Building a solution and complying with regulations is only part of running a safe, profitable septage receiving program. Read on to see what else you should consider as you build a plan.
Some things to consider when designing and developing a station for you septage receiving program:
- Type of waste received – Depending on your local regulations, commercial and industrial waste may require pre-approval or pre-treatment, depending on your local regulations.
- Customer service – Septage stations have customers— your haulers, and providers. Ask them what they need to make their experience at your facility better. Make them part of the process.
- Unloading facilities should be well-lit with 24-hour access. Turn-arounds should be wide and accessible, or the facility should be drive-through.
- Equipment reliability – Schedule maintenance for slow or off times.
- Competitive rates for purchases and sales. Determine if per-load or per-gallon is the better standard measurement for you.
The current trend is computerization in record keeping, invoicing, and billing.
Automated flow systems are increasingly common, too. Ideally, the driver or operator does not have to manually do anything beyond attach to the system, enter the type of load, and maybe other regionally pertinent information on a touch screen.
Although start-up facilities may not be able to justify the cost, planners should include it in any station upgrade or remodeling effort.
Designers should account for the final disposition of treated septage in the plant’s overall plan.
If that seems too obvious to state, it should be noted that an eight-year, $80 million upgrade of a wastewater facility in North Carolina redesigned everything…except the septage receiving facility.
Another $1.6 million had to be unnecessarily spent on redesigning the facility to incorporate a system after the fact.
Putting proactive thought and planning into the project now helps you avoid later expenses and deliver a successful, on-time result with fewer surprises.
