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An Introduction to Optimising Effluent Treatment Costs

Introduction

Before reviewing the operation of their ETP (Effluent Treatment Plant), companies are urged to take action to minimise the amount and strength of the effluent created by production processes. Producing less effluent in the first place will reduce the demands made on the ETP and thus save both money and effort.
A thorough understanding of the nature and properties of your company's effluents is essential for cost-effective pollution control.

Improving the performance of the ETP will reduce your site's operating costs and make it easier for your site to comply with its discharge consent conditions. Sites discharging to sewer will also reduce their trade effluent charges.

The five steps to effective effluent management are:

To comply with discharge consent conditions and reduce the environmental burden of their discharges, companies often need to modify their processes and/or install an effluent treatment plant (ETP). Effective management of an ETP has a number of benefits, including:

Cost reduction

The true cost of effluent can be over six times greater than the cost of effluent disposal, because it includes:

Waste minimisation will save you money - typically up to 1% of turnover, either as extra profit or in reduced operating costs. In terms of pollution control, it will minimise - or even eliminate - the waste streams requiring treatment.

An effluent treatment plant will cost less to run if the site produces less effluent in the first place.

Significant cost savings can be achieved by reducing both the amount and strength of the raw effluent entering the plant. Considering the effluent treatment plant as an integral part of the company's operations, and not just as an end-of-pipe necessity, will help to maximise savings. This approach also offers greater opportunities for chemical and water re-use within the site.

Investigating where and how effluent arises, and its composition, will give you a more detailed understanding of how your process affects the operation of effluent treatment plant. However, the first stage is to take action to reduce the site's water consumption and effluent generation. Don't forget that effluent can be lost product or raw materials.

A waste minimisation programme to reduce waste and prevent pollution will result in:

An ongoing culture of waste minimisation and control is the best way of reducing effluent generation. Everyone concerned with the manufacturing processes - operators, supervisors, scientists, engineers and managers - needs to be aware of their environmental responsibilities and involved in the waste minimisation programme. To maintain commitment, staff should be kept informed of the benefits to the company of achievements in reducing waste and preventing pollution.

Understand your effluent streams

For cost-effective pollution control, a thorough understanding of the nature and properties of your company's effluent is essential. As well as having information about the type and concentration of pollutants present, it is important to appreciate pollutant flows and loadings under all possible scenarios.

You need to know what you are dealing with to ensure that the correct technology and appropriate control measures are used. This applies to all types of ETP, from simple plant where the effluent is neutralised before discharge to sewer, to more complex facilities employing physical and biological processes. For example, measures to segregate or mix particular waste streams may make them easier to treat. The effluent treatment plant should be considered at least as important as any other production unit.

Understanding the science of the plant will help to optimise its operation, as with any reaction process. Understanding why an existing plant is not working properly will help you to improve its performance and can often eliminate the need to upgrade or replace it with new plant.

Begin by establishing the source and nature of effluents on your site. When characterising your effluents, it is important to establish and then monitor regularly the level of pollutants in:

Each effluent stream should be characterised in terms of:

To do this, you may need to carry out a detailed survey and develop a programme of regular monitoring. The data you collect will help you to understand your effluent characteristics and to decide which parameters you need to measure.

©Crown copyright. This article was reproduced with the kind permission of Envirowise.

Further Information

For more information on this article or any of Accepta's products please email Accepta, visit our web site www.accepta.com or simply call on +44 (0) 1625 267 581.

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Norwalk Virus (Norovirus) - Did You Know?

Recent high profile outbreaks of Norwalk virus (Norovirus) in several UK hospitals and amongst the passengers and crew of a number of luxury US cruise ships have brought this virus in to the headlines. But what is it, what are its symptoms, is it serious, how is it treated………???

What is Norwalk virus?

The Norwalk virus, named after the original strain 'Norwalk virus' which caused an outbreak of gastroenteritis in a school in Norwalk, Ohio, in 1968, and a group of Norwalk-like viruses are among several common micro-organisms that can cause diarrhoea, stomach pain and vomiting for 24 to 48 hours, according to the CDC. They are spread through food and water and close contact with infected people or things they have touched. The incubation period is about two to three days.

What are the symptoms?

The main symptoms of Norwalk virus infection are diarrhoea; stomach pain and vomiting for 24 to 48 hours. An infected person may also suffer from abdominal pain, headache and a low grade fever.

Is Norwalk virus infection a serious illness?

Although being ill with Norwalk virus can make someone feel very unwell for 24 to 48 hours, almost everyone recovers completely without any long-term problems.
However, as with any illness that can cause vomiting or diarrhoea, certain groups are at risk from severe dehydration caused by fluid loss. These people include infants, young children, and certain at-risk groups including those with weakened immune systems and the elderly.

Is the illness contagious and how is it spread?

Norwalk virus is highly contagious. It's spread in a number of ways: through contaminated food and water, by contact with objects touched by infected people and contact with infected people.

How is the virus treated?

Currently there are no drugs that work to fight the virus or prevent it.

In healthy people the illness is usually brief. However, as with any illness that causes vomiting and diarrhoea it is important to restore and maintain fluid levels. Dehydration among young children, the elderly, the sick, can be common, and it is the most serious health effect that can result from Norovirus infection. By drinking oral rehydration fluids or water, people can reduce their chance of becoming dehydrated.

Can Norwalk virus be prevented?

You can reduce the chances of becoming infected by regular hand washing, washing fruit and vegetables, thorough disinfection of contaminated surfaces, and prompt washing of soiled articles of clothing. If food or water is suspected as having been contaminated by someone with Norovirus it should be avoided.

What should a person do if they have Norwalk virus?

If you think you have Norwalk virus the following will help you and help prevent others from getting sick with Norwalk virus:

This article was adapted from the Centre for Disease Control Web site http://www.cdc.gov - Feb 2003.

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