Rotation enhances dewatering performance for the In The Round Dewatering system

The pumping industry is made up of problem-solvers. It was only a matter of time before solutions arose to manage septage when there are no suitable disposal solutions, which is the case for many pumping companies.

Years ago, James Penner set out to address these situations and designed the In The Round Dewatering horizontal sludge dewatering system to provide pumpers with more options for efficient disposal of septage.

“We needed to come up with a way to get clean enough water that small sewer plants could take it, and the only way to do that is to get the solids out,” Penner says.

According to Penner the rotating motion of the unit allows for optimal liquid separation. “The fact that it rotates lets the sludge open up, and that lets the water then seek the lowest point where it goes out the filter tiles,” Penner explains.

The result is dry materials. “This unit will speed up the dewatering process and give you a more uniform, consistent result,” Penner says. “We think it’s a great fit across several industries, including septage and municipal dewatering.”

The unit is 90 inches in diameter by 20 feet long. It uses a polished stainless steel drum with a powder-coated roll-off frame for easy transport and unloading. An 18,000- to 25,000-gallon batch is mixed with polymer before being filtered in the rotating drum. A 1/2 hp variable-speed electric motor with heavy-duty chain and sprocket powers drum rotation. Water trays are mounted to direct discharged water.

The unit can be filled in a few hours or less, and the typical dewatering time is overnight. On average, 18% to 24% of sludge moisture is removed through the process, while septic sludge ranges from 20% to 30% removal. Grease trap waste typically runs between that of sewage and septic. 

In The Round Dewatering’s newest model in the testing phase is to feature an auger to provide options for material removal. “If somebody is on a job site and they don’t want the sludge hitting the ground, they can load it on a roll-off truck, back up to a dumpster and auger it into a (container) box,” Penner says. “It not only fits the septic guy, but also the municipal operators and gas and oil crowd. This is great for them because it eliminates having to use dry beds — saving time and space.” 317-563-2072; www.itrdewatering.com.