Industrial Water Solutions - Issue 4
WELCOME
Finally some good news... it certainly seems as though economic conditions and business confidence are improving at last. The past 3 months have seen a significant increase in activity for Clearmake, thanks to the start of the financial year and the release of new capital expenditure budgets, the introduction of the Clearmake Electropure ™ water treatment and water recycling technology, purchasing and operational improvements that have lead to numerous price reductions, as well as the impressive efforts of our incredible team.
Reserve Bank of Australia
This month was our quarterly Reserve Bank meeting and the overall message is that Australia continues to be in an enviable position relative to other economies around the world. While the actual recovery still seems to be patchy, overall confidence has improved significantly over the last year, while GDP growth and business investment is returning to long term average levels.
The overall impact of the GFC has ended up being significantly less than expected and the recovery stronger and faster than forecast. In summary the future for the Australian economy looks very bright and the impacts of the GFC far lower than they could have been.
Clearmake Electropure™
A video demonstration of the latest addition to our range of technologies is now available. Simply click here to see how it works.
We have two trial installations of the technology running at the moment - one at a printing facility and the other at a paint manufacturer. These two businesses were selected as they produce large volumes of heavily contaminated waste water. These two industries have also historically produced waste water that is extremely difficult to treat. So we’re putting the Clearmake Electropure technology to the test and will report back on the results in a future edition of the newsletter.
New Team Member
We’d like to welcome Zac Gill to the team. Zac will be managing our key national accounts and channel management nationwide. Zac has extensive industry experience and has already proven to be a great asset to the business and clients alike.
New Standard Product Pricing... It’s Good News!
Thanks to improvements in supply chain and supplier pricing, we have been able to pass on the benefits to customers by offering price reductions on many of our standard products, including GPT’s, separators, diversion systems, chemicals and industrial quick break detergents and degreasers. The savings are significant, so please let us know if you’d like to receive a new or revised quote on your standard product requirements.
Highlights of the Past 3 Months
It’s been a busy quarter, with numerous projects completed just prior to the end of the financial year including:
• a 10,000 L/h recycling system for heavy vehicle wash down,
• a class A water recycling system for a Brisbane Sewage Treatment Plant
• an acid neutralisation system for a mining company
• a water treatment system for an energy company
• An AQIS water treatment system for the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF)
Thank you. I hope you enjoy this edition of our newsletter.
David Lumb
Managing Director
Clearmake
PROJECT CASE STUDY
CUSTOMER HASTINGS DEERING
LOCATION ROCKHAMPTON
PROJECT WASH BAY WATER RECYCLING SYSTEM
BACKGROUND
As part of a facility upgrade, Hastings Deering required a new wash bay recycling system at its Rockhampton service facility. The key operational and regulatory requirements of the project were to meet planning and local council requirements while also minimising the use of potable water for wash down operations. Clearmake was selected to design, manufacture, install and commission a water recycling system for the new wash bay.
SOLUTION
Clearmake worked in partnership with Hastings Deering and their project engineers, GHD, to develop a custom system specifically designed to meet the needs of the project. The solution provided is a recycling system capable of treating 10,000 l per hour of wash down water. The system uses hydroxide precipitation, flocculation and DAF clarification to remove silt, heavy metals, seeds, weeds and pests from the water, then filters and disinfects the water to ensure it’s safe to reuse for wash down.
BENEFIT
• Compliance with planning and regulatory requirements
• Eliminated the use of potable water for wash down
• A cost effective solution (capital and operational)
• Elimination of the need to discharge contaminated water to the local environment or sewer system
INSIDE CLEARMAKE
Issue 3 of the newsletter described how clarification fits into the water treatment process and the workings of Gravity Clarification. In this issue, we discuss the other two main methods of clarification used in Clearmake systems.
Electro Flocculation
Electro flocculation uses a bank of electrodes to do two things:
1. Electrolytically add metal ions into the water. These ions act in the same way as the chemical flocculant used in the gravity or dissolved air floatation clarification process
2. The electrodes generate a very fine spread of very fine bubbles which capture contaminants and then float them to the top of the tank.
Clean water is then drawn from a given point between the top and bottom of the tank. As the contaminants have either settled or floated, this is called the clear phase and is where the clarified water is extracted from the tank.
To see this incredible treatment technology in action, click here. If you can't access the video via this link, please call us on 1800 700 267 and we'll send you a DVD version.
Dissolved Air Floatation (DAF)
The process of clarifying water through the use of chemical flocculants and dissolved air is known as dissolved air floatation or DAF clarification.
The DAF process relies on two processes to clarify water:
1. Chemical flocculation bonds the contaminant particles together making them easier to remove
2. Air is dissolved into flocculated water under high pressure. This air-saturated water is released and a blanket of fine bubbles lifts the flocculated contaminants to the surface of the water where they are removed by a scraping mechanism.
As with electro flocculation, clarified water is extracted from the clear phase and transferred to the next process or to a treated water tank.
So there you have it. Water clarification made easy. Each type has its place in the water treatment industry, depending on the water contaminants, flow rates etc. At Clearmake, we offer all three types and are expert at applying the right solution for our clients.
Should you wish to know more about these clarification methods, feel free to call us on 1800 700 267 for a more in-depth discussion or pointers on how best to meet your site specific requirements.
INDUSTRY UPDATE
EPA TO BLITZ NORTH WEST VICTORIA IN A COMPLIANCE CHECK OF ALMOST 40 INDUSTRIAL SITES
A team of more than 20 EPA officers will inspect sites in the region to assess compliance with EPA licences.
EPA’s director of client services Matt Vincent said compliance checks were an essential part of environmental regulation.
“EPA regularly encourages companies to look at their licence conditions and effectively manage their environmental responsibilities along with the expectations of the communities they operate in,” Mr Vincent said.
“With the pending blitz, EPA urges companies that may have become remiss in this area to swing into action or risk possible enforcement action.”
The blitz will cover all major regional areas including Mildura, Swan Hill, Echuca, Bendigo, Castlemaine, Horsham and Stawell.
Industries to be targeted include landfills, food processors, abattoirs, composting facilities and wastewater treatment plants.
EPA will inspect waste transport certificates and management procedures, waste containment and treatment systems, environmental management practices, stormwater protection, litter control and general site conditions.
Mr Vincent said inspections send a strong message to industry to get their house in order.
“EPA had some surprising results from similar checks in south west Victoria and Gippsland so it will be interesting to see how industry performs in north west Victoria,” he said.
EPA licences cover the actual operation of the site and set operating, waste discharge limits, and waste acceptance conditions. For more information visit www.epa.vic.gov.au
If you require a treatment solution for your trade waste water, or would like to recycle your process water, Clearmake can help you. Call us today on 1800 700 267 for more information and free advice on your site specific needs.
WATER PRICE HIKES A REALITY
Infrastructure Australia is soon to release an urban water report, outlining reforms that will require billions of dollars' worth of investment for necessary water infrastructure, to cope with the nation’s rapidly growing population and changing climate patterns.
Government influence over pricing regulators in many states leaves utilities with insufficient revenue to invest in these necessary infrastructure projects. And although it may prove to be an unpopular political decision, the National Water Commission has called for government to take urgent action to properly value water to ensure supplies into the future are secure.
The Business Council of Australia have also demanded reform of the urban water sector, suggesting pricing must support necessary water infrastructure investment, to avoid a repeat of the water supply shortages that led to restrictions on use.
Infrastructure Australia Press Release
15 June 2010
Infrastructure Australia engaged Price Waterhouse Coopers to help identify opportunities to enhance existing water supply security strategies and to form practical recommendations for change at the federal, state and local government levels.
Infrastructure Australia’s initial infrastructure audit identified concerns that best practices in planning for security in the face of climate change, and in water pricing and independent regulation were not being adopted by all jurisdictions.
Price Waterhouse Coopers’ recommends:
• improving institutional structures and processes for water security planning;
• strengthening the independence and authority of pricing and regulatory agencies;
• removing institutional and legislative barriers to rural-urban water trading;
• developing a market model that enables large urban water users and bulk water suppliers to trade entitlements for supply;
• introducing regimes to allow third party access to water and wastewater networks; and
• relooking at the need for permanent water restrictions and developing arrangements whereby individual large water users could decide the level of supply reliability they receive.
Infrastructure Australia is now developing a plan of action to respond to the findings and recommendations in the Report. The report is available on Infrastructure Australia’s website.
Water is set to become an expensive commodity. A water harvesting, treatment and/or recycling solution for your business will help you stay ahead of legislative requirements and may even reduce your operational costs ongoing. Call Clearmake today on 1800 700 267 for more information and free advice on your site specific needs.
WINTER SPRINKLER BAN
The Minister for Water, Dr Graham Jacobs, announced in March 2010 that the winter sprinkler ban will now be a permanent water efficiency measure in WA.
The ban will apply from June 1 until August 31 each year and will apply to the Perth/Mandurah and South West areas. The ban applies to over 600 licensed water users.
Licensed water users include local governments, schools, golf courses, government departments, universities, TAFE campuses, major parks, race grounds and businesses irrigating areas of non-commercial turf, lawn and gardens. 'Active' sporting areas such as school and local government ovals are allowed limited irrigation during winter due to their frequent use and the value they provide to the wider community.
For more information on the sprinkler bans, visit the WA Government’s website.
If you’d like to receive more information or advice on how you can harvest and/or recycle water for irrigation purposes, call Clearmake today on 1800 700 267.
TRANSFORM YOUR BUSINESS IN 2010
In 2010, the Queensland Government is actively targeting businesses looking to undertake a green project relating to clean technology, energy or resource efficiency or waste reduction. Called the Carbon Initiative, it is an extension of the Business and Industry Transformation Incentives (BITI) scheme and aims to help Queensland businesses innovate for improvement.
Incentives of $30,000 to $250,000 (excluding GST) are available for approved projects, and are provided for up to 50 per cent of the cost of eligible activities. First round applications have closed, but future rounds are expected.
For more information, visit www.industry.qld.gov.au/incentives
GUIDE ENCOURAGES INDUSTRY TO ADOPT RECYCLED WATER
Victoria University and the Smart Water Fund have developed a guidance tool for industrial water users to address issues associated with recycled wastewater systems and increase uptake across the state.
The user-friendly guide, ‘Guidance for the Use of Recycled Water by Industry’, is designed to inform industrial water users on recycled water and how systems can be installed, with an emphasis on
reticulated treated wastewater.
“As part of the project we engaged five different industries in Victoria and identified common concerns about reticulated treated wastewater, such as corrosion, water quality and company image when
associated with using recycled water,” said project manager at Victoria University, Professor Stephen Gray.
“Across the board industries were unsure of its applicability to their business and some were reluctant to install recycled systems, despite the water savings they could make,” Professor Gray said.
Victoria University identified nine different categories of water use that are common across different industries. Each category has its own water quality requirements, human exposure levels and hazards.
“After identifying the most common water needs for industries in Victoria, we conducted a thorough literature review to provide a comprehensive and sound base on which to make recommendations,”
Professor Gray said.
Based on the literature review, Victoria University developed a quick scan ‘water reduction tool’ and a decision support framework (DSF) and trialled it on the five industries, each having different water use needs.
“The trials were received positively, with four of the five companies successful in identifying a water-saving measure for further investigation.” Professor Gray said. “Depending on the structure of your business, recycled water systems can make water savings of more than 50 per cent, which improves the financial sustainability of your business in the long-term and reduces your impact on the environment.
“Wastewater recycling also provides additional benefits for companies where rainwater tanks are not an option, or higher levels of certain minerals and substances are beneficial.” The guidance tool has been recognised by industry bodies in Victoria and nationally, including the dairy and food industries, as a well-rounded and accurate document for industries to make an informed decision on recycled water. The guidance tool has also been referenced in a number of reports and websites, including VicWater and recycledwater.com.au
Source: Smart Water Fund
For a copy of Guidance for the Use of Recycled Water by Industry, visit: www.smartwater.com.au
Clearmake has been manufacturing and designing commercial waste water treatment & recycling solutions for more than 17 years, with over 3,500 systems now installed Australia wide. If you’d like to receive more information or advice on the most suitable solution for your business, please call 1800 700 267.
SPECIAL OFFER
Price Reductions
Thanks to ongoing process improvements and supplier price negotiations, we’ve been able to pass on some super savings on standard products over the past few months. And the good news is that many of these changes will now become more permanent.
All standard product pricing has been reviewed and set across our entire range effective 1 July 2010.
The savings are impressive, so if you need to purchase a GPT, separator, diversion system, consumable chemicals or high quality quick break detergents and degreasers; call us now for a quote today.
And if you’ve received a quote some time ago, but are now ready to place your order... let us know and we’ll re-quote for you!
Phone 1800 700 267 Australia wide.
Please note that price changes are effective 1 July 2010 and are subject to change without notice. So call today to make the most of the savings!
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