Operating a distillery is a very water intensive operation. Not only is water used in the production of the various beverages the distillery may produce, but it is also used for Clean In Place (CIP) as well as general facility cleaning, bottling and process cleaning and other types of applications.
This combination of wastewater includes cleaning chemicals as well as organic materials. Often the high levels of organic materials are related to the use of molasses and other similar types of ingredients, as well as the residual particulate material from the fermentation process.
Yeast, spend lees, and the water from the CIP or manual cleaning processes are all potentially problematic for the municipal wastewater treatment system. They are also particularly damaging to the environment, which is why effective and efficient distillery wastewater treatment and disposal becomes such a critical factor for the distillery.
Biosolid Dewatering Processes
For large distilleries, lagooning of wastewater is an effective solution, but it is also extremely costly and requires additional space, security and safety features. Anaerobic processes can be used in specially designed systems, but they too are also costly and require expertise to set up and to operate.
A small, cost-effective option in distillery wastewater treatment and disposal for smaller distilleries is the biosolid dewatering systems. These are roll-off tanks that are set up with the correct filter media to remove the organic solids and to reduce the levels of unacceptable products from the wastewater to within the required levels.
The water is then removed from the tank and disposed of through the sewer system, with the solids remaining in the tank. When the tank is full, it is easy to simply call for a disposal truck. This type of distillery wastewater treatment and disposal is not only cost-effective, but it can be customized to the specific parameters required for safe disposal of effluent water.
