Industrial effluent

Many industrial processes produce effluent which has to be either stored ready for removal by tanker, or for treatment on site.  These are clearly environmental considerations to prevent any pollution entering watercourses or the ground.

Our blog post last year on bulk storage of effluent defined the meaning of the word – you can check it out here: https://www.tanks-uk.com/effluent-bulk-storage-tanks/

Effluent from a manufacturing process, depending on the industry, might contain, for example:

• organic particles (e.g. from food processing)
• detergents
• other chemical pollutants
• traces of pharmaceuticals
• alcohols,
• heavy metal traces
• silt or sand

Because of the broad spectrum of contaminants which could be in industrial effluent, there is no ‘one size fits all’ as the type of tanks required and the systems that would be used for treatment will depend very much on the individual application.

Effluent Storage Tanks

Underground tanks are ideal for this purpose, as described in the post already referred to. Take a look at the moulded GRP tanks range, which are larger capacity and long lasting.  There are also plastic underground storage tanks from but these are generally smaller volume.

Above ground effluent tanks will require pump systems to suit the type of effluent being stored. Tanks-UK can provide the most suitable solution if you contact us with your specific requirements.

Effluent Treatment Tanks

Wastewater treatment for industrial effluent containing purely organic and biodegradable waste would use much the same system as for domestic sewage treatment, by filtration and biological treatment.

Treated wastewater can be recycled for continuing use in processing. Obviously it is economically effective long term to install systems which can treat wastewater for recycling as it saves a huge amount of fresh water and the costs of water supply or extraction.

Acidic or alkaline effluents would need treatment to correct pH balance in order to correct this to a neutral liquid which could legally be discharged to the waste system or a watercourse. Dosing tanks, as described in last week’s blog, could be used for this purpose. The one illustrated shows a main effluent tank with a smaller dosing tank mounted on top. This was a bespoke solution, but our standard tanks are also suitable for this purpose.

Some processes contain inorganic, for instance metallic, pollutants which would need to be removed during treatment. Other industrial wash down processes could produce by-products such as silt or sand which can be removed by filtration and recycled.

Waste Oil Tanks

In certain types of food processing, vegetable oil is used for cooking and the waste oil can then be stored for repurposing as HVO. This would require a dedicated waste oil storage tank to await collection by tanker for onward processing.

There are also waste hydraulic or lubricating oils used in heavy industry where drain down is required during machinery maintenance.

Tanks-UK have two ranges of waste oil tanks, plastic or steel. They generally have a tundish and removable strainer below the large inlet lid.

Just give us a call on 01953 665940 or email info@tanks-uk.com with your requirements and we’ll send you a quote.