Versatility Of Sequencing Batch Reactors In The Dairy Industry Result In Lowering Costs And Increasing Efficiency

Of the multiple sectors within the food and beverage industry, dairy consistently ranks as one of the top wastewater producers. Dairy processes begin with raw milk, before applying a range of downstream separation and conditioning steps to yield finished products.

Milk processing generates up to (3) times the effluent volume per gallon produced. The largest percentage of wastewater typically comes from the frequent rinsing and cleaning processes of tanks and transfer equipment. Dairy process wastewater varies in flows, loading and composition, depending upon production volumes and product diversity at a given plant. These facilities are challenged with discharge to public waterways, under NPDES permits or, after pretreatment, to publicly owned treatment works (POTW).