Out of a landscape parched for water--but certainly not
ideas--comes a unique innovation in wastewater treatment from Premier
Wastewater International (PWI tm).
Based in southern Nevada, PWI has developed an economical
treatment process that can remove more than 90 percent of the organic matter,
according to Matt Russell, president and CEO.
The Enhanced Solids Reduction (ESR tm) process accomplishes
this by conditioning the waste stream. Russell describes this
"conditioning factor" as a process that changes the wastewater
characteristics in a way that promotes optimum processing efficiencies.
As with many technological advancements, the success of the
ESR process comes from some deceptively simple innovations. Chief among these
is the patented Multi-Action Conditioner (MAC tm) system.
Russell explains that by violently mixing atmospheric air
and waste stream under pressure, the MAC system creates a toroidal vortex and
cavitation action that fractionalizes the solids and homogenizes the waste
stream. Because the solids are broken into smaller particles, their total
surface area is increased which enhances the metabolic processes.
The MAC system also shears atmospheric air into microbubbles
which are delivered into intimate proximity to the microorganisms and
nutrients. The microorganisms are then taken to a high level of endogenous
respiration. The result, claims Russell, is an extremely high decay
coefficient.
Ernie Downs,
director of sales, asserts that the ESR process can offer substantial benefits
over conventional treatment methods. Besides significantly reducing net-sludge
production, Downs points out that the ESR process also reduces capital and
operation costs, takes up less space than traditional plants, and is much
simpler to build and operate. He adds that the process can be scaled to meet
most any flow requirements and has proven to be effective for both municipal
and industrial waste.
"Upon hearing of our claims, most engineers think it is
too good to be true," states Len Davidson, senior vice president. He
observes that after they visit the company's demonstration plant in Mesquite,
Nevada, and look at the test results, their skepticism is soon replaced with
interest.
In 10 months, this ESR plant has treated over 14 million
gallons of municipal wastewater and has yet to require any intentional wasting.
The plant was also designed to remove nitrogen and phosphorus. Effluent during
the tests exceeded California's stringent Title 22 standards for reuse quality.
"The economics of the ESR system are remarkable,"
says Bob Evans, chief financial officer. He explains that as the ESR system
requires significantly less equipment than traditional systems and takes up 25%
to 50% less valuable land, capital costs range from 20% to 40% less than
traditional systems. In addition, by lowering sludge-handling processing and
disposal costs, doing away with energy intensive blowers and high maintenance
diffuser systems, and having less equipment to maintain, operational costs can
be reduced 10% to 30%.
According to Paul Garcia, the inventor of the MAC system,
the ESR process is also environmentally sound. Besides significantly reducing
the amount of sludge that is produced, it eliminates the need for lagoons, uses
no toxic chemicals, reduces energy consumption, generates less noise and
minimizes odors and misting. He believes that due to the reduced capital and
operating costs many communities and countries can now, for the first time,
afford to properly treat their wastewater, which will help clean up our lakes,
rivers and oceans.
