Case Study Summary: Industrial Wastewater Treatment - Oregon Cherry
Growers (Cherries, Pears, and Hazelnuts)
Challenge:
Oregon Cherry Growers, a large cherry farm in Oregon’s Willamette Valley, faced critical issues with their wastewater treatment system due to production expansion:
• Odor Complaints: Pungent odors from the storage lagoons disrupted the community, leading to neighbor complaints.
• Regulatory Threats: Excessive odors from land-applied sludge and spray irrigation resulted in OR EPA threats to shut down operations.
• Sludge Build-Up: Frequent dredging was required due to sludge accumulation,
increasing operational costs.
Treatment Plan:
SciCorp engineers quickly developed a tailored solution:
• Shock Dose Application: BIOLOGIC™ SEPTIC was immediately applied over the lagoon surface to eliminate odors.
• Ongoing Treatment: Continuous dosing of BIOLOGIC™ SEPTIC during land application of sludge and spray irrigation.
Success Achieved:
With the application of BIOLOGIC™ SEPTIC, Oregon Cherry Growers experienced the following
results:
• Immediate Elimination of Odors: The lagoon odors disappeared within hours of treatment, satisfying the OR EPA.
• Odor Reduction: 90% reduction in storage lagoon odors and 95% reduction in odors during land application and spray irrigation.
• Sludge Reduction: A 30% reduction in sludge depth in the lagoons.
• Avoided Shutdown: Oregon Cherry avoided a costly facility shutdown, regulatory fines, and future dredging expenses.
Long-Term Benefits:
The solution also provided a significant reduction in their environmental footprint and improved community relations.
How This Benefits Your Septic System:
For home septic systems, BIOLOGIC™ SEPTICprovides similar benefits by:
• Eliminating odors quickly and efficiently
• Reducing sludge buildup, extending the time between pump-outs
• Minimizing maintenance costs