Case History – Flavor Manufacturer WWTP Improvements Eliminate Solids Handling Bottleneck

Givaudan Flavors Corporation of East Hanover, NJ implemented several wastewater treatment plant improvements which eliminated its solids handling bottleneck. The cost of waste sludge treatment was approximately $100,000 per year prior to the upgrade. A rotary drum thickener (RDT) was installed in 2004 for the cost of $90,000. The RDT unit replaced an antiquated gravity belt press for which no replacement parts were available and only the gravity section was operational. Demolition of the old belt press and installation of the new RDT cost the facility $20,000. The cost of solids handling in 2005 was $62,000 and in 2006 was $52,000 – saving the facility $86,000 in the two year period. The sludge hauling savings of $86,000 in two years plus the $20,000 per year polymer savings provides a total of $126,000 operating cost savings in the 2year timeframe. At a total project cost of $110,000 (RDT unit installed plus belt press decommissioning), the payback associated with the RDT upgrade was under two years.