Onsite Wastewater Treatment Plant or Sewer System – Which Do You Think Is Better

Posted on September 4, 2012 by ccwtblogger

Water can be a very tricky issue for new subdivisions to overcome while being built. The first issue is usually finding a source of fresh water. If the subdivision is not attached to an existing source, many states require they have to find a way to provide 100 years of fresh water to the people who buy into it. The other issue involves the disposal of wastewater. New housing developments need to show that they are able to deal with sewage concerns and properly and safely dispose of wastewater. The latter is actually a greater conundrum in many cases.

Florida’s Department of Health recently came out with a comparison of installing onsite wastewater treatment systems versus connecting to existing sewer systems. It looked at cost issues combined with reliability, recharge capacity, ease of building, maintenance, and level of service. It found that there were positives and negatives associated with each. Initial costs were often larger for sewer systems as construction would be involved adding more pipes to get out to an area. Onsite systems were also more contained and were the responsibility of only the person who added it.

Sewers were cited as being easier to monitor and maintain. They said that if a leak happens it could take a while for it to be discovered on an OWTS, whereas sewer systems are watched constantly. Options for sewer systems are also more varied as a major wastewater treatment plant can be upgraded and altered to fit needs and changing technology. Sewer systems also work for everyone in the area while a more personalized treatment system is limited to just the person using it.

In a lot of ways this shows the common issues of personal versus public goods. While personal goods may be easier to handle for an individual and also means you do not have to worry about others. It also can cause costs to go up and put full responsibility on yourself. Public goods are shared between everyone for cost and use, but they can sometimes be non-responsive to individual needs.

So should municipalities look into pushing more individual Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems? Or should they stick to expanding sewers even at a greater cost to do so? Leave us a comment below on what you think.

We think there is a way to combine both into one option beneficial to everyone. Clear Choice Wastewater Treatment, LLC offers an onsite wastewater treatment system that can be installed near a housing development at No Capital Cost to the developers. Houses would then be able to store their wastewater in a traditional septic tank system before it is then pumped out and delivered to the central treatment located very close by. The septage would be treated at the plant, with many common pollutants being removed and leaving behind water safe for disposal.

Even more than standard sludge and septage, the Clear Choice Electrocoagulation system can be used for other forms of wastewater. It can treat grease traps from local restaurants, portable toilet waste used at construction sites and local events, and it can even remove pollutants oil interceptors installed along streets. All of this powerful treatment technology is available for a fraction of the cost of using a sewer system or building an OWTS directly onto a house.

If you would like to know more about our NO CAPITAL COST onsite wastewater treatment plant, please visit our website at ccwt.info and fill out the Contact Information Sheet. We also encourage you to call John Mitchell, Director of Operations at 877.770.2618 x701.

Clear Choice Wastewater Treatment, LLC – The Choice Is Clear

Power of Electrocoagulation

Posted on July 16, 2012 by ccwtblogger

Over the last few weeks we’ve been talking more and more about the capabilities of Electrocoagulation and what it is able to cleanse. To illustrate some of the pollutants that electrocoagulation is capable of removing, here is a list of some comment elements found in polluted water. Independent lab results show how much was taken out by the process*:

Contaminant Before (mg/L) After (mg/L) Removal Rate (%)

Aluminum 224 0.69 99.69

Arsenic 0.076 <0.022 97.12

Benzene 90.1 0.359 99.6

BOD 1,050 14 98.67

Calcium 1,321 21.4 98.4

Ethyl Benzene 428 0.372 99.91

Lead 0.58 0.0032 99.46

Mercury 0.72 <0.0031 98.45

Nitrate 11.7 2.6 77.78

Nitrogen TKN 1,118.88 59.08 94.72

TSS 1,560 8 99.49

Uranium .1300 .0002 99.83

This is just a small sampling of what electrocoagulation is capable of doing. Even if septage may not carry some of the listed contaminants, it gives you an idea of just how powerful electrocoagulation technology is when faced with common pollutants found in water sources. If electrocoagulation can remove these contaminants, imagine what it can do to your wastewater. Septage, grease traps, portable toilet waste, and oil separators are all tackled with the same amount of power and cleaning capabilities and could yield similar results.

If you would like to know more about our NO CAPITAL COST onsite wastewater treatment system, please visit our website at ccwt.info and fill out the Contact Information Sheet. We also encourage you to call John Mitchell, Director of Operations at 877.770.2618 x701.

Clear Choice Wastewater Treatment, LLC – The Choice Is Clear

*Results may vary depending on the influent; these same results are not guaranteed

How Do You Feel About Price Increases For Water

Posted on July 12, 2012 by ccwtblogger

Water is something we all need. We rely on it a great deal, even beyond just for drinking. It bathes us, gives us entertainment, and lets us clean our pets and cars. The Earth is covered in water that makes up the majority of the planet’s surface area, and yet so little of it is actually useable. Between salt water and glaciers that aren’t easy to tap, we’ve yet to figure out a way to truly use all possible water resources out there in an efficient and cost effective manner. Until we can easily and cheaply pull water from the oceans for use, for example, we’re limited to the fresh water we do have; and that supply isn’t growing.

A recent poll by Probe Research Inc. show just what people are expecting from these truths. In the study several people who rely on a utility for water were asked what they thought would happen to their rates. A whopping 70%, more than two-thirds said they expected their rates to go up significantly. Two-thirds! That’s a lot of belief that we’re seeing a dwindling source and that what is considered as much a right as a utility will finally see significant growth in cost.

To put that in perspective in the 1970s the entire city council of Tucson, Arizona was recalled when they tried to increase water rates to actually match inflation and usage. People are protective of their water flow.

So what is the answer then? Are higher rates inevitable to try and stem the over use of water? Can we find a technology that helps make desalinization even more possible? Or even the use of wastewater for recharge? Leave your thoughts in the comments.

We at Clear Choice believe our Electrocoagulation technology is part of the answer. Able to reduce the TSS, BOD, and FOG count to safe and useable levels for many water needs. Thanks to our onsite wastewater treatment system we can provide for any location water that can be clean enough to use on crops, plants, for swimming, or even to water your pets with. With a little further processing it could be safe to drink.

Wastewater reuse is going to be happening sooner rather than later, and we at Clear Choice want our No Capital Cost system to help make that possible. Easily installed, it takes up less than a quarter of an acre of land and can clean even the toughest wastewater. Septage, grease traps, portable toilet waste, and oil interceptor waste is all transformed into clarified water.

Clear Choice Wastewater Treatment, LLC – The Choice Is Clear

Electrocoagulation, A Shocking Experience

Posted on July 12, 2012 by ccwtblogger

Electrocoagulation is a process in which electricity is used on wastewater to cause the pollutants to separate from the water and coagulate into an inert protein. It affects contaminants that are conductive as well as emulsified liquids. The result is the breakdown of particulates to a solid and inert sludge which is then dewatered, creating what is effectively clarified water when it is pulled from the protein left behind.

Considering what the electrocoagulation technology, or EC, is capable of then why is it not more common? Electrocoagulation technology may have been around for over a hundred years, but it has not always been the most efficient. Early models had the problem of requiring massive amounts of power which would have neutralized any real savings that one would receive by not having to rely on the filters and membranes of other systems. So while it had been the most effective technology, it wasn’t always the most cost efficient.

With time and hard work that has all changed. No longer the power hog it once was, electrocoagulation technology is also more effective now thanks to the refinement of technology and material. It has always been easy to use but now it is capable of being monitored and tweaked with a few presses of a button. Most importantly, electrocoagulation technology is probably more cost effective than any other onsite wastewater treatment plant technology currently in use. Because it does not rely on the membranes of a RO system you don’t have to constantly replace pieces in order to maintain effectiveness.

Clear Choice Wastewater Treatment, LLC has worked with Ledcor to develop the best onsite wastewater treatment plant technology currently on the market. We have been able to create electrocoagulation technology that provides an onsite wastewater treatment system that can handle anything a septic pumper can throw at it. Septage, grease traps, portable toilet waste, and oil interceptor wastewater are all treated, even simultaneously within minutes. The result is a system that reduces the TSS, BOD, and FOG counts to meet regulatory standard for dumping.

On top of that, our system is very easy to use. Thanks to the E-Built system discussed previously, our system is not only effective but also quick to fix and trouble shoot should a problem arise. With a few clicks of a mouse information can be found on any part of the system, and help on how to ensure that if there is a hiccup, the fix is easy.

Clear Choice Wastewater Treatment, LLC – The Choice Is Clear

With E-Built, Our Onsite Wastewater Treatment System Is Even Easier to Maintain

Posted on July 6, 2012 by ccwtblogger

As technology grows increasingly complex companies work hard to make it as user friendly as possible. The most renowned companies in the world are those that can deliver an advanced, useful, and complex product in a way that anyone can pick it up. Computers, PC tablets, and cell phones all pack more features than ever thought possible in a single device, and all vie to show that they can be the friendliest to a consumer.

The Clear Choice Electrocoagulation system is an example of this. Advanced technology is combined with state of the art computer systems to create an efficient, cost effective onsite wastewater treatment plant. More than wanting to make it the best technology out there, Clear Choice has worked with our partner Ledcor to ensure that if there is a problem or a question, the user can quickly and easily find the answer. To help with that we introduce the E-Built System.

The E-Built System is a computer set up that allows a user to see in diagram, picture, and text every component of our electrocoagulation system. More than a visual representation of the unit, it is a way to quickly and easily find information on every motor, rotor, pipe, and tank used in the system. Manuals are available at the click of a mouse. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s) and troubleshooting guides are presented in easy to browse detail. Any question you might have for our engineers is available to you from the unit itself. To quote one of the designers of the system:

Ledcor’s E-built program is essential to not only training an operator, but the ease of maintaining/calibrating equipment for an efficient process. We also stand by our engineering in that any equipment failure/ routine maintenance will be completed by Ledcor, leaving the customer to feel secure in that aspect.

Watch the video below to see just how user friendly the maintenance system is.

Our No Capital Cost onsite wastewater treatment system is designed from top to bottom to be your answer to almost any wastewater treatment need you have. More than that, it is designed to work easily for you. We want you to be able to use it and clean all waste from septage, grease traps, portable toilets, and oil interceptors with ease and speed. We put the emphasis on you being able to do it all with ease, and not on having to rely on us.

Clear Choice Wastewater Treatment, LLC – The Choice Is Clear

RO, RO, RO Your Wastewater or Electrocoagulated????

Posted on July 6, 2012 by ccwtblogger

When it comes to wastewater treatment there are several options. One of the most common technologies used is Reverse Osmosis. Reverse Osmosis is the process of water being pushed through a membrane in a way that goes against the usual flow of water. Pressure is used to force the wastewater through a semi-permeable membrane which cleans it. The process allows the membrane to grab particulates and pollutants from the water as it is pressed into a lower solute liquid. Lower solute means there is less contained in the water, which is the opposite of how Osmosis works, hence the name.

Reverse Osmosis has many applications and is currently considered one of the better means of treating wastewater. It is popular with desalinization plants as it is able to catch a good deal of salt as the water is moved through. Many power plants use it as a means of recycling wastewater for their cooling towers and boilers. Car washes employ RO, in some cases, as a means of recycling their wastewater for use in the final rinse stage since the resulting water has such a low mineral count. This prevents spotting on cars.

There are several drawbacks to the process, however. First is the membrane itself. Eventually the filter gets clogged and will often need to be replaced. There is also a matter of volume as the membrane is only able to handle so much water through it over the course of a day. Water that comes from the RO process is also highly acidic and can cause corrosion through copper pipes and rusting in steel tanks. In industrial applications it eventually reaches a point of diminishing returns in efficiency as the process is further pushed. RO is very labor intensive and costly.

Electrocoagulation is a technology that is not newer than RO, but its usage has not been as widespread due to inefficiencies in older systems. Those inefficiencies have been worked out and the popularity of electrocoagulation has been growing steadily. EC, as it is also known, is the process of using electricity to alter the chemical properties of contaminants. It breaks down emulsified chemicals such as oil by altering the chemical chain. EC also causes the ions in contaminants to reverse polarity and bind into a different, inert substance which is where coagulation comes in. The result is a sludge that is easily dewatered and separated from the newer, cleaner water.

Where electrocoagulation shines is with pollutants that are not able to be filtered. Emulsified oil, suspended solids, heavy metals, and TPH are all made inert and easily removable from the water. These dangerous substances, that include arsenic and uranium, are rendered harmless as their more damaging properties are removed as they are altered. The applications of electrocoagulation include: industrial water cleaning, onsite wastewater treatment system, and small scale water purification for personal use.

EC is safe to use as it does not use all the harsh chemicals like chemical coagulation, can be virtually odor free as there is no need for retention ponds, and it is a rapid process allowing larger quantities of wastewater to be cleaned in a shorter period of time.

Electrocoagulation does not clean everything. It can only affect contaminants that have conductive properties. As a result it cannot be used as the active desalinization process. Salt does not transfer electricity very well so it is not removable. Larger objects also need to be strained from the wastewater before the EC process is used on it. While inert and safe for dumping, the sludge that results from the process also does need to be disposed of.

So which is the better answer? The tried and true process of Reverse Osmosis? Or the increasingly efficient Electrocoagulation? Leave a comment below to let us know what you think. Regardless of whose opinion is right, Clear Choice Wastewater Treatment, LLC feels we can provide the best option using our Electrocoagulation technology.

With our No Capital Cost onsite wastewater system we can provide state of the art, efficient, effective, and easy to use water cleaning for lots of different types of wastewater. As an onsite wastewater treatment plant our EC technology can handle large amounts of mixed wastewater including: septage, grease traps, portable toilet waste, and oil interceptors. Our system is able to handle any type of oil waste and oil-mixed water better than any other technology out there. The unit also fits in an area that is about a quarter of an acre of land.

If you would like to know more about our NO CAPITAL COST onsite wastewater treatment plant that will make a winner out of everyone, please visit our website at ccwt.info and fill out the Contact Information Sheet. We also encourage you to call John Mitchell, Director of Operations at 877.770.2618 x701.

Clear Choice Wastewater Treatment, LLC – The Choice Is Clear

Paper Mill Wastewater Streams of Savings with Our Onsite Wastewater Treatment System

Posted on June 29, 2012 by ccwtblogger

The paper mill industry has long been reliant on fresh water sources for production. Largely built along rivers, paper mills bring in thousands of gallons of fresh water to help with pulping wood. The pulp is then turned into paper for use in homes, schools, and offices. The unfortunate side effect of the process is that there is a great deal of waste to dispose of. Pulp, wastewater, and chemicals used throughout the process are then dumped back into the river as they are unfit for reuse.

A recent pilot study tested to see if wastewater from the mills could be cleaned and reused. Fresh water with few to no chemicals is required in order to ensure that the process is not fouled up and the paper comes out pristine. The study used membrane bioreactor and reverse osmosis combination to work out the chemicals found in mill wastewater. The result showed that with proper cleaning the industry could reuse their own waste stream instead of having to rely completely on fresh water. This would save them a considerable amount of money in the long run as well as cut down on the average use of 15,850 gallons of fresh water used per ton of paper.

The one catch in all of this is the amount of water that can be effectively cleaned. The system used in the study was able to process 19 to 30 gallons per square foot of membrane per day. This would require quite the sizeable membrane system in order to match demand by the mill. 530 square feet of membrane would be needed for a single ton of paper.

Is this the best answer then for introducing water reuse to the paper mill industry? Do you think there’s a better solution? Leave a comment and let us know what you think.

We at Clear Choice Wastewater Treatment, LLC feel our No Capital Cost onsite wastewater treatment system would be that higher capacity and more effective option. Our system is able to match the BOD, TSS, and ammonia removal of the membrane and RO system used. We are also able to process between 60 thousand and 360 thousand gallons a day. Paper mills would be able to install the system without having to actually purchase the equipment and would just pay a small fee per gallon processed. This also reduces the need for replacement parts such as new filters and membranes. The entire unit fits on a quarter of an acre.

Clear Choice Wastewater Treatment, LLC – The Choice Is Clear

Ban on Land Application, No Problem!

Posted on June 27, 2012 by ccwtblogger

As of January 1, 2016 Florida will ban the use of land application as a means of disposing wastewater. Septic pumpers will have to find other means of disposing of septage, grease traps, portable toilet waste, and oil water separators. Currently there are few options available to pumpers as many counties have no onsite wastewater treatment plant. Those counties that do have an onsite wastewater treatment system that accepts septage are often a considerable distance away.

A survey sent out to members of the wastewater hauling industry received numerous responses voicing concern over the new regulations. Many of the respondents who had land application sites they used for their own business were pretty universal in their assessment. They felt that it would negatively impact their business as they would no longer be able to use the system they had in place; in some cases for decades. Increased cost to both pumper and customer was their most cited concern because of this. With no more land application pumpers are scrambling to find new means of treating their hauls.

So do you think they are out of options? Leave a comment and let us know. Regardless of whose opinion is right, Clear Choice Wastewater Treatment, LLC can provide the best option using our electrocoagulation technology.

With our NO CAPITAL COST onsite wastewater treatment system, we are able to provide the best option for pumpers and state officials. Our system is able to easily and safely treat large volumes of septage, grease traps, portable toilet waste, and oil interceptors simultaneously and within minutes. Generally, we can help the pumpers save 30 – 50 percent of the current cost of their dumping fees while making sure environmental concerns are addressed by meeting or exceeding local discharge standards. Our onsite wastewater treatment plant would also eliminate travel time to the dumping fields thereby saving wear & tear on the truck, fuel cost, and labor cost.

By the way, our onsite wastewater treatment system fits on about only a quarter of an acre and we are not limited to the number of gallons treated.

Clear Choice Wastewater Treatment, LLC – The Choice Is Clear

A Clear Advantage in Our Onsite Wastewater Treatment System with Electrocoagulation

Posted on June 27, 2012 by ccwtblogger

Having been in the industry for over twenty-five years I have always been concerned about how septage is treated. Too often I watched as my haul was dumped out into a landfill with little treatment at all. Septage, grease traps, oil water separators, and portable toilet waste were all mixed together and tossed into a giant pit to be slowly worked before it evaporated.

A lot of wastewater treatment involves large stretches of land and retention ponds. These open-air pits hold vast amounts of septage that are treated through more traditional biological methods. Microbes are used to break down the wastewater inside the ponds which can take several days to accomplish. Air is usually mixed in with the septage in order to help the process; though it usually still takes quite some time to work.

I have found an answer in Clear Choice Wastewater Treatment LLC’s onsite wastewater treatment system using electrocoagulation technology. These systems take up a much smaller amount of land and produce clarified water in minutes. EC units, as they are sometimes called, are also able to process wastewater from septage, oil separators, grease traps, and portable toilet waste simultaneously. Time spent at the facility for pumpers tends to be a lot shorter. Since the units are also safe for use inside city limits, they lead to less or no travel time.

Biological systems seem to be everywhere right now. They are known and trusted to do what they were designed to do. What they were designed to do was slowly get rid of septage in hopes of eliminating the most harmful contaminants before they were tossed out on the ground. Onsite wastewater treatment plant using electrocoagulation technology is new. It’s designed to take care of wastewater quickly and to eliminate most of the harmful contaminants without harsh chemicals or retention ponds.

Which sounds more like the future of an onsite wastewater treatment system to you?

If you would like to know more about what electrocoagulation is capable of in an onsite wastewater treatment system, visit our website at http://ccwt.info and fill out our contact information form. We will gladly help you see how our No Capital Cost system will not only save you money in a multitude of ways, but also help the environment.

If you would like to speak to me directly, feel free to call at 877-770-2618 Ext 701. I will be happy to help show just what a Clear Choice that electrocoagulation technology is.

John Mitchell

Director Of Operations for Clear Choice Wastewater Treatment, LLC

Office 877-770-2618 Ex 701

Fax 877-425-2124

jmitchell@ccwt.info

www.ccwt.info

All Win in Wisconsin with Clear Choice Wastewater Treatment’s Onsite Wastewater Treatment Plant

Posted on June 22, 2012 by ccwtblogger

A bit of a brouhaha seems to be brewing in Wisconsin. Attention has turned towards the environmental department of the state government after a number of septic dumpers did not receive penalties. The situation involved the dumping of chemicals and waste on stretches of land designated for land application.

Helen Sarakinos, the water policy program director for the River Alliance of Wisconsin, has led the charge of pushing the issue. She pointed out in an editorial to the Wisconsin State Journal that more than typical fertilizer is used in land application. She voices her concern in the use of industrial waste and treated human waste for the same process. Ms Sarakinos goes on to express concern over septage not being as regulated as standard sewage, and accuses many pumpers of playing looser with the rules than other waste disposal companies. The editorial later went on to say that all septage should be taken to wastewater treatment facilities to be disposed of, rather than used for land application.

Matt Alft, president of the Wisconsin Liquid Waste Carriers Association, countered her points in an editorial two weeks later. He pointed out that the pumpers and haulers in question followed many strict regulations through the Department of Natural Resources as well. He illustrated not only the legality of land application, but also defended pumpers by talking about the paperwork process they go through. Mr. Alft finishes by stating that most wastewater treatment plants are incapable of properly treating septage at this point in time.

We’ve discussed the benefits and negatives of land application before. Legal and heavily regulated, it does serve some benefits. Not the least of which is keeping costs down for pumpers. It does still impact the environment and is capable of causing some of the problems that Ms. Sarakinos expressed concern over.

So who do you think is right? Leave a comment and let us know. Regardless of whose opinion is right, Clear Choice Wastewater Treatment, LLC can solve both concerns using our electrocoagulation technology.

With our NO CAPITAL COST onsite wastewater treatment system, we are able to provide an alternative for pumpers and state officials. Our system is able to easily and safely treat large volumes of septage, grease traps, portable toilet waste, and oil interceptors simultaneously. Generally, we can help the pumpers save 30 – 50 percent of the current cost of their dumping fees while making sure environmental concerns are addressed by meeting or exceeding local discharge standards. Our onsite wastewater treatment plant would also eliminate travel time to the dumping fields thereby saving wear & tear on the truck, fuel cost, and labor cost.

Clear Choice Wastewater Treatment, LLC – The Choice Is Clear