The facility has planned to expand its production, which would consequently increase wastewater flow. Currently, process and sanitary wastewater generated by the facility are discharged to an onsite biological and chemical pretreatment plant. The treatment plant includes equalization, dissolved air flotation (DAF), chemical feed, aeration tanks, clarification, and separate whey and sludge holding tanks for processing and treating wastewater.  With increased wastewater flow, the treatment plant would require upgrades to create additional capacity and improve the plant’s ability to process wastewater.  These measures are required to combat the increase in wastewater while remaining in compliance with the municipality’s wastewater discharge permit requirements. The production facility will remain in operation while upgrades are installed, in order to keep production downtime to a minimum.

ARRO completed design services for the upgrades to the wastewater treatment plant, submitted applications for municipal permitting for earth disturbance, and initiated quotes for several reputable general contractors to complete work.

Design upgrades comprise of a new 1,000,000 gallon aboveground-glass-coated-bolted-steel equalization tank with an aeration mixer and screen; a new polymer feed system and a new neutralization/reaction tank; an additional 250,000 GPD DAF unit including pumps from the neutralization tank to the DAF unit; a 384 SF pre-engineered post-frame electrical and compressor building; new submersible pumps in the existing E-Pit #2 and the new equalization tank; and the installation of a new 500 kVA electrical service. Upgrades will provide the treatment plant with the ability to remove sanitary sewage from the process wastewater. Sludge generated will be food waste only, which can be directly land applied. Upgrades will also allow the facility to remain in compliance with the municipality’s discharge permit while creating additional capacity to treat wastewater.