Resources

On this page we attempt to answer all the questions you may have about our company, our people, products, and services. Our primary method of answering your questions will consist of a series of articles on topics which people ask us about. We’ll also include brochures for our company, its products, and case studies showcasing interesting projects we have completed.

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The primary purpose of treating wastewater is to remove organic matter or total suspended solids (TSS) prior to effluent being reintroduced to the environment.  As organic matter decays it consumes the vital oxygen, which is required by the animals and organisms living in our waterways.

A package plant is a pre-manufactured wastewater treatment plant designed specifically for you to meet your EPA discharge limits.  

This is complicated to answer due to the inherent custom nature of each project; however, we have analyzed and derived a cost formula based on past earthTek projects.  A ballpark equipment cost can be located on our “Budget Costs” page.   

The main benefit of our SABRE SBR treatment unit is that the SBR performs equalization, biological treatment, and clarification in a single tank which reduces construction cost and additional tankage.  

Our SABRE SBR utilizes a time based settling phase to settle out solids whereas an MBR employs multiple membrane units for physical separation of solids.  These membrane units must be maintained and the cleaning is often a time consuming task.

earthTek employs buried FRP tanks because, when installed properly, they last practically forever.  Unlike steel and concrete tanks, FPR tanks have no problems withstanding harsh treatment or environmental conditions.  

Lids on our buried tanks typically sit 6” above grade and can be easily removed to see inside of the tank.  In addition, earthTek’s state of the art control panel allows key features such as tank level and dissolved oxygen to be viewable on an HMI screen.  With an internet connection operators can view the HMI screen and even make process adjustments from anywhere in the world.  

Our SABRE SBR is fitted with floats and level transducers allowing the operator to run his plant by time or level.  Flexibility in the Sabre SBR is truly tremendous!  

earthTek often utilizes a two-compartment primary tank for multiple reasons.  Having a primary tank removes ~60% TSS, it acts as influent storage while the Sabre SBR is in react and decant cycles, and it acts as a storage tank for excess activated sludge.  

The SABRE SBR has floats and level transducers in both the SBR and primary tanks which detect influent flows.  Our system will detect these flows and automatically adjust cycle time and treatment batch size accordingly.  You’ll sleep peacefully at night knowing an earthTek SABRE SBR is always watching over your plant!   

There are several things that should be considered

-Wastewater characteristics: The design of a wastewater treatment plant will depend on the characteristics of the wastewater being treated, including its composition, volume, and flow rate. Understanding these characteristics is essential for designing a treatment system that can effectively remove pollutants and produce treated water that meets the required standards.

-Treatment objectives: The treatment objectives will depend on the intended use of the treated water, which can vary depending on the location and the type of wastewater being treated. For example, treated wastewater may be used for irrigation, discharge into surface waters, or reuse for non-potable purposes. The treatment system must be designed to meet these objectives.

Regulatory requirements: The design of a wastewater treatment plant must also comply with regulatory requirements set by local, state, and federal authorities. These regulations dictate the quality of*** the treated water that must be produced and the permissible levels of pollutants that can be discharged into the environment.

-Site conditions: The site conditions where the wastewater treatment plant will be located are also important considerations. The site's topography, soil type, and groundwater conditions can affect the design of the treatment system and the construction of the facility.

-Capital and operational costs:The design of a wastewater treatment plant must also consider the capital and operational costs associated with the project. The cost of the treatment system will depend on factors such as the treatment technology used, the volume of wastewater being treated, and the complexity of the treatment process. The operational costs, including energy and labor, must also be factored into the design to ensure that the treatment system is financially sustainable in the long term.

By considering these factors, you can work with a wastewater treatment plant designer to develop a system that is effective, compliant, and financially viable

Treatment of wastewater ensures protection of our environment by removing pollutants and contaminants from the water before being discharged back into our rivers, lakes, oceans, and other bodies of water. Without proper treatment of wastewater, it would harm aquatic life, degrade our water quality, and disrupt ecosystems. In addition, without proper wastewater treatment, it would be detrimental to our public health. Wastewater often contains harmful microorganisms, pathogens, and disease-causing bacteria. By treating wastewater, we remove or inactivate these contaminants, which leads to reducing the risk of waterborne diseases, and preventing the spread of infections. 

Water is one of our most valuable resources. Without water, human life would not be able to exist. By treating wastewater, we are able to reclaim and reuse it.Through advanced treatment processes, treated wastewater, known as reclaimed water or recycled water, can be utilized for various non-potable purposes. A few examples of these processes include irrigation, industrial processes, and even replenishing groundwater reserves. This reduces the strain on freshwater sources, and helps preserve water resources.

Wastewater often contains valuable resources such as organic matter, nutrients (e.g., nitrogen and phosphorus), and energy. Advanced treatment technologies allow for the recovery of these resources through processes like anaerobic digestion, biogas generation, and nutrient extraction. This approach promotes sustainability and can contribute to the production of renewable energy.

Lastly, governments and regulatory agencies have established standards and regulations to protect water quality and public health. Wastewater treatment is paramount to meet these standards and comply with environmental regulations. Treatment facilities must adhere to specific guidelines and employ various treatment methods to ensure wastewater meets the required quality standards before being discharged to the environment.

The main purpose of water treatment is to make water safe and suitable for various purposes, including drinking, industrial processes, irrigation, and recreational activities. Water treatment involves the removal of contaminants, pollutants, microorganisms, and other impurities present in water sources. Without water treatment, human life would not be able to survive. 

One of the primary purposes of water treatment is to provide clean and safe drinking water to communities. Treatment processes aim to remove harmful pathogens (bacteria, viruses, parasites), chemicals, heavy metals, suspended solids, and other contaminants that may be present in the water supply. The end goal is to meet specific water quality standards, and ensure the water is safe for consumption.

Water treatment plays a crucial role in protecting public health. By removing disease-causing microorganisms, such as bacteria and viruses from water, it greatly reduces the risk of waterborne diseases and infections. Treatment processes also target harmful chemicals, toxins, and other substances that could have adverse health effects when ingested, or come into contact with humans.

In addition, water treatment is necessary for various industrial and commercial processes. Many industries rely on treated water as a component of their manufacturing processes, cooling systems, or as a raw material. Water treatment helps remove impurities that could interfere with industrial equipment, affect product quality, or cause environmental pollution when discharged as wastewater.

Regarding agriculture and irrigation, water treatment can improve the quality of water used for agricultural irrigation. By removing sediment, contaminants, and excess salts, it helps prevent soil degradation, reduces the risk of crop contamination, and promotes optimal plant growth. Treated water also ensures the efficient operation of irrigation systems, preventing clogging and damage.

Lastly, water treatment is essential for maintaining water quality in recreational areas such as swimming pools, spas, and recreational water bodies. Proper treatment helps control the growth of bacteria, algae, and other microorganisms, ensuring a safe and enjoyable environment for recreational activities.

Primary treatment is the initial stage of wastewater treatment, which mainly focuses on the removal of large solid materials and suspended solids from the wastewater. In addition, primary treatment can also consist of the settling of solids, and the floating of fats, oils, and grease (FOG). It can involve physical processes such as screening, sedimentation, and filtration. During the primary treatment, the wastewater passes through screens to remove large objects, then undergoes sedimentation, in which heavier particles settle to the bottom. The remaining wastewater is then filtered to remove the finer solids.

Secondary treatment, also known as biological treatment, aims to remove the organic matter and dissolved contaminants from the wastewater. This stage of treatment involves the use of microorganisms to break down the organic pollutants into simpler, stable forms. The most common method of secondary treatment is the activated sludge process, in which air is pumped into a mixture of wastewater and activated sludge (microorganisms) to promote the growth of bacteria that digests the organic matter. Other secondary treatment methods include trickling filters and rotating biological contactors (RBC’s).

Tertiary treatment is the advanced stage of the wastewater treatment process. Tertiary treatment primarily focuses on the removal of the remaining pollutants that were not adequately removed during the primary and secondary treatment stages. The goal is to produce high-quality treated water suitable for uses such as irrigation, industrial use, or even drinking water. Tertiary treatment methods include processes such as filtration (e.g. sand filters or membrane filtration), disinfection (usually with chlorine or ultraviolet light), and advanced oxidation processes (ozonation or advanced chemical oxidation) to further reduce the contaminants and pathogens.

Water treatment refers to the process of purifying water from various sources to make it safe and suitable for consumption, or specific industrial uses. The primary objective of water treatment is to remove impurities, contaminants, and pathogens from raw water sources, such as rivers, lakes, groundwater, or reservoirs. The treated water is intended for drinking, irrigation, industrial processes, or other purposes that require clean water.

Typical steps involved in water treatment may include coagulation and flocculation, sedimentation, filtration, disinfection, pH adjustment, and additional treatment when required. 

Wastewater treatment, on the other hand, focuses on treating used water that contains pollutants, contaminants, and other waste materials. It involves the removal or reduction of physical, chemical, and biological impurities present in wastewater before it can be safely discharged back into the environment, or reused. Wastewater can originate from domestic, industrial, or commercial activities. Wastewater treatment processes typically include preliminary treatment, primary treatment, secondary treatment, tertiary treatment, and sludge treatment.

Overall, while water treatment focuses on making raw water safe for consumption or industrial use, wastewater treatment involves removing pollutants and contaminants from used water to protect the environment and public health before it is discharged or recycled.

There are several different methods used for wastewater treatment. The most common methods include physical treatment, biological treatment, chemical treatment, advanced treatment, and sludge treatment. 

Physical treatment consists of screening, in which the wastewater passes through screens to remove large objects such as sticks, rags, plastics, and debris. Another method of physical treatment is grit removal. Grit chambers or grit classifiers are used to settle and remove heavy inorganic materials such as sand, gravel, and silt. Lastly, sedimentation is incorporated to allow suspended solids settle to the bottom as sludge, which is then removed.

Biological treatment includes treatment methods such as activated sludge and attached growth. In an activated sludge process, the wastewater contains microorganisms (activated sludge) in aeration tanks, in which the microorganisms consume the organic matter turning it into biomass and carbon dioxide. Attached growth, or also called biofilm process, utilizes synthetic media to promote the growth of microorganisms, which consume the organic matter and pollutants.

Although chemical treatment may not be the most economical treatment process, it can be effective. Chemicals such as aluminum sulfate or ferric chloride are added to the wastewater, which causes fine particles to aggregate and form larger particles that can easily be removed. In addition, other specific chemicals are added to the wastewater to form insoluble precipitates, which then can be separated through sedimentation or filtration. Lastly, chlorine or ultraviolet light can be used to kill or sterilize harmful microorganisms that are present in the wastewater.

A few methods of advanced treatment consist of membrane filtration, reverse osmosis (RO), and advanced oxidation processes (AOP’s). Membrane filtration utilizes membranes with very fine pores, removing suspended solids, bacteria, viruses, and dissolved contaminants. In an RO process, pressure is applied to force water through a semipermeable membrane, which is effective in removing dissolved salts, organic compounds, and contaminants. Additionally, advanced oxidation processes such as ozonation, UV/H2O2 (ultraviolet/hydrogen peroxide, or advanced oxidation are used to oxidize and degrade persistent organic compounds. 

Finally, in the sludge treatment process, sludge thickening, digestion, and dewatering are employed to manage and treat the sludge. Sludge thickening increases the concentration of sludge through processes such as gravity, centrifugation, or dissolved air flotation (DAF). Sludge can also be treated in anaerobic digesters, in which the bacteria break down organic matter, and produce biogas that results in reducing the sludge volume and stabilizes it. Further removal of water from digested sludge is achieved through processes like mechanical dewatering (e.g. filter presses, belt presses), or thermal drying. 

These methods can be combined and tailored to specific wastewater characteristics, regulatory requirements, and the desired effluent quality. Wastewater treatment plants often employ a combination of these processes to achieve effective treatment and ensure environmental compliance.

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