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WEFTEC 2018

WEFTEC 2018

by | Oct 15, 2018 | news

Mike Seymour recently returned from the Water Environment Federation Conference (WEFTEC 18) in New Orleans in early October. The show consisted of various presentations by experts, as well as a trade show. Mike attended a one-day conference on water reuse technologies both in operation and proposed. These deal with at least low pressure ultrafine membranes used in sewage treatment Membrane Bioreactor (MBR) treatment modules, up to and including Reverse Osmosis (RO) systems where removal of salts was also required. Some great examples were shown, and included UV disinfection for the removal of viruses. This supports a number of reuse systems we have installed over the past few years.

In addition to a number of the paper presentations, Mike spent two days on the trade show floor meeting with local representatives, and their suppliers.  This provided MSR with an opportunity to consider existing technologies. He also obtained a better understanding of the new technologies and how they would fit into existing MSR systems.

One of the great takeaways from WEFTEC came from the membrane show. Mike had the opportunity to review the workings of various membrane systems and improvements to the aeration systems which support better scouring and cleaning techniques. He also learned about improvements in energy consumption for operating the blowers. This is valuable learning for current designs of MBR systems underway at MSR.

Mike also had the opportunity to review a number of UV disinfection systems and found an advancement by one of the major UV suppliers. They offer an open channel flow optimized for small flow sewage discharges. This will provide considerable capital and maintenance cost savings on a number of our projects, with minimal impact to the level of disinfection provided.

Mike was fortunate on this trip to also meet up with five directors from the BC Water and Waste Association (BCWWA) and attend the WEF member association meetings. It wasn’t all work, they also got out to enjoy an evening in the French Quarter trying local cuisine and taking in some great jazz.

Salt Spring Island Ales

Salt Spring Island Ales

by | Oct 12, 2018 | Analysis and Consultation, news, Wastewater Treatment

Salt Spring Island Ales

Salt Spring Island Ales brews a variety of beers from spring water collected on the forested hillside behind the brewery.  The brewing process includes several stages, and as much as possible, solids and highly concentrated wastes are side-streamed and diverted from the wastewater treatment process.

Wastewater that reaches the treatment process has very high concentrations of sugars, alcohol and yeast.  In terms of oxygen demand, brewery wastewater is about ten times more concentrated than typical domestic sewage.  One of the most challenging aspects is the wide variability in both the quantity and quality.  This is due primarily to the equipment cleaning regimen, which involves successive washings of strong acid, strong base and strong disinfectants. All of these have the potential to disrupt or kill the microorganisms that provide the biological treatment.  The current treatment process consists of equalization, aeration, sludge re-circulation, and sedimentation.  Treated effluent discharges to ground.

MSR Solutions is in the process of upgrading the wastewater treatment system of Salt Spring Island Ales to accommodate an increase in production.  The future wastewater treatment facility will include improved primary treatment. It will also take advantage of both anaerobic and aerobic zones to reduce effluent strength. It will do this while simultaneously minimizing the production of solid waste. Feedback control systems will balance the wide fluctuations in pH and flow rate.