Stricter effluent standards
Environmental legislation is forcing the industry to comply with ever stricter effluent standards and to strive for continuous improvement of effluent quality. In order to meet the requirements, it is important to consider wastewater treatment as an integral part of production.
BAT studies
BAT (Best Available Technology) studies enable EPAS International to select the appropriate water treatment techniques for your company. EPAS International looks at both production facilities and water treatment in such studies. Often the ecotoxicological impact of the effluent on the surface water is also determined. This holistic approach enables EPAS International to propose measures at the source as well as to identify water treatment techniques tailored to the ecological needs of the company in order to optimise water management. A BAT study is a good basis to successfully negotiate company-specific effluent standards with public authorities.
The BAT evaluation consists of the following steps:
- Audit of production
EPAS International performs a full audit of your existing production facilities. Good maintenance, efficient use of water and raw materials and up-to-date cleaning techniques or strategies will contribute to less pollution and cost savings. - Audit of (waste) water treatment
The objective of this audit is to identify possible optimisations of processes and configuration of the installations. The first starting point is to achieve optimal operation of the wastewater treatment plant by emphasizing process adjustments rather than expansion of the plant. - Additional or advanced purification techniques
If it turns out that your current physicochemical and/or biological water treatment system is unable to meet the strict standards, EPAS International examines whether additional, possibly more advanced techniques are economically and technically feasible within a BAT context. EPAS International has a high-quality laboratory at its disposal to investigate the feasibility of possible techniques on a lab or pilot scale if necessary. - Ecotoxicity study
The feasibility of certain discharge standards should be evaluated in the context of the ecological impact on surface waters. Characterisation of the ecotoxicity of effluents plays a key role here. Modification or extension of existing installations represents a significant cost. Ecotoxicity characterisation is a tool to demonstrate the ecological added value of such efforts.