Making Wastewater Treatment Convenient: Three Design Tips for Convenience Store Wastewater Treatment Systems
Posted on by Allison Blodig
Convenience stores generate hundreds to thousands of gallons of high strength wastewater each day requiring specialized treatment for long-term sustainability. Onsite wastewater treatment is the only solution for convenience stores where a centralized sewer system is not available. Having a properly engineered system will save money and prevent premature system replacement.
First, let’s discuss the concept of “high strength wastewater.” High strength wastewater typically contains high concentrations of Biochemical Oxygen Demand, or nitrogen. These higher concentrations of pollutants require higher levels of dissolved oxygen and residence time to break down and treat the wastewater. For a better understanding of exactly how the wastewater treatment process works, check out this blog post.
Most convenience stores generate a great deal of high strength wastewater! High strength wastewater can be effectively treated with some careful design considerations to help prolong the life of the onsite wastewater treatment system.
Here are three design tips for treating high strength wastewater in Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems:
Identify all sources of high strength wastewater. In addition to food waste, high strength wastewater also includes soda and coffee.- Implement outdoor grease interceptors when fried foods are served. Maintain these tanks by pumping - no enzymes or bacteria should be used to minimize pumping.
- Inventory your cleaners and sanitizers. Strong sanitizers that are often used in the 3-compartment sink and in bathroom cleaning can affect the ability of treatment systems to function well. Using chlorine bleach is a good alternative for dishwashing and toilet bowl cleaners with bleach, peroxide or citric acid as their active ingredient will do the job.
Delta Treatment’s ECOPOD is an optimal solution for treating high strength waste generated from food, soda, coffee, and high-volume restroom use typical in convenience store operations.
Let us help design a wastewater treatment system for your convenience store!
About the Author
Allison Blodig, REHS
Engineered Systems Specialist
Allison has been in the onsite wastewater treatment industry since 1997, first as a regulatory official and then in the wastewater treatment manufacturing industry participating in sales, regulatory affairs, design reviews, and training for a national treatment system manufacturer. Ms. Blodig had her own company for 3 years called GYST (Get Your “Stuff” Together) Consulting, specializing in regulatory consulting, market research, and training across the US. Currently she is an Engineered Systems Specialist with Infiltrator Water Technologies, a leading developer of decentralized wastewater treatment technology. Along with a degree in Biology from Benedictine College in Atchison, KS, she has been a Registered Environmental Health Specialist and member of the National Environmental Health Association since She is also very active with the National Onsite Wastewater Recycling Association (NOWRA) and is the former chair of the Technical Practices Committee, current chair of the Conference Committee and participates in the Online Education Committee. She has participated in the NSF Joint Committee on wastewater, participating in task groups and annual meetings. Allison received the Women in Manufacturing award in 2012 and was the 2017 recipient of the Raymond Peat Lifetime Achievement award for outstanding achievement in the Kansas onsite wastewater field.
Contact us if you have any questions about this blog post.