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Forestry company use an electricity-free wastewater treatment system

Forestry company use an electricity-free wastewater treatment system

The structure and environmental context:

Our client, a large South African forestry plantation that required a sewage treatment system for 120 people, approached our BIOROCK dealer, Plumbers Amalgamated, for a viable solution.

The challenge:

Due to the regular power outages in the region, the client requested a system that doesn't require the use of electricity.

A solar system would not have been ideal for the location since it would have required a large footprint considering that it is situated in a region that is constantly cloudy.

The solution:

Plumbers Amalgamated proposed the BIOROCK MULTIROCK-120 sewage treatment system as a viable solution as this system would meet the required discharge limitations without the requirement for power.

Hilton Van Heerden, Director at Plumbers Amalgamated comments:

This presents a feasible solution since the site relies entirely on gravity and the BIOROCK ventilation mechanism eliminates the need for an unreliable blower to vent the plant. The system was installed in April 2022 and the installation had a turnaround time of only 7 days.

The BIOROCK system works on natural draft aeration. Air is drawn in through an air inlet (mushroom vent cowl) and exhausted out of the wind-driven ventilator. In this way, aeration is 100% electricity-free and operates uninterrupted. Van Heerden added: 

From an environmental perspective the treated effluent can safely be introduced back into the environment, which is a reliable solution as opposed to the cost associated with running a septic tank and dealing with failing soak-ways. 

The results:

The system was designed to meet the required effluent discharge standards for the site.

In terms of maintenance, quarterly routine servicing is provided by Plumbers Amalgamated which involves inspection of the plant to ensure it is operating as expected, ensuring there are no blockages that could compromise performance, and collecting a water sample for laboratory analysis.

Pictures taken on the construction site: 

MULTIROCK installation in South AfricaMULTIROCK installation in South Africa

MULTIROCK installation in South AfricaMULTIROCK installation in South Africa

MULTIROCK installation in South Africa