Articles & Case Studies

GPC Associates helps vegetable plant savings grow

GPC Associates Ltd has recently helped a vegetable processing plant that was only able to process 3m3/hr of wastewater through their effluent plant due to very slow settlement in their primary clarifier. As a result, excess water had to be taken off site by road tanker.

Wastewater samples were taken to a GPC laboratory, and after analysis a suitable primary coagulant and flocculant were carefully selected.

According to GPC, after initial plant trials and optimisation the settlement rate of the primary clarifier rose to above 10m3/hr. The overflow is now much cleaner, thereby reducing the loading on the aeration tank. The addition of a flocculant has also thickened the surplus activated sludge from the aeration tank. Water leaving the final stage of the effluent plant is now of high enough quality to comply with EA consents and is able to be discharged into a nearby water course.

On-going site visits and laboratory surveys by GPC have ensured product optimisation and have now maximised savings which are reported to be in excess of £40,000/annum.