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Bruce Foods Inc.

Wilson, NC

Bruce Foods Inc.
Engineer: Hubbard Engineering
Owner: Bruce Foods Corporation
Project: Floating digester cover and baffles
Size: 58,500 sq. ft
Material: 40 mil Smooth HDPE
Installer: Environmental Fabrics, Inc.

The company management wanted to respond to odor complaints from neighbors. They determined that the major source of plant odors was the onsite wastewater treatment plant, which consisted of an open anaerobic lagoon, two aerated lagoons and a spray field where the treated wastewater was used to irrigate a hay field.

The solution was to install baffles in the anaerobic lagoon to increase treatment time and to cover it with an impermeable geomembrane cover system to improve treatment quality. The cover traps odorous gases and a blower directs biogas to a boiler at the plant where it is used as fuel, This process destroys the odors and replaces natural gas as fuel for the boiler. By improving treatment in the Anaerobic Digester, secondary treatment in the Aerated Lagoons will also generate fewer odors. In addition, the company extended a pipe from its wastewater treatment plant to its new property where the treated water, which has high nutrient content, is used to irrigate a tree farm.

Environmental Fabrics, Inc. of Gaston, SC was chosen for the geomembrane work on this project, which began in the summer of 2002. The baffles were fabricated in the ThermaFab facility and installed by EFI's crew while the cover system was being constructed. Since it was placed in operation, the cover system has functioned as designed with little required maintenance.