Regional considerations for treating wastewater
The location of your dairy processing facility directly impacts how you treat your process wastewater. In the Midwest, phosphorous and nitrogen removal are concerns, especially where facilities discharge their effluent directly into a body of water under DNR regulatory compliance. On the west coast and other drought areas of the country, water consumption and sodium levels are primary concerns. As facilities focus on achieving water savings goals, the reduction in process water used leads to increased contaminant loads in wastewater.
Benefits of working with DMP Corporation to solve wastewater challenges in the dairy industry
DMP will work with your facility to understand your process and identify your specific contaminant contributors to the wastewater stream. In addition to that, DMP will work with you to understand constraints from your local POTW and DNR to address regulatory compliance issues. This includes looking at alternative water discharge opportunities and optimizing sludge disposal.
At DMP, we can create a solution that’s both compliant and cost-effective. We begin with an assessment of your facility’s processes to observe your flow cycle and test water samples. We then create an individualized solution for your unique situation—one that uses the right technology for your problems within your budget. Our modular solutions are guaranteed to keep you in compliance.
Most importantly, with the varying nature of the dairy industry and the wide range of products produced, we include our Performance Guarantee Program to make us 100% accountable for any design flaws in our solutions. That’s truly taking the worry out of wastewater.
Composition of avg. wastewater / effluent obtained in a dairy plant
| S.No | Constituents | Cheese plant | Milk receiving and pasteurization section | Casein plant | Butter, Butteroil and ghee section | Pooled Dairy Effluent |
| 1 | Total solids | 2250 | 3620 | 650 | 3400 | 1650 |
| 2 | Color | White | White | Clear | Brown | White |
| 3 | Chlorides | 100 | 95 | 70 | 100 | 115 |
| 4 | Volatile solids | 25 | 75 | 55 | 65 | 60 |
| 5 | Suspended solids | 600 | 1300 | 100 | 2200 | 650 |
| 6 | Phosphates | 12 | 10 | 5 | 2 | 10 |
| 7 | pH | 6.7 | 8.2 | 7.7 | 7.1 | 6.1 |
| 8 | Calcium carbonate | 480 | 500 | 460 | 420 | 530 |
| 9 | Absorbed oxygen | 480 | 400 | 10 | 85 | — |
| 10 | BOD | 2150 | 1620 | 200 | 1250 | 810 |
| 11 | COD | 3130 | 2600 | 370 | 3200 | 1340 |
| 12 | Oil and Grease | 520 | 690 | — | 1320 | 290 |
| 13 | COD:BOD | 1.46 | 1.43 | 1.85 | 2.56 | 1.65 |
