Having known about what comprises sludge in the previous blog, Sludge Types and Management or Use (be sure to check it out), it is now time to dive into ten tips on how to construct a good sludge management or use system. At Francsoft Construction Company, we walk with you every step of the way to achieving proper sludge management or use, depending on your need. Here are the ten tips.

1. Proper Categorization

To design a good sludge management system you have first to determine its volume, flow rate and composition. The volume aspect will determine its size such as a simple drainage tunnel compared to a bigger municipal channel. The flow rate will determine the actual design details of the system created such as angles of inclination. The composition is very important for technical aspects such as handling tanks for temporary storage and treatment as well as its transportation if a vehicle is to be used. All the three categorization elements ensure that technical failures commonly experience such as during handling of wastewater like leaks or stagnation are sorted out.

2. Obtaining Regulatory Compliance

All designs for construction of sludge management or use systems must ensure they comply to present local communities, state and federal regulatory principles and laws. Such laws or policies mostly involve safety and environmental conservation. Also, it is important to have the right licensure and permits to undertake any of construction activities. As Francsoft Construction Company, we are properly licensed and permitted to offer sludge management or use systems in Kenya. We work with local communities and counties to ensure your project meets all of these requirements. Furthermore, we are a green company that believes in protecting our environment for future generations. Work with us today!

3. Consider Importance of Volume Reduction

To reduce costs of handling or managing sludge, it is important to undertake dewatering and thickening processes early enough during its treatment process. In a design system for sludge management or use, ensure that these critical processes are considered and undertaken efficiently and effectively. Removing the liquid components of sludge ensures that it is lighter and easier to transport. Also, the process ensures that technical issues revolving around flow of materials down channels are resolved amicably and early. Francsoft Construction Company offers a team of experts who work with you to ensure your costs are optimized and reduced through such initiatives.

4. Accommodate Efficient Redundancy and Flexibility

In a treatment, management or use plant or system for sludge, ensure that there are always personnel and equipment that are on the standby to address any technical issues that might occur. While it might seem to be costly to do so, this move if undertaken efficiently can ensure smooth operations. The goal here is ensuring that all persons and equipment are optimized for use and ready at all times. Imagine how messy and disturbing a leaking sewage channel or pipe is to the surrounding environment and community. You always want to have people and equipment ready to address such issues.

5. Target Recovery of Resources in Sludge

Instead of thinking of dumping or disposing sludge only and all the time, think outside the box of how you can effectively and efficiently extract its useful components. While some industrial processes for extraction of these resources can be very expensive and infeasible, others are rather cost friendly. Useful byproducts of anaerobic decomposition of sludge like biogas or methane if handled properly can be very useful. If properly treated some organic components in certain forms of sludge can provide nutrients for crops in the form of soil fertilizers. Always be mindful of the environment and people while undertaking these recycling initiatives.

6. Putting in Place Measures to Control Pathogens and Odor

Most types of sludge are often characterized with unpleasant odor and contain a lot of harmful pathogens. To control odor, you can use lime stabilization methods, biofilters and handling tanks. Also, there are various treatment processes that eliminate most pathogens in sludge. Work with the local communities to understand their needs and perform proper environment impact assessments before you design and construct any sludge management or use system.

7. Choose the Right Materials and Equipment

For your system, ensure that you have the right materials and equipment. Remember that sludge is often very corrosive and abrasive to most standard water handling materials. To this end, depending on the categorization of your sludge done in step one; be sure to invest in the right materials and equipment that can resist these properties. Also, remember that sludge is often viscous thus you need the right pumps to pump it without breaking down. From tanks, pipes and channel construction materials, consider these important properties to avoid any future technical issues and costs.

8. Design with Maintenance and Accessibility in Mind

You do not want to experience downtime of your sludge management or use system when technical issues occur as a result of lack of proper accessibility. You need to have the right hatches and manholes as well as other accessibility areas and parts and sufficient working spaces for your system. Include proper drainage systems that are easily accessible for cleaning work. This way, any part of your system can be easily accessed and maintained within a short period to reduce downtime that would be otherwise experienced.

9. Automate if Possible Monitoring and Operations

For the processes that you can automate such as including sensors for leaks and other parameters, invest in affordable monitoring and operation automation systems. Remember that cost efficiency is the goal, meaning you should not increase costs through such automations if infeasible. It’s a balance between system efficiency and effectiveness.

10. Train Your Personnel Well

Lastly, remember to invest well in training your personnel to work efficiently and effectively with your sludge management or use system. Be sure to offer safety, monitoring, maintenance and operations modules as basic components of your training. At Francsoft Construction Company we have well trained teams of experts who understand all kinds of sludge management or use systems. As such, we offer our clients and their personnel comprehensive training in all areas. Thanks for reading!!