Across the USA, wastewater treatment plants are vital to many industries. They are responsible for ensuring that wastewater is safe when returning to waterways or being reused commercially.
Unfortunately, running a wastewater treatment plant can be incredibly costly.
Between day-to-day operations, energy bills, and equipment repairs, the costs of running an effective plant can rack up quickly.
The good news is that there are clever methods that can be used to lower these costs while ensuring the system runs smoothly.
In this post, three effective strategies are explained to help lower operating costs in this particular industry.
Upgrade Pump Stations and Equipment
The key part of any wastewater system is the pump stations.
Pump stations are used to transport wastewater from one location to another, and this can occur over long distances.
However, older pumps can consume a significant amount of electricity and wear out much more quickly.
Facilities can reduce their electricity use and lower maintenance costs by replacing old pumps with new, energy-efficient models, such as industrial pumps from West Power Group.
Newer models can incorporate modern controls, such as variable speed drives, which enable the pumps to adjust their work rate based on the amount of water that is flowing.
This means they will not be using more power than is necessary.
Some upgrades can also include sensors that monitor for clogs, leaks, and other issues.
If these problems are caught early on, then big and expensive breakdowns will be avoided.
Diagnose Costly Processes
Improving daily operations can also help cut the costs of wastewater treatment.
An example of this is the process of adding air to water, otherwise known as aeration, which is crucial for breaking down waste.
This process does use a lot of energy, though, so it is essential to identify and eliminate any wasteful processes.
Plant operators can identify where money is being wasted by taking a closer look at how each part of the wastewater system is working.
Common aspects to consider include excessive chemical use, running equipment longer than necessary, and/or failing to optimize each step in the process.
Again, upgrades like sensors can also be helpful here.
The data provided from sensors and bills can help operators find these problems.
It could also be useful to bring in an external expert who can offer fresh ideas and assist in finding cost-saving adjustments.
Automate Key Operations
Like in many other industries, automation can help to save money and time, with computer systems and machines taking over tasks that human workers once handled.
This occurs in the wastewater treatment industry, too. In wastewater treatment, automated systems can include adding the correct amount of chemicals, adjusting pump speeds, sending alerts when issues arise, and more.
Automating systems in this industry can help them work more consistently and reduce the number of mistakes made.
This includes setting up reminders for maintenance to help prevent unexpected problems.
Additionally, costs can be further reduced when automated processes detect changes in water flow, adjusting accordingly.
To conclude, cutting costs in the water treatment industry doesn’t mean cutting corners.
In fact, a plant operator in the wastewater industry can lower operating costs by implementing smart changes, as outlined in this post.
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