Context

Siltbuster’s specialist teams responded within 24 hours when a client encountered a high water table and faced flooding challenges while carrying out works to support a major sewage treatment works upgrade.

Siltbuster was contacted by teams from national pumping solutions specialists Selwood, Siltbuster’s sister company in the Workdry International Group, who was working at the site, and identified that surplus groundwater needed to be treated before it could be safely discharged to a nearby watercourse.

Challenge

The underground geology at the site was clay and attempts at passive treatment techniques were not providing sufficient treatment.

Significant levels of solids were present in the ground water and a solution was needed which would remove non-settling clay particulates.

Solution

Within 24 hours of being contacted, a Siltbuster Technical Sales Engineer attended site. Samples taken were tested by Siltbuster’s laboratory to assess the composition of the wastewater, the contaminants present, and the best treatment solution.

After analysis it was decided to treat the floodwater with clear chemical dosing, using a coagulant and flocculant to bind particles together so they could be separated out of the fluid.

Given the flow rate of circa 40m3/hr, a Siltbuster MT8 mix tank was selected to allow for the coagulant and flocculant dosing. This resulted in the agglomeration of those non-settling clay particles which could now comfortably settle under gravity.

Siltbuster partnered this mix tank with two HB40R lamella modular clarifiers which retain agglomerated clay, resulting in visually clear water being discharged to the environment. A carbon dioxide dosing skid was also included, which would automatically neutralise any alkaline conditions which may arise.

To help deal with the levels of solids present, the rake drive included in the HB40R ensured sludge was agitated and could be easily drawn off with the provided sludge pumps.

Finally, Siltbuster provided two peristaltic sludge pumps, complete with auto-de-sludge panels. This allowed the sludge to be automatically drawn off at inputted, scheduled timed intervals.

Result

Siltbuster’s solution resulted in clear water being discharged to the environment. The client now has peace of mind that any water they pump through the Siltbuster system will be clear of suspended solids, meaning they can continue work without worrying about any silt pollution in the watercourse.