What are Common Wastewater Problems for Food & Drinks Manufacturers?

Common Wastewater Problems for Food Manufacturers

Wastewater Problems for Food & Drinks Manufacturers can take the form of trade effluent or wastewater which can cause a lot of problems for food and beverage manufacturers. Water is used throughout food and beverage manufacturing resulting in a high volume of wastewater. Additionally, wastewater often contains a huge amount of both organic and inorganic material that needs to be treated and removed.

Importantly, the variety of potential pollutants in wastewater from the food industry is incredibly variable. It depends on a number of factors including the specifications of the product, seasonal changes, cleaning procedures, production rates, and much more. Each of these has an influence on both the quality and volume of the wastewater.

If not properly treated, the trade effluent from these industries can cause problems to sewage systems as well as to the natural environment.

Obtaining Consent to Discharge For Wastewater

Food and drinks manufacturers legally require consent to discharge trade effluent. Wastewater from the food industry (including dairy wastewater, poultry wastewater, or bakery wastewater) is often heavily contaminated with several environmentally-harmful substances including organic and non-organic materials, high pH levels, and BOD and COD.

To get a Trade Effluent Consent you will need to contact a Sewerage Undertaker.

For more information related to Trade Effluent Consent in the UK visit Ofwat.gov.uk.

Common Wastewater Problems

Let’s take a closer look at some of the common wastewater problems for food and drinks manufacturers. Each of these must be accounted for when creating an effective wastewater management treatment process.

At Enduramaxx we are able to advise on any potential issues that may arise related to your particular industry. If you have any questions regarding wastewater treatment contact us today.

Variability in Trade Effluent

As we mentioned, there are varying levels of contaminants in wastewater from the food and drink industry. This variability can create problems for wastewater treatment processes. Many treatment systems require living microorganisms (biomass) to break down the contaminants. This biomass needs a stable environment to work effectively.

Flocculation tanks can be an effective pre-treatment to rid the wastewater of unwanted solids and other contaminants. This essential process creates a more stable environment for the wastewater to be treated.

BOD and COD levels

Wastewater is often overloaded with Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) and Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD). This can be caused by a number of factors including product changes or seasonal fluctuations. Regardless of the cause, disproportionate levels of COD and BOD can negatively affect the biomass which creates problems for wastewater treatment.

Commonly, COD and BOD can be sourced to TSS (Total Suspended Solids) also known as sludge. By removing this sludge at an early stage using coagulants or flocculation tanks, both BOD and COD levels can be significantly reduced. This will increase the amount of dissolved oxygen available for biomass and other aquatic life.

At Enduramaxx, we can provide quality-designed Polymer Makeup & Dosing system mixer tanks for coagulation purposes. Alternatively, we also stock a range of flocculation tanks that can be used for efficient sedimentation.

Alkalinity and pH

Another issue that requires a specific focus and consideration is the pH levels in wastewater. Generally speaking, to maintain environmental safety these levels should skew towards a neutral or alkaline level of around 6.5 pH to 8.5pH. pH levels that are too high or too low can cause damage to the biomass, affecting its ability to deal with contaminants.

Trade effluent from the dairy, poultry, and meat industries is particularly prone to fluctuations in acidity and alkalinity. This is mainly because of small variations in production or even seasonal changes.

At Enduramaxx we boast a range of high-quality Chemical Dosing tanks which can be used for pH correction during wastewater treatment.

Enduramaxx Wastewater Tanks for Food & Drinks Manufacturers

This is by no means an exhaustive list of the problems in wastewater treatment, however, it should give you some idea of the main issues. For further information on effective ways to manage your wastewater treatment process visit Enduramaxx today and talk to one of our team. We can provide you with the best solutions to your Wastewater Problems for Food & Drinks Manufacturers.