WPL is adding dissolved air flotation (DAF) package treatment plant to its hire fleet in response to demand from industrial wastewater producers.The Hampshire-based company is reporting a considerable increase in requests for hire plants as industrial users try to beat increased charges from utilities.

Image:WPL Dissolved Air Floatation (DAF) wastewater treatment tank

Simon Kimber, sales and marketing director of WPL commented:

“What we are seeing is a significant increase in enquiries from companies that are discharging into sewers. Some industrial users are seeing rises in sewerage charges as utilities crack down on persistent polluters and become stricter about applying the Mogden formula.”

Sewerage charges are calculated according to the volume and strength of waste discharged into the public sewers. The Mogden formula is a way of calculating charges based on the volume, the chemical oxygen demand (COD) and the level of suspended solids of industrial effluent.

Stricter testing

Simon Kimber said the emergence of a more stringent testing regime has led to a huge rise in requests for equipment hire.

“Demand has come from food processing companies, agricultural companies, pharmaceutical companies and waste disposal companies, which produce effluent with a high COD. By hiring equipment, rather than buying, industrial users can be sure the process does exactly what they need.”

“WPL has expanded its hire fleet to accommodate the increased interest. Package plants can be fitted alongside existing systems to create additional treatment that can change the quality of the effluent and dramatically lower sewerage charges.”

Image:WPL package Dissolved Air Floatation (DAF) wastewater treatment tank with a WPL engineer

Tested and proven

WPL offers flexibility in its hire options for industrial effluent processors and works closely with the customer to determine site-specific effluent requirements. The process is then tested and proven in a site trial prior to the full-scale plant being built and installed.

Given the savings that can be made, Simon Kimber said more companies need to examine their effluent requirement more closely.

“Wastewater treatment is a challenging and complex operation for effluent processing companies,” he said. “It is not surprising that they tend to stick to what they know, allocating an expected amount from their budget each month however high that might be.”

“WPL can take away this risk factor through the use of extensive testing and analysis, providing a clear prediction of costs and long-term savings.”

Robust and reliable

Managing Director of WPL Gareth Jones said:

“WPL has 25 years experience of building, installing and maintaining package plants and has a reputation for understanding exactly what our customers need. The DAF package plants that are available for hire are built to the same high specifications as the ones the company sells to customers and are robust, reliable and easy to maintain."

“Many industrial users are seeing a significant rise in their sewerage charges, which has led to an expansion in the demand for additional wastewater treatment. The hire side of the business has expanded considerably as industrial and commercial users seek flexible ways to invest in better wastewater treatment.”

Significant savings

Simon Kimber concluded:

 “It is important for industrial companies to find the right solution for the effluent being treated as they can even face fines if they exceed consents set by the water utility.

“Hiring a DAF plant designed to fit theparameters of the effluent being treated reduces risk. It also improves efficiency, is better for the environment and will deliver long-term cost savings.”