Problem: Closing of a local creamery in Richmond, Vermont, left its water utility short of revenue. “When they left, they took 67% of our revenue with them,” explains Kendall Chamberlin, plant superintendent. Consequently, the community of 1,000 citizens was facing a dramatic increase to its water bills. Septage receiving could provide an alternate revenue stream, but the wastewater plant did not have the capacity to deal with that extra solids loading. 

Solution: As part of a plant upgrade, a Fournier Rotary Press was used to dewater the septage instead of putting it directly through the process. The septage arriving at the plant is screened and then blended in with the waste activated sludge. After aerobic digestion, the mix of septage and WAS is dewatered through a two-channel rotary press. A clean filtrate (dewatering removes more than 95% of solids in the septage) flows to the headworks of the plant.

Result: Dewatering septage allows the community to compensate for the loss of revenue from the creamery. The clean filtrate from the rotary press, flowing with the incoming wastewater, is treated through the process without any hiccups. The solids are sent to a composting company. Cake solids are at 33%, which reduces hauling costs. Chamberlin is highly satisfied: “The combination of dry cake solids, low operating and maintenance costs and increased septage receiving capacity from this one piece of equipment alone was a game changer for Richmond. We love our Fournier press,” he says. 

Learn more at www.fournierdewatering.com.