Small wastewater treatment plants can make a big difference for business, industry, and more
In many situations, there’s a need for a volume of wastewater treatment that exceeds what a septic system can handle, but that doesn’t come close to requiring a traditional, large-scale plant. Examples include commercial and educational facilities, industrial sites, and small communities.
In cases such as these, AUC Group’s small-scale conventional plants can provide the treatment needed. Small plants are classified as those that have a capacity between 5,000 GPD — a Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) program limits on-site sewage facilities like septic systems to 5,000 GPD — and somewhere between 25,000 and 35,000 GPD.
While small plants may not be full-scale, they still face full-scale regulation. Plants provided by AUC comply even with stringent TCEQ standards. Effluent also meets the standards of the United States Environmental Protection Agency and those of many states, including California’s Title 22.
Because AUC’s experience in the space goes back to 1970, we know how to streamline small-scale projects that meet TCEQ rules without the need for costly, time-consuming variances.
Types of Small Wastewater Treatment Plants
AUC offers compact and efficient decentralized wastewater treatment plants designed to meet the specific needs of smaller-scale operations. These systems are engineered to provide effective treatment while minimizing operational costs and environmental impact. Key features include:
- Efficiency: Designs are optimized for efficient removal of pollutants and solids.
- Flexibility: Plants are designed to handle varying flow rates and adapt to changing conditions.
- Reliability: Equipment features robust construction and high-quality components for long-term performance.
- Environmental friendliness: The discharge of harmful substances into the environment is minimized.
Here’s an in-depth look at two types of AUC wastewater treatment plants that meet these criteria.
10,000 GPD Plant With Hopper Clarifier
AUC’s wastewater treatment plants with capacities up to 10,000 GPD use a hopper clarifier design that allows smaller plants to operate more efficiently. Continuous removal of settled solids largely accounts for the design’s efficiency, but it also prevents the accumulation of sludge, increasing the manual cleaning interval.
The hopper clarifier has a funnel-shaped bottom, often resembling an inverted cone or pyramid, which directs settled solids to the bottom point for collection. Wastewater enters the clarifier in the inlet zone, which distributes flow evenly for uniform sedimentation. From the inlet zone, wastewater moves on to the clarification zone, a large open area where particles begin to settle out of the water. The sludge hopper at the base collects the settled solids, then clarified water exits the system through weirs to control the water level and maintain a steady flow rate.
Compared to other clarifier types, hopper clarifiers often require less maintenance, and the design also minimizes mechanical operations such as pumping and agitation for a lower energy requirement.
Hopper clarifiers are versatile and capable of handling industrial or municipal wastewater with various waste compositions and flow rates. They can handle fluctuating flow rates more effectively than some other types, reducing the risk of overloading and ensuring consistent performance, which can be particularly helpful for seasonally variable operations such as school campuses, camps, resorts, and hotels.
Circular clarifiers often feature a central feed well and rotating scrapers that push settled sludge toward a central sump for removal.
For the upper end of the small plant range, AUC offers plants that feature a circular clarifier. While hopper clarifiers save on maintenance and energy due to greater reliance on gravity and less reliance on mechanical operations, the circular clarifier is more effective on larger volumes of wastewater.
In a circular clarifier with a central feed and collection system, wastewater enters the feed well through a central influent pipe and is distributed evenly to reduce turbulence and allow settling. Solids settle to the bottom in the clarification zone, and a rotating sludge scraper continuously moves settled sludge toward the center for removal. At the outer perimeter of the circle, an effluent weir allows clarified water to leave the system without solids escaping.
The circular clarifier is a mainstay of the wastewater treatment sector, with time-tested versatility in municipal, industrial, and commercial applications.
Uses for Small Wastewater Treatment Plants
On-site wastewater treatment with a small plant can provide a measure of independence — and lower costs — for businesses and communities outside of the range of existing services. A short list of ideal applications includes:
- Seasonal camps such as temporary workforce housing
- Industrial facilities
- Resorts and restaurants
- Small residential developments
- Industrial parks
AUC’s small wastewater treatment plants are serving in a diverse range of applications, from the Comal Independent School District in the Texas Hill Country, to LNEOS Chemical Group, the Twinwood restaurant, and the Miraval resort. Your operation can also benefit from the reliability, independence, and efficiency that comes with a small AUC plant.
Small Wastewater Treatment Plant Costs
Costs can vary significantly depending on several factors, including the chosen technology or equipment, the plant’s capacity, the specific treatment processes required, local regulations and permitting fees, and the complexity of site conditions. The cost of ancillary components such as pumps, filters, and piping can also contribute to the overall expense.
AUC is one of only a handful of companies that offers flexible financing, with a Lease Plant Program and BOO/BOOT options, along with other capital optimizing strategies that make infrastructure happen even where access to initial capital is limited.
Unlike its competitors, AUC designs and engineers custom solutions specific to each installation rather than forcing cookie-cutter solutions. While modular components can be a part of projects, AUC sets itself apart by designing and engineering total systems that integrate components effectively to meet each project’s unique needs.
Constructability
AUC manages the entire design and construction process for small plants in-house, ensuring each facility is customized to meet diverse customer needs. In many cases, a complete wastewater treatment plant can be compacted into a single unit, allowing for rapid deployment at the customer’s site with minimal delays. These single-unit systems save both time and space, while also offering flexibility for future expansions or modifications.
Small wastewater treatment plants can make all the difference, breaking smaller operations free of municipal utility bills and unreliable, distant infrastructure. AUC Group has the unmatched expertise to deliver them. We have taken the time to craft our offerings into a unique combination of flexible small plants and flexible financing to help our customers stop worrying about water and go back to what they do best.
Ready to break free from unreliable utilities? Contact AUC for a free quote and consultation from our wastewater treatment experts. We’ll help you find the perfect small plant solution for your needs.
