NPDES Permit - How to reduce O&M costs of your package plant
Michael Clayton
If you are considering replacing an activated sludge plant in South Carolina, North Carolina or Virginia now is a great time to ask yourself, “Is there a better way to do this?”
Activated sludge plants treating small flows <100,000 gpd are tricky to operate. They require lots of maintenance, use lots of energy, and are prone to treatment process upsets due to variable flows and flow strengths.
NPDES permits almost always require a minimum of 5 visits per week (daily) by the operator in charge. This number of visits is required because you actually have to go to an activated sludge plant that often to make sure it is running properly.
There is another option out there that approaches small flow wastewater treatment differently using a packed bed media filter instead of activated sludge process.
This packed bed media filter process is a much more robust treatment process that is less prone to upset utilizing a non-submerged media filter on which the nutrient digesting bacteria live and thrive. In low-flow and low-food times, the bacteria consume what nutrients are left in the recirculating wastewater before entering endogenous respiration aka cannibalizing themselves and each other to survive until flow and food returns. (You can read more about the Performance of Packed Bed Media Filters here.)
The Advantex technology, especially the AX MAX is a technological break through bringing the benefits of packed bed media filters like sand filters to a larger scale economically. Advantex treatment systems have been used to replace existing activated sludge package plants resulting in:
80% reduction in site visits
90% reduction in sludge pumping
No more energy hogging blowers
More consistent treatment and effluent quality
Expanded flow capacity
Fully Telemetry enabled
Safer work environment
Do you have an activated sludge package plant in North Carolina, South Carolina, or Virginia?
If you do, reach out to AQWA to find out how an Advantex system can replace your existing package plant resulting in huge recurring annual savings on operations and maintenance.
call 252-243-7693 and ask for Michael or Steve
or
email info@aqwa.net