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BilMar Foods, Inc., Wastewater Treatment Improvements

Zeeland, MI 1997

BilMar Foods Wastewater Treatment

The existing on-site wastewater treatment plant for this turkey processing plant was operating erratically as a result of two separate waste steams with varying flow rates. The plant operators were not able to stay within discharge limits. HDR Engineering was chosen for process design and the civil design.

Their choice was adding two covered equalization cells to the existing treatment plant to store the different wastewater streams. This would allow the wastewater to the treatment plant to be blended so the plant could operated with a steady load. It would also eliminate any odors from the stored wastewater.

The equalization cell specifications required liners of 60 mil HDPE geomembrane to prevent groundwater contamination. 100 mil HDPE was chosen for the covers to seal the cells to prevent the escape of odors. These cover systems had to allow the cells to be filled and emptied repeatedly.

Environmental Fabrics Inc. of Gaston, SC was chosen for the geomembrane work on this project. The geomembrane work started late summer and was completed on schedule. The cells were placed in operation and the liner and cover systems have functioned as designed with little required maintenance.

These covered equalization cells have allowed the wastewater treatment plant to operate within its discharge limits, and eliminate odor complaints to the city.