Sludge Treatment

Sludge is the combination of solids and water produced during water and wastewater treatment. Sludge has a much higher solids content than effluent and requires a specific set of processes for management and treatment. Inadequate treatment can lead to a breach of discharge limits and potentially heavy fines, prosecution or system failure. Any industrial process – such as settlement, flotation or filtration – that removes solids from water and wastewater will, in general, generate a sludge waste that needs to be treated and disposed of correctly. Sludge contains water, and this excess water must be removed either by a thickening or dewatering process. This can be achieved using a variety of methods – from straightforward settlement through to the application of enhanced gravity separators, by filtration (for example, a filter press), or by heating the sludge and evaporating the water (a sludge drier). Viltra can manage industrial sludge, effluent and wastewater by providing a comprehensive range of services including consultancy, treatment, effluent treatment system design, installation, and maintenance for all types of businesses within the industrial sector.