What’s driving wastewater plant upgrades

At some point, it’s going to be time to upgrade your wastewater treatment plant. It might not be today, but it’s going to happen at some point. Understanding what drives those changes and the signs you should be looking for are important – and will help you stay out front so that you’ll be prepared when the time is right.

If you’re considering a waste water system upgrade, here are some things you’ll need to be on the look out for and be thinking about. Let’s jump right in.

Increased effluent standards

Without a doubt – an increased discharge standard is always going to be the #1 driver of wastewater treatment upgrades. Every day, regulators are placing stricter limits on industrial and municipal plants in an attempt to meet federal and state regulations as to what enters the environment. Keeping an eye on evolving standards will always help keep you a step ahead.

Older equipment and technology

Most wastewater treatment plants have been in service for years – if not decades. Like most communities in the US – they’ve also suffered from a lack of investment. That means older equipment that might not be as cost-efficient and reliable as it used to be.

When these issues begin to present themselves, upgrading and replacing existing systems with newer, more efficient technology is the best way to go. Not only will this reduce maintenance costs – but it’ll also lower day-to-day operating expenses and improve the plant’s output – making it easier to comply with local, state and federal regulations.

Energy isn’t cheap

Issues around energy consumption are front and center in every community discussion around the world. High energy costs, greenhouse gas emissions and climate change have dominated the headlines and has also causes an increased focus on our wastewater treatment plants and what their role is in all of this.

There’s good reason for that, too – as wastewater treatment plants consume 2.5-3% of all global electricity consumption. Needless to say, finding lower cost, more energy efficient means of operation has become a global priority – not just for the health of the environment, but for our bottom line as well.

Meeting capacity

The final driver of wastewater system upgrades is capacity. As people move in increasing numbers to more dense, urban areas – many plants are operating at max capacity – or in some cases – are operating over capacity. How we meet this demand is a hot topic, but regardless of policy positions – plant expansion is almost always part of the answer.

That being said – there are limitations to that answer as sometimes expanding waste water treatment plants isn’t an option due to location, land limitations and the like. New technologies that reduce the necessary footprint have become a considerable part of the conversation whenever upgrades are being discussed.

If your plant is considering making upgrades in the near future, make sure digital monitoring and tracking are a part of those projects. Give us a call today and we’ll be happy to provide you with a free consultation.