Every industrial site, job, and solution for our industrial customers is unique. Our specialists factor in several variables when devising an optimal water treatment solution – among them the make-up of the effluent, the type and concentration of contaminants, volumes of wastewater to be treated, on-site space constraints, and the requirements of environmental permits.
Sampling and testing are essential to understanding these variables, ensuring that risks are controlled, maintenance is minimised, and businesses remain compliant. Siltbuster’s commitment to accurate testing right from the start results in optimised solutions that are better for the environment and more cost-efficient for the customer than the “hit and hope” methods used by alternative suppliers.
At the heart of Siltbuster’s approach is science, powered by our state-of-the-art in-house laboratory. The lab is run by a team of skilled technicians with a wealth of experience in determining the chemical and physical characteristics of samples from all business sectors.
A series of comprehensive tests can uncover a wealth of information from site samples. Armed with that information, we can decide how best to treat the wastewater using our “sink it, float it, treat it” philosophy – using natural methods of separating contaminants from wastewater by settlement or flotation wherever possible, adding coagulants or flocculants to aid these processes where necessary, and using the minimum amount of chemical treatment where required – for example to correct the pH of alkaline or acidic wastewater.
The process can be broadly outlined in three steps:
Step 1: Initial site assessment
Our expert technical sales engineers first attend your site to scope the location, consider any geographical constraints or site challenges, and take samples.
Step 2: Laboratory analysis
From samples taken on site, our in-house lab tests for pH, appearance and specific contaminants, helping our experts devise the most effective solution. We then use the samples to model our solution, refining aspects of the treatment process including the time needed for settlement or flotation to occur, the need for coagulants or flocculants, chemical dose rates, and expected sludge production. These test solutions accurately mimic the process and allow for experimentation and optimisation before systems are deployed at full scale.
Step 3: Installation and operation
Using the comprehensive information gathered in steps 1 and 2, our specialists then develop the most efficient and cost-effective solution. This is where our modular approach comes into play – combining individual treatment units to create a bespoke package designed specifically for your business and site.
These units are built at Siltbuster, fully tested and delivered to site to be installed by our specialists. If needed – for example if your business is subject to seasonal variations or production increases or falls – the modular approach means systems can be easily scaled up or down to reflect demand.
Once the system is operational, monitoring equipment can be added to provide reassurance that the solution is working as it should, and to provide alerts if any issues or maintenance needs arise.
How testing saves money
Industrial businesses are subject to water company charges for discharging effluent to the sewer. These charges are calculated using a complex equation known as the Mogden Formula – you can read more about that here Reviewing your Mogden Formula: are you paying too much because of inefficient wastewater treatment?
The formula takes into account contamination levels, types of contaminants, the strength of the effluent and the volumes discharged.
Testing accurately for these variables, and installing a solution specifically designed for the precise circumstances of a site, can result in a significant decrease in charges – saving a business money over time.
Solutions we may recommend include: Balance tanks to even out flow and load; Dissolved Air Flotation tanks which are especially effective at dealing with Fats, Oils and Grease (FOG) contaminants; Lamella tanks for settling out solids; and MBBR (Moving Bed Biofilm Reactors), a biological treatment which encourages waste to form clumps that separate from the water.
Each of these treatments can result in clearer, cleaner water being discharged, and lower water company charges as a result.
Let’s talk
Siltbuster is a leader in sampling, testing and equipment maintenance for the industrial sector, working across a range of applications including construction, quarrying, industrial processing, and food and beverage production.
Our commitment to excellence in testing, installation, maintenance and monitoring ensures every Siltbuster solution prioritises compliance, performance, operational resilience and cost-effectiveness. Our modular approach, using units built and tested by experts at our headquarters before being deployed to site, allows systems to be easily scaled up or down according to need.
Talk to our industrial specialists about our water treatment solutions.
Contact us today