For many businesses, installing a wastewater treatment system is only part of the story. Ongoing performance, compliance, and support are what determine long term success.
This is especially true for high production environments like food manufacturing, where wastewater loads can be complex and constantly changing.
Priestley’s Gourmet Delights, a large scale dessert manufacturer in Queensland, partnered with Aerofloat to implement a wastewater treatment solution that could meet strict regulatory requirements while supporting continuous production.
Meeting the demands of food production wastewater
Priestley’s operates a highly automated facility producing between 90 and 120 tonnes of product per week. The site runs 24 hours a day, five days a week, with around 100 staff on the floor.
This level of production creates a challenging wastewater profile, including:
- High fat content from butter and cream
- Oils and food residues
- Sugars and dissolved organics
- Cleaning waste from washdown processes
To continue operating, the business needed a system that could reliably meet the discharge requirements set by local authorities while handling these variable loads.
Designing a system for complex wastewater
During the design phase, Aerofloat worked closely with the client to account for the unique characteristics of a dessert manufacturing process.
Waste streams included:
- Fats, oils and grease from production
- Food dyes and additives
- High organic loads from sugars and ingredients
Aerofloat’s ability to adapt the system design, respond to feedback, and refine the process ensured the final solution was aligned with both operational needs and compliance requirements.
Clear communication throughout the project also helped set expectations around system performance, scope, and outcomes.
Delivering compliance within tight timeframes
One of the key challenges in this project was timing.
The window between the start of production and the need to meet compliance requirements was around one month, including the Christmas period.
Despite this, Aerofloat was able to:
- Install and commission the system within the required timeframe
- Achieve compliance with local discharge standards
- Support the site through initial operation
This allowed the business to begin production without delays or risk to compliance.
System performance and operational flexibility
The installed system has now been operating successfully for close to a year.
One of the key advantages of the design is flexibility. The plant includes storage and flow management capabilities that allow water to be redirected within the system if needed.
This helps ensure:
- Production is not interrupted by temporary process issues
- The system can handle variations in load
- Operators have greater control over performance
Wastewater generated from areas such as dishwashing and equipment cleaning is effectively captured and treated, even where high levels of fats and solids are present.
Ongoing support through Aftercare
Beyond installation, ongoing support plays a major role in system success.
Priestley’s highlighted the value of Aerofloat’s Aftercare program, particularly in areas such as:
- Fast response when issues arise
- Reliable supply of treatment chemicals
- Access to knowledgeable service technicians
- Training for on site teams
Turnaround times for both service and chemical supply were noted as a key strength, with deliveries often arriving within days, even for less common items.
This level of support helps ensure the system continues to operate as expected without placing additional pressure on internal teams.
A collaborative approach to long term performance
A consistent theme throughout the project was collaboration.
Aerofloat worked closely with the client to:
- Adapt to changing requirements
- Provide clear and open communication
- Offer practical solutions when challenges arose
- Support both technical and operational teams
This approach helped build confidence in the system and ensured the business could rely on it as production scaled.
Planning for future expansion
As production continues to grow, the site is already looking at future upgrades to further improve treatment performance.
This includes the potential addition of biological treatment processes, such as a bioreactor, to further reduce organic load and improve overall system outcomes.
Because the original system was designed with flexibility in mind, these upgrades can be integrated without major disruption.
A partner in wastewater treatment
For businesses managing complex wastewater, having the right system is important. Having the right support behind it is just as important.
From design and delivery through to ongoing service and optimisation, Aerofloat provides a complete approach to wastewater treatment.
As Priestley’s experience shows, this combination of technical capability and ongoing support can make a meaningful difference to performance, compliance, and day to day operations.
