Enhancing The Performance Of A Wastewater Treatment Plant In The Dairy Industry
Scattered throughout Jamaica are treatment plants not treating the wastewater to the required standard due to inadequate size, age of the plant, lack of knowledge to operate the plant, poor maintenance and the cost of spare parts. SRC was contacted by a dairy company, which had an activated sludge process plant giving off foul odour to the neighbouring community and not meeting the discharge standards.
Upon investigation, it was found that the problem was due to many factors. The treatment plant was over 25 years old, during which time the factory production had increased greatly. The plant was now 4 times overloaded. Design data were collected for the construction of a new plant. Wastewater characterization was monitored over a period of months as the product line varied. This monitoring was automated using a computer connected to probes such as the pH, temperature and level etc. The maintenance of the plant was lacking. The air distributors were covered with scales and only 15 % of the holes were opened. These were removed and cleaned. Immediately following cleaning, the dissolved oxygen of the aeration chamber increased by 1mg/l. Repairs were done to sections of the air distribution line which were broken. Repairs were also carried out on the compressor.
Many of the problems at the treatment plant could have been prevented with the proper knowledge of how the plant functions. A trained operator would be able to spot the dead areas in the aeration chamber and know that the air distributors were blocked. There was no operator for the plant, only a gardener who did his best to keep the plant clean. The old treatment plant began to function more efficiently when the maintenance work was done and a trained operator was hired to care for the plant. A larger plant is still needed.
Enhancing The Performance Of A Wastewater Treatment Plant In The Dairy Industry
Scattered throughout Jamaica are treatment plants not treating the wastewater to the required standard due to inadequate size, age of the plant, lack of knowledge to operate the plant, poor maintenance and the cost of spare parts. SRC was contacted by a dairy company, which had an activated sludge process plant giving off foul odour to the neighbouring community and not meeting the discharge standards.
Upon investigation, it was found that the problem was due to many factors. The treatment plant was over 25 years old, during which time the factory production had increased greatly. The plant was now 4 times overloaded. Design data were collected for the construction of a new plant. Wastewater characterization was monitored over a period of months as the product line varied. This monitoring was automated using a computer connected to probes such as the pH, temperature and level etc. The maintenance of the plant was lacking. The air distributors were covered with scales and only 15 % of the holes were opened. These were removed and cleaned. Immediately following cleaning, the dissolved oxygen of the aeration chamber increased by 1mg/l. Repairs were done to sections of the air distribution line which were broken. Repairs were also carried out on the compressor.
Many of the problems at the treatment plant could have been prevented with the proper knowledge of how the plant functions. A trained operator would be able to spot the dead areas in the aeration chamber and know that the air distributors were blocked. There was no operator for the plant, only a gardener who did his best to keep the plant clean. The old treatment plant began to function more efficiently when the maintenance work was done and a trained operator was hired to care for the plant. A larger plant is still needed.