Waste treatment continues to pose many challenges owing to the dangers it presents to the environment and the shrinking landfill spaces. In industries, plants, and municipals where a large amount of wastewater is produced, there is a need to have an integrated solution in waste disposal. One of the solutions to tackle the problems associated with wastewater disposal is the biosolids dewatering mechanism. Here are good reasons why biosolids need to be dewatered before being disposed of to landfills:
Reduces Transportation Costs
When biosolids are dewatered, it reduces the volume of sludge. Often, the sludge that is moved to landfills and other disposal areas is quite large and this partly contributes to the shrinking disposal areas. Reducing the volume of the sludge in a way helps to save the space and the environment. Again, the dewatered biosolids tend to be easier to handle.
Can be Incinerated Efficiently
When water is extracted from the sludge, it allows it to be incinerated pretty efficiently. It would take long for the sludge to dry if it is transported when wet. However, if it is dry, it implies that the incineration process is enhanced. This may also have an effect on the cost and utilization of the disposal areas in landfills.
Less Offensive
Damp or wet sludge tends to produce too much odor, and this can spread to the neighboring communities resulting in health problems. When the sludge is dewatered, it becomes less offensive. This is not only conducive for the people who handle it but also to the environment where it is transported and disposed of. On top of that, dewatering the sludge reduces leachate production within the landfills.
When the landfill waste decomposes, leachate is formed after rain rinses the decomposed material. It is in the form of a black liquid and contains chemicals, heavy metals, and harmful microbes that can contaminate and pollute the groundwater. What this means is that, leachate presents a health risk.
The right equipment and method of dewatering are needed to efficiently dewater the biosolids. Without the right equipment and procedure, it can be daunting to conduct a biosolids dewatering process. It may even turn to be costly if the process or equipment is not reliable.
