DEWATERING
Dewatering is a process commonly used in the wastewater treatment industry. It involves removing water from sludge to reduce volume and thus, reduce costs associated with transport and reuse/disposal.
Epsom Environmental Services can provide mechanical dewatering services with our solid bowl centrifuges. There are many advantages to using a centrifuge compared to other processes. These include:
- Same day establishment and disestablishment
- Fast processing times
- Minimal area required for processing
- Can continue rain, hail or shine
- Safe, clean and environmentally friendly approach
The process is an enclosed system so odours are kept to a minimum. You can also expect a reduced risk of contamination to soil, waterways and groundwater as there is virtually no contact between sludge and the ground outside of the lagoon.
For a centrifuge to work efficiently it requires a consistent mixture of sludge pumped in through the 'feed' lines. A conditioning tank is often used to create this consistent mixture before it reaches the centrifuge. A non-hazardous polymer is added at the centrifuge to make the separation process more efficient.
From the centrifuge the dewatered sludge, known as cake, is conveyed into a truck or bin. The clean water, known as supernatant, is pumped back into the lagoon.
Common centrifuge set up
