Mr. J. Seamus Boylson I see ...

Mr. J. Seamus Boylson

I see many good, practical & efficient/cost-effective potential solutions already offered, & don't wish to either complicate or confuse the basic issue(s) for the party seeking this group's technical assistance.

  However, the respondent that suggested the plant move its process from "aerobic" to "anaerobic" has quite possibly offered an overall solution that could both streamline the entire process, as well as convert a potentially valuable "waste" by-product into a renewable resource. [Plus: Recall that ALL Pathogenic forms are "aerobic"; & can't survive in anaerobic environments. Thus, an added "natural purification" process is introduced to you "value added" check-list!]

A couple of major/positive "secondary/side-effect" results could also help improve the treatment station's "bottom line", while doing much good for local agriculturists.  My more comprehensive approach is a bit more extensive & detailed than these short retort formats can accommodate; so offer an invitation to contact me - either directly or via my LinkedIn Network connections - for added specifics.

But in short: 1) Natural process elimination of much suspended effluvia can be pre-removed, simply via use of "ponding" raw water & allowing it to filter through Water Hyacinth ponds. [NB: A major So. CA water district I worked with employed this method, & reported a savings of $10K/Monthly on their treatment costs. The aquatic plant mass grows RAPIDLY, & without other care, simply from digestion of the effluvia; so replacement cost is NOT a factor: In fact, harvested it in turn has great value as a composting/mulching material; & also usable for animal fodder when mixed with other natural grasses/feeds.  2) In addition, we've found that adding very low cost/non-toxic Aluminum Sulfate to water greatly hastens the final clarification process; by promptly sending ALL suspended matter to the bottom for ease of removal, (sans costly filters, et al).

 But the idea of using all that effluvia as a new income source/profit center is ideal: I've worked on experiments here in the deserts of CA & Southwest USA, where we used treated food-waste converted to sludge, to turn total desert lands into fertile growing fields. A final example: While working in E. Africa in the '60's>80's, it was learned that Malawi's growing lands/soils were left so depleted (via Colonial farming excesses), they couldn't grow enough to feed themselves, let alone have any produce for sale/export. That condition was corrected, simply by having "TA" stop using costly methods to destroy a valuable renewable resource growing on their important lake & rivers, & instead use it as a "No Cost" renewable resource, to quickly/easily revitalize their depleted soils via composting/mulching. I mention this latter example, as while your water "pollution" dilemma is now a costly problem to your organization, LACK of fertile/water-retaining soils is the same to agriculturists in your area! Hence the old saying: "One man's Trash is another man's Treasure" comes into play; and what could otherwise be costly "solutions", are readily converted to valuable new income, if handled with care, thought & cost-effectiveness. Bottom Line: DON'T IGNORE APPROPRIATE TECHNOLOGY &/or LET "SKEPTICISM" BLIND YOU TO BROADEST OPTIONS IN PROBLEM RESOLUTIONS!