News​

AEROFLOAT’S WASTEWATER TREATMENT SYSTEM ENSURES COMPLIANT EFFLUENT FOR BIOMAR TASMANIA

Compliant effluent biomar 3

Aerofloat designed and built a wastewater treatment system for BioMar Tasmania, allowing treated, compliant effluent to be disposed to the surrounding pine forest.

Watch the video case study here. The aquaculture company engaged Aerofloat to design a wastewater treatment plant that would ensure its new Tasmanian factory met the strict guidelines set by Tasmania’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The resulting system has ensured compliant effluent that can be irrigated to the surrounding pine forest.

Global company The BioMar Group, supplies high performance aquaculture feeds to over eighty countries around the world. Its Tasmanian factory was built to supply the expanding aquaculture market in Australia and New Zealand. The $56 million project provided a significant boost to the local economy, creating new jobs for the local community and ensuring significant growth for the state’s aquaculture industry. The facility is projected to produce up to 110,000 tonnes per annum of aquafeed product.

Given there wasn’t a sewer connection at the site in Tasmania, BioMar was looking at trucking away its wastewater at considerable expense to meet the strict guidelines set by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). BioMar therefore met with Aerofloat’s engineers to discuss a range of options that would ensure compliant effluent but also save on expensive transport disposal charges.

Given the regional location of the site, BioMar also needed the system to offer remote monitoring capabilities and be low maintenance. Watch the video case study here.

Wastewater generated from the factory’s biofilter (used for scrubbing odours from production) as well as washwater from the production area was high in ammonia nitrogen. Aerofloat recommended a biological system to ensure a compliant solution.

Aerofloat designed a biological wastewater treatment solution using multiple Sequence Batch Reactors (SBRs), incorporating Aerofloat’s proprietary Air-Locked Syphon decanters (AeroALS). The AeroALS is an efficient, robust and mechanically simple decanter. Due to the high ammonia levels in the effluent, a dedicated anoxic reactor was installed prior to the AeroSBRs to treat the wastewater to the required EPA standards.

SBR technology is a suspended growth biological treatment process whereby the microorganisms in the wastewater are aerated, settled and the treated clear effluent is decanted in the same reactor, overcoming the need for a separate clarifier.

The AeroSBR was designed to minimise BioMar operational downtime and any servicing requirements. Aerofloat’s patented aeration lances can be easily removed for cleaning even while the system is in use – this has saved BioMar staff operational downtime.

The BioMar treatment plant was completed within schedule and the commissioning process was effortlessly handled by Aerofloat’s engineers despite the restrictions of the global pandemic at the time.

Remote monitoring installed at the site allowed Aerofloat’s engineers to remotely monitor and optimise the system following commissioning.

BioMar’s Facility Manager, Brian McWhirter praised the work conducted by Aerofloat,

“The plant is running very well and achieving the desired results. Aerofloat staff have been readily contactable for ongoing advice and optimisations.”

Aerofloat has continued to support the BioMar team via remote monitoring and periodic on-site servicing, and provides competitive chemical supply to ensure ongoing optimal effluent results.

“Aerofloat have been super easy to work with right from the start. They have also assisted with issues outside their scope – the team have always been available and very helpful. I’d be happy to recommend Aerofloat to anyone looking for a wastewater treatment solution,” said Brian McWhirter, BioMar Tasmania Facility Manager.

Watch the video case study.

Share

How can we help?

Whatever your wastewater challenge, we can develop a solution for you. Start by getting in touch with one of our experts.