Consulting and Advisory Services
for Wastewater Treatment

The Wastewater Treatment Consultancy aims to gain an understanding of the local facilities, as well as the processes that generate wastewater, identifying water currents that have a direct impact on treatment, which can generate unnecessary costs.

Consulting Process

We begin the consultancy process by aligning the client’s expectations and, through the collection of information in the field that is relevant to the development of the work, monitoring of operational aspects and effluent treatment processes, a technical report is generated that can include the following stages of a consultancy:

1. Technical visits by a Process Engineer
2. Detailed assessment of the current process with a survey of opportunities
3 . Process improvement suggestions
4. Assessment of the equipment and chemicals used
5. Definition of an analytical process schedule
6. Preparation of a process flowchart
7. Operational process recommendations
8. Training of operators to apply the improvements identified
9. Support for questions from environmental agencies
10. Final technical follow-up report

Results achieved by clients using our treatment consultancy:

Reduction in Chemical Consumption

Our Consulting service can reduce chemical consumption up to 50%

Increase in
Water Reuse

Increase the reuse of water up to 90% in treatment processes

Maximum Production Capacity Increase

Reuse water and/or Wastewater treatment can have ther maximum production capacity increased

Headcount Optimization

We can propose improvements to headcount conditions

Regulatory Compliance

Ensuring adherence to local, national, and international water and wastewater standards.

System Adjustments

Adjustment proprosals to ensure plant efficiency

Would you like to hire this service?
Get in touch with us!

Request your quote now. Our team is ready to assist you!

Phone: +1 773-882-5111 | Email: epaqua@epaqua.com

Excellence in Wastewater Treatment to Major Automotive Company

With state-of-the-art technology and technical expertise, EP Aqua carried out a treatability study to optimize effluent treatment at a major automotive company.

The Challenge

A large company in the sector was faced with the challenge of reducing the concentration of phosphorus in its industrial effluents, in compliance with the environmental limit of 0.1 mg/L. To do this, it enlisted the support of EP, a benchmark in environmental solutions, which carried out a complete technical study focusing on the efficiency and sustainability of the process.

Meeting the demanding phosphorus removal target in a complex industrial environment required more than conventional treatment.

Did you know?

The concentration levels of phosphorous in wastewater can vary throughout the U.S.?

The total phosphorus effluent limits are issued in regions throughout the U.S., and some areas are beginning to achieve ultra-low limits below 0.1 mg/L T.P.

The EP Aqua Solution

EP applied a methodology based on thorough treatability tests, using the JAR-TEST method to simulate and optimize each stage of the process. The strategy included:

Coagulation with Poly Aluminum Chloride (PAC)
Flocculation for efficient floc formation
Safe removal of generated sludge

In addition, different tests were carried out with samples, simulating critical scenarios to ensure the robustness of the proposed solution.

Significant results

The reduction in the dosage of phosphorus, which was previously much higher than the amount allowed by the regulations, was reduced to practically zero.

The solution was improved with adjustments that significantly increased treatment efficiency, guaranteeing a clearer final effluent that met the required standards. The performance achieved is the result of a combination of good operating practices and applied technical knowledge.

Commitment to sustainability

With the solution applied, the company achieved compliance with current environmental standards and strengthened its commitment to sustainability. The study reaffirms EP Engenharia’s ability to offer tailor-made solutions, based on data and technical tests, for the most diverse challenges in the industrial sector.

More about EP Aqua:

With over 50 years’ experience in the environmental sector, EP iAqua is company that is a benchmark in integrated solutions for the treatment of water, effluents and reuse, serving industries, environmental consultancies and sanitation operators.

Through the 360° Solution, we offer a complete and centralized model, capable of uniting all stages of the environmental process – from initial analysis to full system operation – with high efficiency, safety and standardization.

Recognized for its personalized approach and focus on innovation, EP Aqua delivers everything from treatability studies to the ongoing operation of sustainable systems, adapting each project to the technical and regulatory needs of its clients.

Operating throughout Brazil and now expanding internationally, including to the United States, EP AQUA is prepared to meet the demands of different sizes and sectors, offering flexibility, scalability and excellence in every delivery.

Boiler Blowdown Water: Before and After POA.

Oily Water: Before and After POA.

Sample Composition of Boiler Blowdown Water + Oily Water (brown).

Sample Composition Treated After POA Treatment.

Effluent Treatment at Mars - Guararema

Context and Objective:

Mars Guararema’s industrial plant required a technical consultancy to assess the effluent treatment system and ensure compliance with CONAMA Resolutions 357/05 and 430/11, as well as State Decree 8468/76. The main objective was to align the effluent discharge with the regulations for Class 2 water bodies and explore possibilities for reusing treated effluent within the factory.

Initial Effluent Characterization:

effluent samples were collected from various stages of the treatment process, including raw effluent, flotation, anaerobic treatment, aerobic treatment, and final output. The raw effluent presented the following characteristics:

pH: 4.5
Total Dissolved Solids (TDS): 1,950 mg/L
Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD): 19,997 mg/L
Dissolved Iron: 23.95 mg/L.

Study of Treatability:

the study explored several treatment methods to achieve compliance:

Color Removal:

→ Sodium hypochlorite (12%) was used to remove color from the effluent. Tests showed that a dosage of 0.04 mL per 500 mL of effluent effectively eliminated color with a contact time of 30 minutes.

Free Chlorine Removal:

→ A pilot test using activated carbon filtration demonstrated effective free chlorine removal. After treatment, the effluent showed a chlorine level below 0.01 mg/L, meeting regulatory limits.

Phosphorus Removal:

○ The use of aluminum polychloride (PAC) and hydrochloric acid (HCl) helped reduce phosphorus levels to less than 0.05 mg/L, meeting legal requirements for effluent discharge.

BOD Reduction:

○ Chlorination followed by activated carbon filtration resulted in a reduction of BOD from 101 mg/L to 4 mg/L, ensuring compliance with CONAMA 357/05.

Implementation of Reverse Osmosis:

to meet the strict standards for Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), the study recommended the installation of a reverse osmosis (RO) system. The proposed system would produce permeate with a TDS of 107 mg/L, suitable for reuse, while the reject stream would contain higher concentrations of dissolved solids.

Conclusions:

the study concluded that Mars Guararema’s effluent treatment system could be optimized with chemical precipitation for phosphorus, sodium hypochlorite for color removal, activated carbon for chlorine removal, and reverse osmosis for TDS reduction. The treated effluent could potentially be reused within the factory, reducing water consumption and improving sustainability.

Recommendations:

Odor Control: the report suggests consulting a specialized company to evaluate the best technique for controlling odor emissions, such as condensation or activated carbon adsorption.
Cost Estimates: the reverse osmosis system is estimated to cost between R$ 600,000 and R$ 1,000,000, while other components, such as activated carbon filters and evaporation systems, add to the total investment

Raw Sample Collection

Comparison of Raw Sample and Treated Sample

Activated Carbon Filtration for Free Chlorine Removal

Wastewater Treatment at Volkswagen Truck & Bus

Context and Objective:

Volkswagen Truck & Bus, located in Resende (RJ), contracted EP Engenharia to conduct a treatability study of the water used in its industrial process. The primary objective was to ensure compliance with the parameters for total iron and apparent color set by Portaria GM/MS No 888, of May 4, 2021, which regulates potable water standards.

Initial Characterization:

water samples were collected from five points: Well 2, Well 6, raw water outlet, sand filter outlet, and the sink. Initial characterization revealed values exceeding the permissible limits for total iron and apparent color, especially in Well 6, which showed total iron of 4.176 mg/L, far above the allowed limit of 0.3 mg/L, and apparent color of 42.5 mg Pt-Co/L, also exceeding the limit of 15 mg Pt-Co.

Methodology:

the treatment involved a combination of chemical oxidation using sodium hypochlorite and activated carbon filtration. Several tests were conducted, adjusting sodium hypochlorite dosages and reaction times to optimize contaminant removal.

Treatability Tests:

Well 6: the initial treatment with sodium hypochlorite reduced total iron by 89.08%, reaching 0.456 mg/L, though still above the required limit. The apparent color removal was 12%, indicating the need for further optimization.

Well 2: the results were more promising, with total iron reduced by 77.68%, achieving 0.283 mg/L, within the allowed limit. The apparent color, being below the initial limit, showed little variation.
Raw Water Outlet: after treatment with sodium hypochlorite and filtration using activated carbon, total iron was reduced by 83.77%, reaching 0.231 mg/L, and apparent color was reduced by 75.25%, within the permitted limit.

Sand Filter Outlet: treatment at the sand filter outlet produced consistent results, with total iron reduced by 52.12% and complete removal of apparent color. This indicated the effectiveness of filtration combined with chemical oxidation.

Pilot Unit Operation:

a Pilot Unit operation was conducted to validate the results on an industrial scale. The activated carbon filter demonstrated efficiency in removing residual chlorine, total iron, and apparent color. Final results showed an apparent color of 3 mgPt-Co/L and total iron of 0.131 mg/L, both within the required limits.

Conclusion:

The treatability study conducted by EP Engenharia demonstrated that the oxidation process using sodium hypochlorite, combined with activated carbon and sand filtration was effective in removing total iron and apparent color. The results were satisfactory, meeting the potable water standards defined by current legislation. The success of this study highlights the feasibility of implementing these technologies to ensure water quality at Volkswagen Truck & Bus’s facility.

Sample Collection at the Sand Filter Outlet

Treatability Test for Iron and Apparent Color Removal

Filtration in Activated Carbon Filter

Filtered Sample after Filtration in Activated Carbon Filter

Installation of the Pilot Plant in the Process

Operation and Sample Collection from the Pilot Plant