Waste Reduction: Dewatering Eco-Friendly Solution

After years of hearing certain people claim that the environment needs protecting most people in the world have caught on to the truth in the statement. People now know that humans are quickly filling up landfills and doing irreparable damage to the environment. Even though certain industries are trying to become more environmentally friendly, it is often difficult. Dewatering as a disposal method has become an industry norm that saves money, but it is also more environmentally friendly than other methods.

The Process

Dewatering is the process of removing as much water from sludge as possible to make it easier to dispose of. Sludge is any byproduct or waste that has solid materials suspended in a liquid. All types of industries can produce sludge. This material is usually transported and disposed of in landfills which can cost a company thousands or more a year.

One method of dewatering is using a dewatering pump to pass sludge into a grinder which crushes any debris in the sludge. The sludge is then put into a dewatering unit which pulls as much water from the material as possible. Once this has occurred the sludge becomes dry filter cake. This material is lighter and less bulky than the original sludge so it takes up far less room in a landfill, which is always good for the environment. It also reduces the amount of leachate produced in landfills, another saving grace for the environment.

Benefits

The environment isn’t the only thing that benefits from dewatering. Once liquid is removed from waste material it is far easier to transport. Lighter and less bulky waste means more of it can be taken per trip, and this means transportation costs go down. The fact that the waste takes up less space in a landfill is not only good for the environment, but for companies too. The less a company has to dispose, the less it costs them to use a landfill.

Another way that dewatering helps both the environment and companies is by making the liquid from the sludge usable again. Dewatering pumps remove debris from the sludge, and then the dewatering units separate solids from liquids. This means companies can use the same liquid numerous times for whatever they need it for. This also means less water is used overall, which is good for the environment.

Dewatering is becoming more widely used every year. Companies have realized that the process is not only good for the environment, but can help their bottom line as well. It sometimes takes intense pressure from citizens or governments to get an industry to change for the environment, but since this process will also save companies money it will hopefully catch on more quickly.

Photo by Peter Craven