The brewing process involves a number of ingredients that are totally natural, and likely seem completely harmless. This isn’t quite the case, as high levels of TSS, BOD, and COD are present in the wastewater byproduct. These substances can be costly and difficult to treat, which can impede the entire brewery’s efficiency.

The bottom line: While breweries may mostly use just natural hops and barley, they can still wind up with waste that requires a complex process to purify. And yet, this wastewater treatment process is essential to render those byproducts safe for disposal or release.

 

A Closer Look at Brewery Wastewater

To understand what makes brewery wastewater so difficult to treat, it may be helpful to take a closer look at what’s actually in this effluent.

Characteristics of brewery wastewater effluent include:

• Very high levels of alcohol and sugar
• Solids that very easily congeal into sludge
• Average COD of over 5000 mg/L
• Average BOD of over 3000 mg/L
• Total Suspended Solids (TSS) that average 1800 mg/L

 

Brewery Wastewater Hazards

Simply put, the wastewater effluents created by breweries do not meet regulatory standards for release, which is why breweries must invest in effective wastewater treatment processes.

The problem is, these processes can often be time-consuming and expensive, particularly because high levels of oxygen are required in order to clarify and aerate the wastewater.

Additionally, brewery wastewater typically has a high acidity level, which brings with it a risk of corrosion. Specifically, brewery wastewater often generates hydrogen sulfide gas. This can create sulfuric acid as it mixes with water vapor. This all results in damage to the brewery’s containers. Improper wastewater treatment may lead to significant equipment failure over time.

Finally, brewery wastewater levels fluctuate depending on the brewery’s current activity level, and on what specifically is being brewed. At certain points, the risk of solid sludge may be particularly high, requiring removal during the wastewater treatment process.

 

How is Brewery Wastewater Treated?

Aeration is required to effectively treat the wastewater produced by a brewery. By pumping oxygen into their effluent, breweries can produce helpful bacteria, which can break down and eliminate some of the excess sugar and alcohol that’s left behind. This process results in treated and environmentally friendly water, safe for release or disposal.

There are some obstacles to this wastewater treatment process, and breweries should be aware of them. For example, producing high levels of oxygen requires a lot of power, which can cause electricity costs to increase. Ultimately, though, these costs are usually minor when compared to the costs associated with handling impure, untreated wastewater.

Learn More About Wastewater Treatment

Effective wastewater treatment requires the very best technology. That’s where PHS comes in. For decades, we have been a national leader in wastewater treatment technology, and we’re thrilled to provide a range of options for breweries. We’d love to tell you more about some of the technologies we can offer. Reach out to PHS at your next convenience.

Most kinds of industrial activity produce some amount of contaminated water and waste. In order for this water to be safely released back into the environment, it must be sufficiently cleaned and purified. This is a massive undertaking; indeed, within any given year, U.S. companies alone spend more than $10 billion on wastewater treatment.

It might surprise you to learn just how many types of industry require a wastewater treatment process. In this post, we’ll highlight just a few of them.

Which Industries Require Wastewater Treatment?

Our partial list includes:

Agriculture

Agriculturalists use water for everything from irrigation to washing down their machinery. The problem is that the agriculture industry also uses a lot of pesticides, which can easily be intermingled with that water, contaminating it and requiring treatment. And that’s to say nothing of more specialized needs; for example, dairy farms often produce water waste that has dissolved sugars, fats, and chemical additives.

Automotive

Auto manufacturers, service centers, and repair shops produce huge volumes of liquid waste, including water intermingled with used oil, antifreeze, transmission fluid, wiper fluid, grease, paints, and beyond. This liquid waste can’t simply be flushed down the drain. First, it has to be cleaned and purified through a wastewater treatment process.

Construction

Construction crews generate plenty of solid waste, but also contaminated liquids. Common examples include water that’s been polluted through its use washing heavy, dirt-covered construction equipment. The use of liquids such as paint and solvents can further pollute liquid waste used at construction sites.

Food Processing

A food processing center that works with meats or other animal products may have water contaminated by blood, fecal matter, even feathers. Contamination is less extreme at fruit and vegetable processing centers, but even here there is a significant amount of organic particulate matter.

Oil and Gas

In the oil and gas sector, wastewater comes in the form of used cleaning water and oil waste. Oil and gas companies produce high amounts of dirty water simply by cleaning out the inside of their tanks, something that requires a rigorous approach to wastewater treatment.

Pulp and Paper

The pulp and paper industry uses a staggeringly high amount of water just to get its products to market. Some estimates show pulp and paper companies requiring 17,000 gallons of water for each ton of paper. Naturally, this creates a lot of liquid waste that must be treated.

Water Treatment

Finally, note that water treatment companies actually produce their own liquid waste, which must itself be treated. As these companies remove impurities, making water safe for human consumption, they produce a lot of wastewater that requires careful disposal.

Learn More About Wastewater Treatment Options

Virtually every industry produces liquid waste in some form or fashion, requiring a strategic approach to water treatment. Having the right technology vendor helps. To find out more, reach out to PHS, a company that’s been providing best-in-class water treatment technologies for decades. Contact us when you’re ready to find out more.

Every wastewater treatment plant eventually faces a major transition.

It may be:

• A full decommissioning
• A consolidation into a regional system
• A major plant upgrade
• A lagoon conversion
• Or an industrial facility shutdown

While engineering and regulatory planning often receive the most attention, one of the most complex and costly aspects of plant closure is solids handling.

Sludge doesn’t disappear when a facility shuts down.

Tanks, digesters, lagoons, and holding structures must be cleaned, dewatered, and properly emptied before demolition, repurposing, or abandonment can move forward.

Here is a practical, field-tested checklist to help municipal and industrial leaders plan a smooth wastewater plant closure.

Step 1: Define the Scope of Closure

Before mobilizing equipment, clearly define what “closure” means for your site:

• Full decommissioning?
• Partial shutdown?
• Temporary shutdown during upgrade?
• Lagoon consolidation?
• Facility relocation?

Identify all structures that contain residual solids:

• Sludge holding tanks
• Anaerobic digesters
• Aeration basins
• Lagoons and ponds
• Clarifiers

The earlier solids management is integrated into the closure plan, the fewer downstream surprises you’ll encounter.

Step 2: Assess Sludge & Solids Inventory

One of the most common closure mistakes is underestimating how much sludge is actually present.

Key questions:

• How many gallons are stored?
• What is the percent solids?
• Has the material been accumulating for years?
• Are there inorganics or grit present?

Older facilities often contain:

• Thickened biosolids
• Accumulated grit
• Inorganic debris
• Heavily compacted lagoon sludge

Accurate solids assessment allows you to:

• Estimate total dry tons
• Forecast hauling requirements
• Model disposal costs
• Determine dewatering strategy

This is where mobile centrifuge dewatering becomes critical. Reducing sludge volume on-site dramatically lowers hauling costs and accelerates closure timelines.

Step 3: Develop a Dewatering & Solids Removal Plan

Once inventory is understood, the next step is determining how solids will be removed.

Options typically include:

• Off-site hauling of liquid sludge (expensive)
• On-site mechanical dewatering
• Temporary mobile centrifuge deployment
• Hybrid approaches

For many municipal and industrial projects, mobile dewatering services offers major advantages:

• Rapid deployment nationwide
• Minimal site infrastructure requirements
• Stackable cake solids for easier transport
• Lower hauling frequency
• Reduced total disposal cost

Advanced mobile systems like high-speed centrifuges can process thousands of gallons per minute while producing significantly drier cake than traditional methods. Even a 3–5% increase in cake dryness can result in meaningful disposal savings over hundreds of dry tons. Learn more about how our temporary sludge dewatering solutions help facilities reduce hauling costs and accelerate closure timelines.

Equally important: solids removal can often occur while portions of the plant remain operational.

Step 4: Coordinate Disposal & Hauling

Closure planning must align dewatering with final disposal.

Typical disposal pathways include:

• Land application
• Composting
• Landfill
• Beneficial reuse programs

Reducing water weight before hauling:

• Lowers tipping fees
• Reduces trucking frequency
• Improves scheduling reliability
• Minimizes risk of delays

The goal is not just removal — it’s efficient removal.

Wet sludge hauling is one of the most expensive mistakes facilities make during closure.

Step 5: Prepare Tanks, Lagoons, and Digesters for Final Status

After bulk solids removal, structures must be left in appropriate condition for:

• Demolition
• Structural repurposing
• Long-term abandonment
• Construction upgrades

This may include:

• Final cleaning
• Residual material flushing
• Grit removal
• Sludge consolidation
• Anaerobic Digester cleanout

Lagoons, in particular, often require careful sequencing:

• Pumping and consolidation
• Dewatering
• Excavation of dewatered material

Proper solids removal ensures demolition contractors are not delayed by residual sludge conditions.

Step 6: Align Timeline with Engineers & Construction Teams

Plant closure frequently overlaps with:

• Engineering redesign
• Capital upgrades
• Construction mobilization
• Contractor scheduling

Solids handling should be scheduled early enough to avoid:

• Demolition delays
• Unexpected sludge discoveries
• Budget overruns
• Construction stoppages

Experienced dewatering contractors can coordinate directly with:

• Municipal engineers
• General contractors
• Industrial project managers

The result: no surprises when demolition begins

Common Risks During Wastewater Plant Closure

From field experience, the most common risks include:

Underestimating sludge volume
Decades of accumulation can dramatically exceed expectations.

Hauling liquid sludge instead of dewatering
This can double or triple disposal costs.

Ignoring winter conditions
Cold-weather operations require planning and the right equipment.

Delaying solids removal until construction begins
This often results in schedule conflicts.

Inadequate lagoon consolidation
Leaving material behind can create future liability and added cost.

Planning solids handling early eliminates most of these risks

Frequently Asked Questions About Wastewater Plant Closure

How do you estimate sludge volume before plant closure?

Sludge depth measurements, solids testing, and historical operating data are typically used to estimate total dry tons. In lagoons, core sampling may be required for accuracy.

What’s the fastest way to dewater a lagoon before demolition?

Mobile centrifuge dewatering systems can often be deployed quickly and process large volumes efficiently, especially when paired with consolidation strategies.

How dry can sludge realistically get?

Dryness depends on material characteristics, but modern centrifuge systems can often achieve cake solids in the mid-20% range or higher — significantly reducing hauling weight.

Can dewatering occur during cold weather?

Yes. With proper equipment and operational planning, mobile systems can operate effectively in winter conditions.

How long does wastewater plant closure typically take?

Timelines vary widely depending on sludge volume and site conditions, but early solids assessment significantly improves schedule predictability.

Planning a Wastewater Plant Closure? Start with Solids.

When facilities close or upgrade, sludge management is often the largest variable in cost and timeline.

Mobile sludge dewatering and solids-handling solutions allow municipal and industrial operators to:

• Reduce disposal costs
• Accelerate project timelines
• Minimize operational disruption
• Leave structures ready for demolition or upgrade

P&H Senesac has supported wastewater treatment plants, lagoons, digesters, and industrial facilities nationwide with mobile centrifuge dewatering and solids removal services since 1985.

If you are planning a plant closure, upgrade, or consolidation, contact our team early in the process. The earlier solids handling is addressed, the smoother the project runs.

In urban and suburban areas, most homeowners benefit from wastewater treatment centers, which tend to be nearby. These treatment facilities provide residents of the community with an easy way to dispose of their wastewater. In rural areas, however, wastewater treatment centers aren’t as common. Often, rural communities must find alternative means, including lagoons, to help clean and treat their wastewater.

Lagoons usually employ a combination of chemical, biological, and mechanical systems to treat wastewater, allowing it to be safely released back into the environment. And while lagoon systems can be quite effective, they do require maintenance and upkeep. Over time, dirt and solid waste particles accumulate inside the lagoon, rendering the lagoon less effective than it might be otherwise.

When to Clean the Wastewater Lagoon

One of the most important aspects of keeping a wastewater lagoon clean is knowing how often it requires maintenance. In other words, how often does a wastewater lagoon need to be cleaned?

The short answer: Whenever it’s full. This may happen following several years of regular use and heavy dumping. However, it should also be noted that natural fillers (including leaves, grass, and animal waste) can expedite your need for a lagoon cleaning. Once the lagoon becomes full and dirty, it will quickly start to lose its efficien

 

How to Clean a Wastewater Lagoon

We’ve answered the question of when to clean a wastewater lagoon. The next question is how to clean a wastewater lagoon.

Generally speaking, if you want to get your lagoon nice and clean, you’ll need to invest in the right kind of equipment. There are a number of options, including dredges, which can manually shake loose some of the sludge built-up along the inside of the lagoon.

Another option is aeration. This approach involves the use of highly pressurized air, streaming into the wastewater lagoon and stirring up its contents. A well-performed aeration can shake solid wastes loose from liquids, making it easy to pump the solid wastes out of the lagoon and place them in a holding tank, where they can ultimately be transported away and disposed of.

When deciding on the best way to clean your wastewater lagoon, it’s important to consult with an experienced lagoon cleaning company, like PHS. In particular, it’s crucial to ask about the best methods for fully cleansing your lagoon without losing any productivity.

Contact PHS About Lagoon Cleaning

For decades, PHS has been at the forefront of lagoon cleaning services. We provide wastewater treatment providers with best-in-class equipment rentals, enabling fast and thorough cleaning and dewatering. We’d love to tell you more about how our aeration and centrifuge technology can empower your lagoon maintenance, without too much downtime or inefficiency. Additionally, we have rapid-response deployments available as needed.

Ready to learn more about lagoon cleaning equipment? We’d love to answer your questions and to help you identify the machinery best suited to your needs. Reach out to the experienced team at PHS whenever you’re ready to chat.

Sooner or later, most wastewater lagoons begin to accumulate excess sludge. This accumulation brings many problems of its own, from intense odors to bacterial build-up. And when left unaddressed, sludge issues tend to compound, getting more and more challenging to resolve.

So, what’s the best way to deal with this problem? There are a couple of options available to handle high levels of wastewater lagoon slide: Treat it or remove it. In this post, we’ll examine the pros and cons of both methods.

Removing Wastewater Lagoon Sludge

Lagoon sludge removal typically involves dredging. While there are other methods, this is by far the most common. Basically, dredging involves the mechanical removal of sludge from the lagoon. Once it’s removed, the sludge is dried and then transported somewhere for safe disposal, usually a landfill.

Though this method can be effective, sludge removal is very laborious and quite costly. Dredging and disposing of sludge can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars, which means that, for most wastewater lagoon owners, it’s truly a last resort. (In some cases, if sludge build-up is truly out of control, it may be the only option left; you’ll want to avoid letting your sludge problem get so out of hand!)

Treating Wastewater Lagoon Sludge

When it comes to treating wastewater lagoon sludge, there are a couple of primary options to consider: Aeration and mixing, and bioaugmentation.

Aeration and Mixing

The ideal solution to address lagoon sludge is to ensure a fully operational aeration system. This means making sure the system provides ample oxygen, and also that the system offers turbulent mixing through the water column. Basically, the goal here is to assist the sludge in breaking down anaerobically, harnessing natural chemical processes. While this can be a safe and cost-effective option, it can also be a little time-consuming.

Bioaugmentation

Some lagoon owners will augment their water with specific types of bacterial growth. This can be done in addition to aeration if you really want to cover all your bases. These bacterial growths will help multiply the bacteria already in the lagoon, which promote the breakdown of wastewater sludge. Again, this is a safe, effective, and fairly natural approach, though it’s not necessarily quick. Still, the most expedient option available is strong aeration and mixing combined with bioaugmentation.

Taking Care of Sludge in Your Lagoon

There really aren’t a ton of options available for getting rid of sludge in your wastewater lagoon. As you consider these limited options, the most important thing you can do is ensure that you have the best technologies in place, including aeration systems that allow you to keep your sludge under control.

PHS is a leading name in sludge dewatering solutions. For decades, we have provided best-in-class technologies to lagoon operators across the country. To learn more about the options we provide, reach out to PHS today.