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If you’re involved in the metal fabrication industry and produce liquid effluent from your metal finishing operations and need to treat this substrate onsite, then you need an efficient industrial effluent treatment system. Particularly for the metal industry, treatment is paramount, as untreated effluent is more than likely to contain metals that could be an issue when it comes to bacterial treatment beds at the sewage works. Metals could cause water pollution and contamination of sewage sludge, and the act of polluting water is against the law. You really don’t want to be earning yourself a fine or a potential cessation of your operations if deemed to be contravening best practice. So, What Should You Do? Permits First of all, it’s wise to see whether or not you need a permit or license, or indeed if you are exempt from requiring one of these. An onsite industrial effluent treatment plant may require a specific permit that specifies your responsibility with regards pollution prevention and control adherence. You may also need a waste management license, so check this out too. Your license or permit will specify the conditions under which you can function. You will be inspected, so you’ll need to constantly check that all staff are complying and that all systems are in working order. Regulators It is necessary to chat to your regulator before you discharge any effluent into a sewer or groundwater. Consent may be required so make sure you get it if you want to avoid repercussions. Peace of mind with regards your company operations is going to make your day to day business easier and less stressful. Monitoring pH Always make sure you’re complying with your responsibilities when it comes to the disposal of waste and any sludge you may produce; pH levels are key in monitoring waste products. When handling metal hydroxide precipitate, the pH needs to be close to neutral and it is key to keep it away from acidic conditions so as to avoid re-mobilising the metals. Good Practice Abiding by good practice in every part of your company is a given but when it comes to wastewater, it is particularly important. Minimising waste produced and monitoring the volume of water consumed by your business will help to reduce the workload of your in-house water treatment plant. It is advisable to cover your tanks to prevent solids clumping together and settling, which they will do when it gets hot. This is a no no! Also, keep an eye on your filter press and observe how efficiently it is working. You can reduce your waste management costs by reducing the water percentage in your sludge, if possible. You need to be aware of your discharge quality and this is dependent on your precipitation methods. If these are lacking then other methods could be considered, such as evaporation, ion-exchange, reverse osmosis and electrolysis. For more advice on the best industrial effluent treatment systems for your business, it is advisable to chat to water technology experts. They are well versed in guiding companies from all industries to choosing the most suitable industrial effluent treatment system for their specific requirements. Author Plate Sean Clifford is an advisor at AllWater Technologies Ltd, a wholly independent company providing consultation and water treatment equipment, including industrial effluent treatment plant options and reverse osmosis systems. Bringing together a host of experience and specialist knowledge, the company is committed to building and maintaining long-term relationships and creating maximum value and benefit for their customers.
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Industrial, effluent, treatment,
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