Historically, equipment manufacturers have focused product development on the needs of larger plants with increasing treatment capacity. This has led to innovations in process treatment efficiency very focused on the needs of higher volume plants.
As smaller plants know, large plant systems don’t always scale down to fit their site. All too frequently, the push for bigger and better treatment processes has left smaller plants in the lurch. Forced between selecting oversized, over-budget treatment processes or reliance on smaller, outdated and inefficient treatment processes, smaller plants were often choosing the latter.
Technological advances continue in all aspects of wastewater treatment. However, many of these technologies are out of reach for smaller treatment plants. With many emerging technologies specifically designed for big plants, too often they are too big or too expensive for the treatment needs, flows and budgets of smaller plants.
Smaller plants are no less important in maintaining the quality of life that people rely on from effective wastewater treatment. Working with smaller treatment plants, Hydro International recognized a consistent demand for the same levels of protection and performance that larger plants are privileged to, but on a scale that could fit within a small plant footprint.
Identifying small plants’ needs
To better understand how to help solve problems for smaller treatment plants, Oldcastle needed to identify what was most important to them. The company surveyed a number of smaller plants to learn more about issues that were critical in their equipment selection process. The key needs that were common in nearly all of the feedback include:
- High performance with very low maintenance
- Flexible installation options to fit within existing plant layout
- Smaller footprint and lower cost
Simply scaling down larger systems can lead to inefficiencies with many elements too overbuilt and overdesigned to be cost-effective for smaller treatment plants. This is a big reason why many emergent technologies are not well suited for smaller treatment plants and why Hydro International (now part of Oldcastle) created its compact line of Advanced Grit Management solutions.
With Hydro International’s Compact grit removal product line, the proven benefits of Advanced Grit Management are now available for even the smallest treatment plants. Download the brochure to learn more.
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