Eden, NC
The reactor basin at Eden’s wastewater treatment plant is 14 feet deep. Brush aerators ran constantly to try and mix it all, but they could only mix and aerate the top half. The results were a high, wasteful level of dissolved oxygen at the top of the basin, and a mass of sludge at the bottom that wasn’t impacted by the treatment process. Superintendent Melinda Ward sought a “green” solution for these problems, and she found exactly what she needed in SolarBee® mixers.
St. Henry, OH
The treatment plant at St. Henry, Ohio was deep in "fowl" water. With a population of 2,700 - and a huge increase in turkey processing – the town’s treatment system became hydraulically undersized. There was also a big odor problem. The town considered a new diffuser blower system and surface aerators. But all that capital equipment would have cost an additional $100,000 – along with $49,000 more in electricity per year. "We were determined to solve our problems without that enormous capital cost and a steep increase in electrical expense," said Stan Sutter. St.
Rochester, NH
Today, the Rochester Wastewater Treatment Plant in New Hampshire is a marvel of efficiency. It wasn’t always like that. The hitch was the high cost of powering the system’s 125hp aerators in two holding lagoons. "Electricity was costing a small fortune," laments David Green, the plant’s Chief Operator. And then it was determined that the aeration system needed a major upgrade altogether at an estimated cost of $1.5 million.
Planada, CA
Near the northern end of California’s vast Central Valley, the Planada Community Service District (PCSD) operates a six pond wastewater treatment plant. Processing over half-a-million gallons per day, the plant faced numerous challenges, including a need to lower pond levels of BOD, TSS, ammonia and sludge. Plant manager Stan Rodriguez (at right) found the perfect solution in six (one for each pond) SolarBee® water circulators. Water quality improvements occurred dramatically – and shortly after installation.
Woodland Bigler, PA
Every year, from April through August, hot days and bright sunlight coated Woodland-Bigler’s 3-cell lagoon system with blue-green algae blooms, rendering the facility non-compliant for total suspended solids (TSS). Over the years, Dave Stodart tried chemicals, bio-augmentations, ultrasonic devices and even algae-eating fish to solve the problem. Nothing worked – and he had to run expensive surface aerators constantly. Finally, he discovered SolarBee water circulators, installing two SB2500 units in March, 2009. The results were immediate – and extraordinary.
Ohio EPA Dye Study
On September 15 – 19, 2003, members of the Ohio EPA, Division of Surface Water, the Division of Environmental and Financial Assistance and the Ohio Rural Water Association evaluated the effectiveness of the SolarBee 10000W re-circulating pump at the Rockford, Ohio wastewater treatment system. Additional follow-up visits and testing also occurred on October 10, and October 20, 2003.
Bennett, CO, Dye Study
"Actual operating experience and / or pilot test work: Since the Phase II improvements including the SolarBee installation at the Town of Bennett WWTF, the effluent quality has improved dramatically. BOD and TSS test results for the last two months have been below 10 mg/l. The dye testing results in an impressive increase in dye coverage and depth penetration and also show a dramatic increase in dissolved oxygen throughout the pond.
