ARTICLE
Defer sludge disposal costs with Geotubes for sludge dewatering
Are you delaying a much-needed lagoon sludge cleanout because of the projected cost of sludge relocation and disposal?
What if you could defer the cost of sludge disposal by one year, or even two?
Here’s how.
The Bishop Solids Management Solution (BSMS) with Geotube containment
As sludge is removed from a lagoon, it’s often pumped to a vacuum truck or mechanical dewatering system, like a centrifuge, so it can be removed from the site as soon as possible.
Unlike conventional methods requiring immediate (and expensive) sludge removal from the site, this semi-passive treatment process enables sludge to be contained within Geotube® units, where it can continue to consolidate and dewater over time until arrangements can be made for disposal.
Passive sludge dewatering continues, while disposal is arranged
Porous, yet durable Geotube containers make this approach possible. The large geotextile bags are made from woven polypropylene fibres and serve as large containment vessels for sludge consolidation and dewatering. This simple, low-energy approach enables the sludge to undergo continuous gravity-driven dewatering while contained within the Geotube. In many cases, Geotubes have remained at a site for months, or even years, to defer the cost of transporting the sludge for land application or disposal.
During that time, the sludge can also benefit from seasonal freeze/thaw cycles if left on site through the winter, which helps the material release more water. Some sites have seen sludge attain 40% solids or more after a spring thaw.
Passive dewatering reduces sludge volume and environmental impact
Compared to alternative sludge removal and dewatering methods, such as centrifuges or belt presses, BSMS is less complex and consumes far less electricity. Squeezing or spinning sludge with mechanical devices are energy-intensive processes, which result in significant carbon emissions, along with high capital and operating costs.
By comparison, the passive Geotube dewatering process relies on time and gravity which add up to provide significant reductions in carbon emissions for a cleanout project. The longer the sludge remains at the site, the more the sludge volume is reduced. As a result, fewer trucks and less carbon emissions are produced to transport the material for beneficial reuse in land application or disposal at the proper landfill.
Contact us to learn more about the economic and environmental benefits of the Bishop Solids Management Solution with passive Geotube dewatering.
