Q: How is odor control addressed?
A: Our plants do not typically have odors because they are biological systems that do not produce hydrogen sulfide. If any odors exist, they would be found in the headworks portion of the process where raw influent is entering our system and solids are separated out. In this scenario, Cloacina would enclose the first chamber after the screen (the anoxic chamber). This creates a vacuum, pulls air through a carbon filter and scrubs the air prior to release, thereby eliminating odors.
Q: Besides 316 stainless steel are there any other upgrades to your systems that can address corrosive salt air in Hawaii and other locations near the ocean?
A: We can apply protective coatings to the plant and pipework to extend the life of the system. We can also enclose blower cabinets and install shade awnings to minimize exposure to harsh and corrosive environments.
Q: Are all pumps and blowers on Variable Frequency Drives (VFDs)?
A: Almost all pumps and blowers on a Cloacina package wastewater treatment plant are on separate VFDs and tuned for optimum operational setpoints.
Q: This is the first time I have seen rotary lobe pumps in this orientation (vertical and motor pointing down). Does this require a special design by the pump manufacturer?
A: This is actually a standard orientation by Vogelsang and does not require a special design. This orientation is operator and maintenance technician-friendly as it allows them to easily check the plate and lobes from the top.
Q: Can the following items be provided upon request: screening, washer/compactor, mixed liquor return and effluent disinfection (If so, what type)?
A: We offer a variety of screens depending on the Client’s requirements and preferences. We can incorporate additional recirculation for nutrient reduction specific to the project needs. We can also integrate skid-mounted UV disinfection that is fully integrated into our controls panel and accessible remotely. Cloacina also offers:
Influent lift stations
Equalization storage and equipment
Disinfection (Chlorine or UV)
Sludge handling equipment (Dewatering or thickening)
Q: How are your plants disassembled for shipping?
A: • All tanks are drained, passivated and cleaned inside and out
All pieces of equipment and piping that have to be removed for shipping are match marked for easy reassembly and then carefully wrapped and packaged
The membranes are removed, a preservative is reapplied and they are carefully wrapped and reinstalled in the membrane chamber
The Upfit Team verifies that all equipment is properly secured to the tanks and skids. Every bolt and clip is double-checked.
Cloacina assists the shipping company with loading the tanks using built-in rigging points. All tanks and equipment are properly secured before the shipping company leaves the factory.
Q: What is Forward Activated Sludge (FAS)?
A: FAS is a Cloacina-protected term that represents the activated sludge that is transferred forward in the process flow from the aeration chamber to the membrane chamber. The term is different from but a derivative of Return Activated Sludge (RAS) which represents activated sludge that is returned back to the beginning of the process flow from the membrane chamber to the pre-anoxic or anoxic chamber(s). The distinction of FAS and RAS better helps to clarify precisely where the activated sludge is at in the respective unit processes when referencing drawings or discussing the operations of a Cloacina MEMPAC system.
Q: Is .5 MGD too big for a package wastewater treatment plant?
A: Cloacina is pushing the treatment capabilities of package plants and has standard models that process 0.25 and 0.3 MGD on average with peak flows as high as 0.6 MGD. We can also provide custom systems capable of treating up to 2 MGD.
Q: What does it mean when you say that your plants arrive as complete systems?
A: When we say that Cloacina plants arrive as a complete system, it means the Client’s entire treatment plant arrives in one or more complete treatment trains that are assembled and have undergone rigorous factory acceptance testing prior to shipping, NOT not as individual tanks and pieces of equipment that have to assembled and tested on-site.
For a traditional domestic system, Cloacina plants include screening or headworks equipment, an anoxic chamber, an aeration chamber with diffusers and blowers, a membrane chamber with membranes, a clear well chamber, all associated equipment tanks, an anoxic mixer, permeate pump and chemical pump. All of the Client’s equipment and biological needs are included in the same train that has one input of wastewater and two outputs of treated effluent and wasted sludge.
Q: Do Cloacina systems require an operator? Is that something that Cloacina facilitates?
A: Cloacina wastewater plants are designed for efficient operations and maintenance; however, that does not mean that a Client will not need a licensed operator to operate and maintain the plant. Operator requirements are dependent on the Client’s individual discharge permit.
Operations and maintenance services can be provided by our sister company, Fluid Resource Management. FRM offers water, wastewater, winery process waste and stormwater treatment and management. Their highly-specialized and certified staff offers operations, maintenance, mechanical, controls, compliance and engineer/manufacture/build/operate (EMBO) services and emergency response 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, 365 days per year.
For more information about the operations-friendly features of Cloacina plants or operations and maintenance services, please contact sales@cloacina.com.