Automated wastewater systems a technological leap

Important technological advances in recent years have meant the Australian food industry can farewell the days of high-maintenance wastewater treatment systems. Automated system instrumentation allows technicians to better track the operations of their wastewater treatment plant and be alerted to any potential issues before they arise — meaning potential cost savings, while keeping the authorities happy.

Even old wastewater treatment plants can benefit from an automated system.

“Any manually controlled plant can be integrated with a complete automatic operation system,” said Aerofloat General Manager of Engineering Michael Anderson.

“It’s important for companies to keep up with the latest technology in order to remain current and to ensure local council expectations are met.

“Companies are now encouraged to prepare detailed reports for local council authorities. Automated system controls ensure that data is continually being collected, which means reports can be quickly generated for council. In turn, this also reduces the frequency of independent testing, saving the industry valuable time and money,” Anderson added.

With wastewater treatment plants often located at the back of a production site or set in limited access areas, automated system instrumentation coupled with remote monitoring capabilities can have enormous benefits. Remote monitoring means technicians can keep on top of wastewater levels and adjust the system without physically being on site. This can have a huge impact on the bottom line, freeing up staff to concentrate on quality control on the production line instead.

Aerofloat’s remote monitoring capabilities allow technicians at Micropellets in Braeside, Victoria, to log onto the system from anywhere in the world to check the operations, monitor the waste and adjust the system as required.

According to Steve Cook at Micropellets: “Any unusual activity is picked up quickly and our operators can respond before an incident eventuates.”

Management have the option of viewing information on a range of devices including a mobile, smartphone, tablet or desktop. Notifications can be sent directly to the nominated device via an easy-to-operate app and can also be remotely viewed by Aerofloat technicians if further advice is required. Operators can log onto the system to adjust parameters, monitor trends, optimise settings and prevent incidents.

“I can check operations quickly and effectively via the app on my phone, no matter where I am each day,” Cook said.

The peace of mind that comes with knowing that wastewater system automation is continuing to work even after staff have clocked off for the day cannot be underestimated.

“One of the great outcomes of Aerofloat’s automated system instrumentation is the ability to predict and prepare for incidents,” said Anderson.

Gone are the days of arriving at 7 am on a Monday to find an issue has gone unchecked. An automated system means that the wastewater treatment plant is under constant surveillance.

“The pumps, water levels, temperature, pH and other components are being monitored and logged, and trends recorded 24 hours a day,” Anderson said.

As a family-run, Australian-owned company, Aerofloat offers the food industry a full range of wastewater treatment expertise, including software programming and electrical support for all its automated wastewater system instrumentation. Aerofloat electricians can install systems directly, saving on unnecessary contractor fees.

Automated system instrumentation ensures controls are always within reach, even when offsite; and with council demands for detailed wastewater reports becoming more frequent, automated monitoring and ongoing data collection is fast becoming a necessity for the industry.

Image credit: ©stock.adobe.com/au/siculodoc