-based systems serve them well, offering long-term and cost-effective wastewater treatment solutions.

 

Installation

 

When it comes to installation of a new system, there are a few things to consider.

 

• Make sure the quality of the effluent is going to meet local environmental standards.
• Check to see if your municipality requires you to have a permit to discharge hotel wastewater.
• Talk with your installation team about the most effective location for placing your new system. Beyond size/capacity, location is one of the most important factors for determining the efficiency of a wastewater treatment system.
• Remember that grease and oil from your hotel kitchen can clog your wastewater system causing it to break down prematurely. A grease trap is essential for avoiding this costly and cumbersome issue.

 

Explore the Options for Hotel Wastewater Treatment

 

The bottom line: Wastewater treatment is a key consideration for hotels, both for guest experience reasons and for environmental reasons. To find out more about different wastewater treatment options, why not contact the experts? Reach out to PHS today to ask about our decades of experience in the industry, and about our excellent options for wastewater management technology.