Wastewater Treatment for the Lemonade Factory

A natural lemonade factory needs a licence from the Ministry of Public Health and the Municipality. Currently, it is emitting untreated wastewater. The owner is a young and clever Sepharadi Jew who employs a couple of very blond and fat Russian workers. He invited me to visit the plant. I am always hungry for new problems, so do that for no money. They all seem so earnest, dedicated and hard working. The place seems well organized and clean. I always fall in love with a neat, efficient, purposeful organization.

At this point, no one really knows what the problem may be. The wastewater must be acidic (pH 2 or 3) and it may be corroding the asbest-cement pipeline, requiring pH correction before the municipal connection. It may also carry high BOD content, requiring filtration of lemon pulp and settling. The place has a 420 lt FOG interceptor, which may be good for nothing. The cover has been asphalted over, therefore it has never been opened nor cleaned. I asked the owner to clean it and make it accessible. A flocculant may be added to favour the formation of flocs and improve settling properties.

This is a factory operating with a very acidic organic raw material. Everything is made of nirosta, a non rusting steel. The air is acrid, acidic, horrible. It seemed to have no unhealthy effect on the Russians.

Suggestions, welcome.