Dairy Wastewater Treatment

NORTH AMERICA'S LARGEST dairy producer needed tighter control over its wastewater system. Their DAF and belt press systems relied on high polymer doses but still produced variable results, with off-spec performance and rising treatment costs.

BACKGROUND:

The facility runs DAF clarification and sludge dewatering to manage high-strength dairy effluent. They needed a chemistry program that could improve TSS control, increase cake solids, and reduce polymer volumes—all without overhauling existing infrastructure.

PROBLEM:

Operators struggled with off-spec TSS during high flows and inconsistent belt press performance. Tote handling and dilution water requirements added operational burden. Meanwhile, polymer costs were rising and permit violations became a serious concern.

SOLUTION:

Over a 10-day trial, the facility tested SimpleFloc on the DAF and belt presses. SimpleFloc products were injected using the plant’s existing Velodyne units and Venturi system. Operators monitored performance across flow changes, maintenance cycles, and minor dosing issues. CarboNet supported optimization throughout.

RESULTS:

‍SimpleFloc was selected to run in production because it achieved better solids capture, higher cake dryness, and lower chemical OPEX. Floc quality held up under upset conditions, reducing effluent carryover. Belt press cake solids rose from 14.3% to 15.7%, while polyacrylamide use dropped by 62%. Additionally, no infrastructure changes were needed.

Chemistry to compete

CarboNet’s NanoNet platform generates flocculants, coagulants, and targeting agents that that adjust in real time to changing wastewater conditions—cutting cost, dose rates, labor, and emissions.