A practical guide to eco-innovation has been published which is addressed to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The booklet overviews emerging business opportunities eco-innovation has to offer to companies that reconsider business models, develop new products, technologies or services, or improve production processes. This guide which is divided into six sections, summarises key business issues, questions and...

Quite often businesss could save themselves a lot of time and money through recording and reviewing key control parameters on a regular basis. The establishment of target and optimum ranges for key control parameters can assist in forecasting when non-compliances could arise and allow for suitable remedial measures to be implemented before a problem develops....

Sludge bulking may be noted through visual observation: Failure of sludge solids to settle in the final clarifier Carryover of solids resulting in high effluent suspended solids Presence of filamentous bacteria (microscopic examination) Increased SVI and disimproved settleability Clear supernatant liquor after prolonged settling Principal causes: Underloading  Dissolved oxygen too low Nutrient deficiency A correction...

Wastewater treatment involves many processes which ultimately separate solids from clean(er) water.  The attached link provides a useful insight into the clarification process. ECOS Environmental Consultants Limited

Pin-floc in activated sludge may be defined as very fine floc particles with poor settling characteristics. Pin-floc/deflocculation may be assessed through visual observation: Carryover of very fine material in final effluent Turbid or milky appearance of final effluent Bacterial flocs have disintegrated into tiny ‘pinhead sized’ particles; Filaments not predominant (microscopic examination) Settleability test may...

Biological foam is due to operating conditions in the wastewater treatment plant. It accumulates on the surface of the aeration basin and may carry over into the final clarifier and effluent discharge. The use of detergents also generates foam but the comments below relate solely to biological (bacterial) foams. Three types of biological foaming may...

Environmental Liability Directive [ELD] 2004/35/EC came into force across Europe during 2009 where failure to comply with pollution prevention guidelines can result in fines and more significantly reformation / reinstatement costs which can run into many millions of Euro or Dollars. Unlike earlier directives, the EID applies to all businesses large and small alike and...

Everybody has heard of major environmental disasters and the legal, public relation and financial costs to high profile business, right!! Less well known are the easily avoidable environmental issues and simple remedies relating to all types of business, be they SMEs or large Multi-National Companies, which add significant cost to businesses every year. Hands Up...

Albert Einstein is reported to have said “Common sense is the collection of prejudices acquired by age eighteen.” In our experience there are a number of more accurate quotations relating to common sense which directly relate to how we work with our clients: Science is nothing, but trained and organized common sense – Thomas Huxley...

Over the years the first thing we have always looked for on projects is the technical data which is required to establish the nature of the issue to be addressed.  This data will provide the basis for addressing the clients requirements including, licence requirements, environmental management and cost-benefit control. Way too often we have found...