Paper/Pulp Sludge Reduction - Wallboard Manufacturer

Biological Treatment Summary

The Situation

A wallboard manufacturer faced routine dredging of two settling ponds. Each event carried a price tag of well over $1,000,000. This was an annual event. Heavy paper/pulp sludge build up also strained their regulatory discharge limits leaving the settling ponds at risk.

The Solution

United-Tech proposed a bioaugmentation program that consisted of the addition of BZT® Waste Digester. It was proposed that a seed application be performed followed by regular maintenance applications. The treatment program was designed to decrease the overall sludge volume, expanding the time frame between dredgings.

The Results

Physical and quantitative data clearly shows that the sludge volumes decreased to the point that one of the ponds is now empty, and serves as a standby pond.

The company now relies on the beneficial results of BZT® Waste Digester and anticipates tremendous savings over time.

In less than a year, the company went from utilizing two treatment/settling ponds, plus a large finishing lagoon to operating only one pond. They do not see the need to dredge any time in the foreseeable future.

Note: The effluent flow out of this current pond is cleaner than historical effluent flow.