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BAD sludge problem in clarifier

2005

Let me start off by greetings to everyone and Happy New Year to all, it's been a while since I've been on your site, hope all is good with everyone out there.

Now the real fun starts.....here is my problem! You would actually have to work at this company to get the full experience of "lack of maintnence". The diaphragm pump that draws the sludge into the holding pit so it can be pressed out went down--it was completely shot, well beyond repair. Well needless to say they did not have a spare,pump and the pump they had was very old. We finally found a distibutor that had 1 left it took 3 weeks to get the part. Now, they were having a slightly bad sludge buildup in the clarifier to begin with, now without being able able to pump sludge for 3 weeks it has gotten way out of control! The clarifier is like 7500 gallons, I was thinking maybe the best route to go is call a tanker in and pump the hole thing completely out and just start fresh? They are running about on average 4 presses a day(16 hours).

I am open to any suggestions or help that anyone could give, I'm pretty desperate here!

Brian Gaylets
- Scranton, Pennsylvania, U.S.A.

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Options;

Buy a bigger press- They probably will not do that if they will not have a spare pump.

Pump it out and pay for the tanker to come get it. That will cost quite a bit.

Hire one of those companies that will bring in a mobile filter press and do your tank in a day or so. Again ,not cheap.

Buy a small used filter pump and run both at the same time.A possibility if you can find a unit in reasonably good shape with a guarentee.

The most probable- hire and train a temporary two man third shift.

James Watts
- Navarre, Florida
2005

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Pump directly from the clarifier to the filter press. If you were able to stay ahead before then you should soon catch up in the clarifier, then pump from the pit. This, of course, after you add the third shift.

Paul Morkovsky
- Shiner, Texas, USA
2005

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One thing I used to do when I was in a spot with sludge is; after pumping off all clear liquid from the top of the sludge holding tank, I'd add an additional dose of polymer (flocculant) solution. Usually I'd get a nice layer of clear water on top of the sludge that I could decant off, making room for...more sludge. A nuisance, but often better than waiting for the filter press.

Dave Wichern
Consultant - The Bronx, New York
2005