STAGE 01
Coagulation & Chemical Dosing
Destabilizes colloidal particles via charge neutralization. Precision dosing arrays maintain ±0.2 mg/L setpoint regardless of influent turbidity swings from 5 to 2,000 NTU.
REMOVAL EFFICIENCY
92–97% turbidity reduction
TARGET CONTAMINANT
Suspended solids, colloidal clay, heavy metals (Pb, As, Cr)
COMPLIANCE STANDARD
EPA Surface Water Treatment Rule (SWTR) — Turbidity < 0.3 NTU at filter effluent
WATERSHED IMPACT
Prevents suspended solids from smothering benthic invertebrates in receiving streams — the first line of aquatic habitat defense.
STAGE 02
Flocculation
Variable-speed paddle arrays create gentle orthokinetic collisions, growing micro-floc into 0.5–2mm settleable aggregates. G-value maintained at 20–80 s⁻¹ across load fluctuations.
REMOVAL EFFICIENCY
85–94% TSS removal pre-sedimentation
TARGET CONTAMINANT
Micro-floc, residual colloids, phosphorus-bound particles
COMPLIANCE STANDARD
NPDES Permit — Total Suspended Solids < 30 mg/L monthly average
WATERSHED IMPACT
Phosphorus removal at this stage prevents downstream eutrophication — the algal bloom cycle that depletes dissolved oxygen and kills fish populations.
STAGE 03
Lamella Sedimentation
High-rate lamella plates multiply effective settling area by 6–8×, achieving overflow rates of 8–12 m/h in a footprint 40% smaller than conventional basins. Sludge blanket depth monitored continuously via ultrasonic sensors.
REMOVAL EFFICIENCY
BOD₅ reduction 60–75% at this stage
TARGET CONTAMINANT
Settleable solids, biological oxygen demand (BOD), oil & grease
COMPLIANCE STANDARD
Clean Water Act § 402 — Effluent limitation guidelines for industrial categories
WATERSHED IMPACT
Concentrated sludge stream routed to dewatering, keeping biosolids out of waterways while recovering material for beneficial reuse.
STAGE 04
Dual-Media Filtration
Anthracite layer (d₁₀ = 0.8mm) captures large floc; underlying sand layer (d₁₀ = 0.45mm) polishes to < 0.1 NTU. Automated backwash cycles triggered by headloss differential — no manual intervention required.
REMOVAL EFFICIENCY
3-log (99.9%) Giardia reduction
TARGET CONTAMINANT
Residual floc, Giardia cysts, Cryptosporidium oocysts, micro-plastics
COMPLIANCE STANDARD
EPA Long Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule — Cryptosporidium log removal requirements
WATERSHED IMPACT
Physical removal of pathogens without chemical byproducts — protecting downstream drinking water intakes 40–200 miles from industrial discharge points.
STAGE 05
UV + Chemical Disinfection
Medium-pressure UV at 40 mJ/cm² delivers 4-log virus inactivation without forming chlorinated byproducts. Downstream chlorine residual (0.5–1.0 mg/L) maintains distribution system protection per USEPA CT guidance.
REMOVAL EFFICIENCY
4-log virus inactivation (99.99%)
TARGET CONTAMINANT
Viruses, bacteria, residual pathogens, emerging contaminants (PFAS precursors)
COMPLIANCE STANDARD
Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule — TTHM < 80 μg/L, HAA5 < 60 μg/L
WATERSHED IMPACT
Zero chlorinated byproduct formation means no trihalomethanes entering the watershed — protecting endocrine systems of aquatic species sensitive to sub-μg/L concentrations.
FACILITY SPECIALIZATIONS
Every facility type. Every contaminant profile.
We don't adapt generic systems — we engineer from the specific permit limits, flow volumes, and discharge endpoints of your operation.
EPA Compliance Before the Deadline
We design treatment trains for surface water and groundwater sources serving populations from 5,000 to 2M. Every system is engineered to the specific NPDES permit limits of your receiving water body.
Turbidity
< 0.1 NTU
Crypto log removal
3-log
TTHM
< 80 μg/L
Zero FOG in Your Discharge Permit
Dissolved air flotation + biological treatment trains engineered for high-strength wastewater from dairy, meat processing, and beverage production.
BOD₅ removal
> 97%
FOG
< 15 mg/L
Zero Liquid Discharge in Arid Basins
Membrane bioreactor → reverse osmosis → evaporator/crystallizer trains that recover 98%+ of process water in closed-loop systems — no discharge permit required.
Water recovery
98.5%
TDS removal
> 99.8%
Nitrate & Phosphorus Below Detection
Biological nutrient removal systems sized for irrigation return flows and livestock operation runoff — preventing hypoxic dead zones in downstream estuaries.
Total nitrogen
< 3 mg/L
Total phosphorus
< 0.1 mg/L
MEASURED OUTCOMES
Systems built. Permits restored. Watersheds protected.
Cascade Valley Water District
Willamette Basin, OR
Legacy plant failing turbidity limits 38 days/year. EPA administrative order pending. 180,000 residents.
Lamella clarifier retrofit + dual-media filter replacement + UV system. 14-month design-build delivery.
MEASURED RESULTS
Turbidity compliance
Filter run time
Chemical spend
Redrock Copper Operations
Sonoran Basin, AZ
State ZLD mandate with 18-month compliance window. 4.2 MGD process water. Selenium and arsenic at 40× permit limits.
MBR → RO → evaporator/crystallizer train. 98.7% water recovery. Brine crystallizer recovers copper sulfate byproduct.
MEASURED RESULTS
Water recovery
Se discharge
Permit status
Great Plains Protein Co.
Sioux Falls, SD
NPDES permit renewal denied. BOD at 6× limit. 2.1 MGD high-strength wastewater. 90-day corrective action deadline.
Dissolved air flotation + sequencing batch reactor + polishing filter. Designed for seasonal peak load variation.
MEASURED RESULTS
BOD₅ removal
NPDES permit
FOG discharge
BEGIN THE PROCESS
Request a Treatment Assessment
A licensed PE reviews your permit limits, flow data, and contaminant profile within 3 business days — no obligation, no sales call unless you request one.
SECONDARY PATH
Download Engineering Specifications
For engineers reviewing system specifications before vendor engagement. Includes P&IDs, hydraulic profiles, and equipment data sheets for all treatment stages.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT
PE reviews your facility profile and permit limits within 3 business days
Preliminary treatment pathway delivered — no obligation
Site assessment scheduled if you choose to proceed
Conceptual design + OPEX/CAPEX estimate within 30 days