Industrial Water Solutions - Issue 2
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE PAST 3 MONTHS
IS YOUR TRADE WASTE COMPLIANT?
STORM WATER HARVESTING AS A VIABLE ALTERNATIVE
INSIDE CLEARMAKE ENGINEERING & OPERATIONS
Business confidence is certainly returning, with projects that have been on hold for some time, moving forward once again. Over the past 3 months we have seen a level of enquiry and orders to match the great times of 2007/08. And it looks set to become even stronger in 2010.
To make sure that we are ready for what looks like a very promising year ahead, Clearmake continues to evolve. Quality Management remains a focus with our application for ISO accreditation well underway. A number of new products have been introduced to the market and we have completed some very exciting projects (you'll find a case study on one such project a little further into this newsletter).
You may also have noticed that at the same time the Clearmake brand continues its evolution. The business has grown considerably since it commenced in 1993, selling separators on the Sunshine Coast. Today we are Australia's largest, Australian owned and operated industrial water treatment and recycling equipment manufacturer.
The business name will remain, but our ‘look' has changed to better reflect this growth into a broader market. You'll see our new logo and look with fully emerge in the new year... this includes the much anticipated launch of our new website in early 2010. The website is currently under construction and although we'll be investing in some structured research to determine it's final composition, the website is essentially for you, so we'd like to know what you'd like to see included.
The website needs to be a valuable resource tool for specifiers and end users alike, so if you have any specific suggestions about desirable content, please let us know. Simply email your suggestions to info@clearmake.com.au
Thank you. I hope you enjoy this edition of our newsletter.
David Lumb
Managing Director
Clearmake
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE PAST 3 MONTHS
1. The team has continued to make terrific progress on delivering the ground water treatment plant for the Clem 7 Road Tunnel under the Brisbane River. We are ahead of schedule and will finalise commissioning of this 36,000 L per hour system by early 2010.
2. During the last 3 months we've also succeeded in delivering the design, manufacturing, installation and commissioning of a 10,000 L per hour wash down, recycling plant for Hastings Deering in Rockhampton.
3. Following on from the successful delivery of the project above we have also been awarded the contract for a larger water recycling project for Hastings Deering in Brisbane.
3. We've made significant progress in our new product development activities and expect to make announcements about new product offerings early in the New Year.
4. We would also like to offer a warm welcome our newest team member, Rik Holdsworth. Rik has moved up from Melbourne to join us as a Business Development Manager and will focus on servicing Clearmake's South East Queensland customers.
CUSTOMER GENALYSIS LABORATORY SERVICES
LOCATION TOWNSVILLE
PROJECT ACID NEUTRALISATION SYSTEM
BACKGROUND
Genalysis Laboratory Services required a cost effective system that enabled the treatment of acidic waste water from laboratory sinks so that it could be safely and legally discharged to the sewer system.
SOLUTION
Clearmake worked in partnership with Genalysis to develop a custom treatment system specifically designed to meet the needs of the project. The solution included:
Clearmake Acid Neutralisation System
Capable of treating up to 1,000 l per hour of acidic waste water, this system corrects the pH of the water to a neutral range (6-8) prior to discharge to the sewer system. The treatment system includes two custom made fiberglass tanks plus a small skid including control, monitoring and dosing equipment.
BENEFIT
Significant reduction in cost for disposal of acidic waste water - on site sewer discharge rather than removal by road tanker
Waste water now safely discharged to sewer
IS YOUR TRADE WASTE COMPLIANT?
"Did you know that if your business is operating in Brisbane or Ipswich, the waste water discharged to the sewer system is now a raw material for the manufacture of recycled water that is currently being used at the Swanbank and Tarong power stations. And when the need arises, for blending into dam water to be used for drinking water supplies?
Consequently it is important that mechanical workshops and other businesses discharging trade waste to the sewer system discharge only those wastes that have been approved under their trade waste approval. If you are uncertain please consult the trade waste section of your relevant water utility to seek clarification of what wastes are acceptable for sewer disposal. It is equally as important that your pretreatment system be adequate for the job and well maintained."
Russell Miller
Trade Waste Co-ordinator
Source Control and Product Quality
BCC Water Distribution
"In recent years our crews have detected petroleum hydrocarbons (diesel, oil, petrol) in the sewer, while clearing blockages. Our trade waste officers were called in to investigate the source, which often turned out to be an ineffective triple interceptor trap. Customers are encouraged to be proactive and plan the installation of a more effective Oil/Water/Solids separator at a time convenient to them rather than responding to our requests which may be disruptive to their businesses.
All separators perform better with regular maintenance and using only "Quick Break" type degreasers and detergents for wash down of vehicles and parts. The presence of petroleum hydrocarbons in the sewer is potentially catastrophic and a liability that customers can ill afford."
Charles Williams
Manager, Trade Waste
ActewAGL (Water Division)
Make sure your equipment meets trade waste standards, or for quality quick break products that ensure ongoing compliance and peak equipment performance, call Clearmake on 1800 700 267.
STORM WATER HARVESTING AS A VIABLE ALTERNATIVE
MEDIA RELEASE issued 12 November 2009
Stormwater Industry Association of Queensland Inc.
Stormwater harvesting a viable alternative to Traveston
The Queensland Government's proposed alternative to the Traveston Crossing Dam, more desalination plants, overlooks a cost effective and environmentally positive alternative: stormwater harvesting.
A recent study by the Queensland Water Commission found that for many urban development scenarios, stormwater harvesting can cost-effectively provide water for a variety of non-potable uses, thereby reducing pressure on the region's water supply.
"We're presented with a false dichotomy" says Sarah Walker, President of the Stormwater Industry Association Queensland. "We're told it's either Traveston Dam or desalination, when there are more sustainable and holistic solutions at hand, such as stormwater harvesting".
"We need to have a "balanced diet" when it comes to a city's water supply. Desalination is like the can of baked beans at the back of the cupboard - it's okay to use every now and again when you're caught short, but if you use it everyday you'll have a problem with gas".
The 2009 Healthy Waterways Report Card was a timely reminder of the significance of the impacts of urban stormwater pollution on the waterways of South East Queensland. Sarah Walker explained that urban stormwater flows can significantly impact the ecology of urban creeks and deliver damaging levels of pollutants to Moreton Bay. "Stormwater harvesting provides a double dividend by reducing these impacts, while providing a water supply source. It turns a problem into a resource".
Stormwater harvesting is considered an important and significant water source by South Australia and Victoria who have secured the majority of the first round of Australian Government funding for stormwater harvesting.
Stormwater harvesting will be a key feature at the Stormwater Industry Association of Queensland conference at the Sunshine Coast on the 29 and 30 April 2010.
For advice on your storm water harvesting project, please contact Clearmake on 1800 700 267.
For more information on the Stormwater Harvesting Industry Association's conference, please visit www.siaqueensland.info
INSIDE CLEARMAKE ENGINEERING & OPERATIONS
ZEN AND THE ART OF WATER TREATMENT
Water treatment. We each have our own conceptual understanding of what it is. A non-technical view may be the changing of water from one level of quality to a better level of quality. A technical concept is the removal of contaminants by physical, chemical or biological reactions.
At Clearmake, we consider the education of our clients part of our quality system (see article in Issue 1). Over the next few issues of our newsletter we intend to provide our readers with an expanded understanding of water treatment and where their requirements sit.
A brief overview of the main contaminants found in waste water will serve to understand why we need to treat waste water prior to discharge for other purposes:
|
Contaminant |
Reason for removal from water |
|
Suspended solids |
Can lead to the development of sludge deposits and anaerobic conditions when untreated wastewater is discharged in the aquatic environment. |
|
Biodegradable organics |
Composed mostly of proteins, carbohydrates and fats biodegradable organics are measured most commonly in terms of BOD (biochemical oxygen demand) and COD (chemical oxygen demand). If discharged untreated to the environment, their biological stabilisation can lead to the depletion of natural oxygen in the water and to the development of septic conditions. |
|
Pathogens |
Communicable diseases can be transmitted by the pathogenic organisms that may be present in wastewater. |
|
Nutrients |
Both nitrogen and phosphorus, along with carbon, are essential nutrients for growth. When discharged to the aquatic environment, these nutrients can lead to the growth of undesirable aquatic life. When discharged in excessive amounts on land, they can also lead to the pollution of groundwater. |
|
Priority pollutants |
Organic and inorganic compounds selected on the basis of their known or suspected high risk to human health. Many of these compounds are found in wastewater. |
|
Refractory organics |
These organics tend to resist conventional methods of wastewater treatment. Typical examples including surfactants, phenols, and agricultural pesticides. |
|
Heavy metals |
Usually added to wastewater from commercial or industrial activities and may have to be removed if the wastewater is to be reused. |
|
Dissolved inorganics |
Inorganic contaminants such as calcium, sodium and sulphate are added to the original domestic water supply as a result of water use in industrial processes and may have to be removed if the wastewater is to be reused. |
Now that we have developed an understanding of “why” water needs to be treated, we can move on to understand “how” it is that is we treat it. The following table provides seven different levels of treatment along with the appropriate system available from Clearmake to achieve the required level of contaminant removal:
|
Treatment Level |
Description |
Equivalent Clearmake Product |
|
Pretreatment |
Removal of gross wastewater contaminants such as rags, sticks, floatables, grit and grease that may cause maintenance or operational problems with downstream treatment operations, processes, and ancillary systems. |
Gross pollutant trap Oil/Water Separator
|
|
Primary |
Removal of coarse suspended solids from the wastewater. |
Bow screening, Bag filter |
|
Advanced Primary |
Enhanced removal of suspended solids and heavy metals from the wastewater. Typically, accomplished by chemical dosing and filtration. |
Screening + WTS + Filtration GWTS |
|
Advanced Primary plus Disinfection |
Enhanced removal of suspended solids and heavy metals to produce water of clarity sufficient for effective disinfection. |
WRS |
|
Secondary (Trace Organics) |
Removal of residual suspended solids and trace organics by granular activated carbon filtration. Disinfection is also included for recycling applications. |
WRS + Granular Activated Carbon (GAC) |
|
Secondary (Gross Organics) |
Removal of suspended solids and dissolved biodegradable organic matter. Disinfection is also included for recycling applications. |
WTS / WRS + Aerobic Biological Treatment |
|
Tertiary (Potable water) |
Removal of super-fine suspended materials remaining after normal biological treatment when required for various water reuse applications. |
WRS + Aerobic Biological Treatment + Micro-filtration, or Ultra-filtration |
|
Advanced Tertiary (Potable water) |
Removal of dissolved inorganics and super-fine suspended materials remaining after normal biological treatment when required for various water reuse applications. |
WRS + Aerobic Biological Treatment + Micro-filtration, or Ultra-filtration + Reverse Osmosis |
WTS - Water Treatment System
WRS - Water Recycling System
GWTS - Ground Water Treatment System
Retain this guide for comparison to your next waste water treatment project or to your existing system. Things you should be aware of are:
- DERM (formerly the EPA) requirements for discharge
- Council requirements – these will vary across council regions
- Sewer volume and discharge contamination limits
- Storm water discharge contamination limits
Finally, if you have any questions on the above discussion, please feel free to call the engineering team at Clearmake. Our combined experience and professional knowledge will have an answer to your question. Otherwise, we look forward to presenting you with the next instalment of Zen and the Art of Water Treatment next quarter.
SAVE MONEY WITH A CLEARMAKE WASTE WATER TREATMENT PACKAGE
Clearmake is now bundling some of its standard product line to offer you greater savings on waste water equipment packages. This offer is extended to most workshop type environments such as light industry, vehicle service centres, petrol stations, car washes, mechanical workshops and many other smaller manufacturing applications.
What does your Treatment Package include...
- A stainless steel Clearmake Oil/Water/Solids Separator
- Non emulsifying pump
- Float Switches
- Waste Oil Reservoir
- Electronic Controller
- Free Delivery*
A standard Clearmake Treatment Package will manage waste volumes from 700L p/h up to 5,000L p/hour.
This complete package is all that you’ll need to effectively treat your trade waste water and make sure it complies with legislative discharge requirements. We can also add in quality quick break detergents and degreasers to make sure your compliance is ongoing.
So the savings are real, and you get to purchase all items from the one reliable source.
Simply call 1800 700 267 for a quote today.
*Free Delivery limited to QLD, NSW and VIC. Other states may incur some freight cost, depending on the destination.
For more information on any topic covered
in this newsletter, please call
1800 700 267 or email info@clearmake.com.au
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE PAST 3 MONTHS
IS YOUR TRADE WASTE COMPLIANT?
STORM WATER HARVESTING AS A VIABLE ALTERNATIVE
INSIDE CLEARMAKE ENGINEERING & OPERATIONS
Business confidence is certainly returning, with projects that have been on hold for some time, moving forward once again. Over the past 3 months we have seen a level of enquiry and orders to match the great times of 2007/08. And it looks set to become even stronger in 2010.
To make sure that we are ready for what looks like a very promising year ahead, Clearmake continues to evolve. Quality Management remains a focus with our application for ISO accreditation well underway. A number of new products have been introduced to the market and we have completed some very exciting projects (you'll find a case study on one such project a little further into this newsletter).
You may also have noticed that at the same time the Clearmake brand continues its evolution. The business has grown considerably since it commenced in 1993, selling separators on the Sunshine Coast. Today we are Australia's largest, Australian owned and operated industrial water treatment and recycling equipment manufacturer.
The business name will remain, but our ‘look' has changed to better reflect this growth into a broader market. You'll see our new logo and look with fully emerge in the new year... this includes the much anticipated launch of our new website in early 2010. The website is currently under construction and although we'll be investing in some structured research to determine it's final composition, the website is essentially for you, so we'd like to know what you'd like to see included.
The website needs to be a valuable resource tool for specifiers and end users alike, so if you have any specific suggestions about desirable content, please let us know. Simply email your suggestions to info@clearmake.com.au
Thank you. I hope you enjoy this edition of our newsletter.
David Lumb
Managing Director
Clearmake
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE PAST 3 MONTHS
1. The team has continued to make terrific progress on delivering the ground water treatment plant for the Clem 7 Road Tunnel under the Brisbane River. We are ahead of schedule and will finalise commissioning of this 36,000 L per hour system by early 2010.
2. During the last 3 months we've also succeeded in delivering the design, manufacturing, installation and commissioning of a 10,000 L per hour wash down, recycling plant for Hastings Deering in Rockhampton.
3. Following on from the successful delivery of the project above we have also been awarded the contract for a larger water recycling project for Hastings Deering in Brisbane.
3. We've made significant progress in our new product development activities and expect to make announcements about new product offerings early in the New Year.
4. We would also like to offer a warm welcome our newest team member, Rik Holdsworth. Rik has moved up from Melbourne to join us as a Business Development Manager and will focus on servicing Clearmake's South East Queensland customers.
CUSTOMER GENALYSIS LABORATORY SERVICES
LOCATION TOWNSVILLE
PROJECT ACID NEUTRALISATION SYSTEM
BACKGROUND
Genalysis Laboratory Services required a cost effective system that enabled the treatment of acidic waste water from laboratory sinks so that it could be safely and legally discharged to the sewer system.
SOLUTION
Clearmake worked in partnership with Genalysis to develop a custom treatment system specifically designed to meet the needs of the project. The solution included:
Clearmake Acid Neutralisation System
Capable of treating up to 1,000 l per hour of acidic waste water, this system corrects the pH of the water to a neutral range (6-8) prior to discharge to the sewer system. The treatment system includes two custom made fiberglass tanks plus a small skid including control, monitoring and dosing equipment.
BENEFIT
Significant reduction in cost for disposal of acidic waste water - on site sewer discharge rather than removal by road tanker
Waste water now safely discharged to sewer
IS YOUR TRADE WASTE COMPLIANT?
"Did you know that if your business is operating in Brisbane or Ipswich, the waste water discharged to the sewer system is now a raw material for the manufacture of recycled water that is currently being used at the Swanbank and Tarong power stations. And when the need arises, for blending into dam water to be used for drinking water supplies?
Consequently it is important that mechanical workshops and other businesses discharging trade waste to the sewer system discharge only those wastes that have been approved under their trade waste approval. If you are uncertain please consult the trade waste section of your relevant water utility to seek clarification of what wastes are acceptable for sewer disposal. It is equally as important that your pretreatment system be adequate for the job and well maintained."
Russell Miller
Trade Waste Co-ordinator
Source Control and Product Quality
BCC Water Distribution
"In recent years our crews have detected petroleum hydrocarbons (diesel, oil, petrol) in the sewer, while clearing blockages. Our trade waste officers were called in to investigate the source, which often turned out to be an ineffective triple interceptor trap. Customers are encouraged to be proactive and plan the installation of a more effective Oil/Water/Solids separator at a time convenient to them rather than responding to our requests which may be disruptive to their businesses.
All separators perform better with regular maintenance and using only "Quick Break" type degreasers and detergents for wash down of vehicles and parts. The presence of petroleum hydrocarbons in the sewer is potentially catastrophic and a liability that customers can ill afford."
Charles Williams
Manager, Trade Waste
ActewAGL (Water Division)
Make sure your equipment meets trade waste standards, or for quality quick break products that ensure ongoing compliance and peak equipment performance, call Clearmake on 1800 700 267.
STORM WATER HARVESTING AS A VIABLE ALTERNATIVE
MEDIA RELEASE issued 12 November 2009
Stormwater Industry Association of Queensland Inc.
Stormwater harvesting a viable alternative to Traveston
The Queensland Government's proposed alternative to the Traveston Crossing Dam, more desalination plants, overlooks a cost effective and environmentally positive alternative: stormwater harvesting.
A recent study by the Queensland Water Commission found that for many urban development scenarios, stormwater harvesting can cost-effectively provide water for a variety of non-potable uses, thereby reducing pressure on the region's water supply.
"We're presented with a false dichotomy" says Sarah Walker, President of the Stormwater Industry Association Queensland. "We're told it's either Traveston Dam or desalination, when there are more sustainable and holistic solutions at hand, such as stormwater harvesting".
"We need to have a "balanced diet" when it comes to a city's water supply. Desalination is like the can of baked beans at the back of the cupboard - it's okay to use every now and again when you're caught short, but if you use it everyday you'll have a problem with gas".
The 2009 Healthy Waterways Report Card was a timely reminder of the significance of the impacts of urban stormwater pollution on the waterways of South East Queensland. Sarah Walker explained that urban stormwater flows can significantly impact the ecology of urban creeks and deliver damaging levels of pollutants to Moreton Bay. "Stormwater harvesting provides a double dividend by reducing these impacts, while providing a water supply source. It turns a problem into a resource".
Stormwater harvesting is considered an important and significant water source by South Australia and Victoria who have secured the majority of the first round of Australian Government funding for stormwater harvesting.
Stormwater harvesting will be a key feature at the Stormwater Industry Association of Queensland conference at the Sunshine Coast on the 29 and 30 April 2010.
For advice on your storm water harvesting project, please contact Clearmake on 1800 700 267.
For more information on the Stormwater Harvesting Industry Association's conference, please visit www.siaqueensland.info
INSIDE CLEARMAKE ENGINEERING & OPERATIONS
ZEN AND THE ART OF WATER TREATMENT
Water treatment. We each have our own conceptual understanding of what it is. A non-technical view may be the changing of water from one level of quality to a better level of quality. A technical concept is the removal of contaminants by physical, chemical or biological reactions.
At Clearmake, we consider the education of our clients part of our quality system (see article in Issue 1). Over the next few issues of our newsletter we intend to provide our readers with an expanded understanding of water treatment and where their requirements sit.
A brief overview of the main contaminants found in waste water will serve to understand why we need to treat waste water prior to discharge for other purposes:
|
Contaminant |
Reason for removal from water |
|
Suspended solids |
Can lead to the development of sludge deposits and anaerobic conditions when untreated wastewater is discharged in the aquatic environment. |
|
Biodegradable organics |
Composed mostly of proteins, carbohydrates and fats biodegradable organics are measured most commonly in terms of BOD (biochemical oxygen demand) and COD (chemical oxygen demand). If discharged untreated to the environment, their biological stabilisation can lead to the depletion of natural oxygen in the water and to the development of septic conditions. |
|
Pathogens |
Communicable diseases can be transmitted by the pathogenic organisms that may be present in wastewater. |
|
Nutrients |
Both nitrogen and phosphorus, along with carbon, are essential nutrients for growth. When discharged to the aquatic environment, these nutrients can lead to the growth of undesirable aquatic life. When discharged in excessive amounts on land, they can also lead to the pollution of groundwater. |
|
Priority pollutants |
Organic and inorganic compounds selected on the basis of their known or suspected high risk to human health. Many of these compounds are found in wastewater. |
|
Refractory organics |
These organics tend to resist conventional methods of wastewater treatment. Typical examples including surfactants, phenols, and agricultural pesticides. |
|
Heavy metals |
Usually added to wastewater from commercial or industrial activities and may have to be removed if the wastewater is to be reused. |
|
Dissolved inorganics |
Inorganic contaminants such as calcium, sodium and sulphate are added to the original domestic water supply as a result of water use in industrial processes and may have to be removed if the wastewater is to be reused. |
Now that we have developed an understanding of “why” water needs to be treated, we can move on to understand “how” it is that is we treat it. The following table provides seven different levels of treatment along with the appropriate system available from Clearmake to achieve the required level of contaminant removal:
|
Treatment Level |
Description |
Equivalent Clearmake Product |
|
Pretreatment |
Removal of gross wastewater contaminants such as rags, sticks, floatables, grit and grease that may cause maintenance or operational problems with downstream treatment operations, processes, and ancillary systems. |
Gross pollutant trap Oil/Water Separator
|
|
Primary |
Removal of coarse suspended solids from the wastewater. |
Bow screening, Bag filter |
|
Advanced Primary |
Enhanced removal of suspended solids and heavy metals from the wastewater. Typically, accomplished by chemical dosing and filtration. |
Screening + WTS + Filtration GWTS |
|
Advanced Primary plus Disinfection |
Enhanced removal of suspended solids and heavy metals to produce water of clarity sufficient for effective disinfection. |
WRS |
|
Secondary (Trace Organics) |
Removal of residual suspended solids and trace organics by granular activated carbon filtration. Disinfection is also included for recycling applications. |
WRS + Granular Activated Carbon (GAC) |
|
Secondary (Gross Organics) |
Removal of suspended solids and dissolved biodegradable organic matter. Disinfection is also included for recycling applications. |
WTS / WRS + Aerobic Biological Treatment |
|
Tertiary (Potable water) |
Removal of super-fine suspended materials remaining after normal biological treatment when required for various water reuse applications. |
WRS + Aerobic Biological Treatment + Micro-filtration, or Ultra-filtration |
|
Advanced Tertiary (Potable water) |
Removal of dissolved inorganics and super-fine suspended materials remaining after normal biological treatment when required for various water reuse applications. |
WRS + Aerobic Biological Treatment + Micro-filtration, or Ultra-filtration + Reverse Osmosis |
WTS - Water Treatment System
WRS - Water Recycling System
GWTS - Ground Water Treatment System
Retain this guide for comparison to your next waste water treatment project or to your existing system. Things you should be aware of are:
- DERM (formerly the EPA) requirements for discharge
- Council requirements – these will vary across council regions
- Sewer volume and discharge contamination limits
- Storm water discharge contamination limits
Finally, if you have any questions on the above discussion, please feel free to call the engineering team at Clearmake. Our combined experience and professional knowledge will have an answer to your question. Otherwise, we look forward to presenting you with the next instalment of Zen and the Art of Water Treatment next quarter.
SAVE MONEY WITH A CLEARMAKE WASTE WATER TREATMENT PACKAGE
Clearmake is now bundling some of its standard product line to offer you greater savings on waste water equipment packages. This offer is extended to most workshop type environments such as light industry, vehicle service centres, petrol stations, car washes, mechanical workshops and many other smaller manufacturing applications.
What does your Treatment Package include...
- A stainless steel Clearmake Oil/Water/Solids Separator
- Non emulsifying pump
- Float Switches
- Waste Oil Reservoir
- Electronic Controller
- Free Delivery*
A standard Clearmake Treatment Package will manage waste volumes from 700L p/h up to 5,000L p/hour.
This complete package is all that you’ll need to effectively treat your trade waste water and make sure it complies with legislative discharge requirements. We can also add in quality quick break detergents and degreasers to make sure your compliance is ongoing.
So the savings are real, and you get to purchase all items from the one reliable source.
Simply call 1800 700 267 for a quote today.
*Free Delivery limited to QLD, NSW and VIC. Other states may incur some freight cost, depending on the destination.
For more information on any topic covered
in this newsletter, please call
1800 700 267 or email info@clearmake.com.au
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