Wastewater treatment system

Abstract

The present invention is a system and method for treating a wastewater stream to produce an effluent having an acceptable level of turbidity. The invention comprises a controller operatively coupled to at least one turbidity meter for monitoring turbidity of the effluent stream. A plurality of chemical treatment additive pumps are provided for providing a plurality of additives to the wastewater stream. Furthermore, a method of sequentially testing the amount of each additive required to produce an effluent stream having an acceptable turbidity is disclosed.

1 . A system for treating a wastewater stream to produce an effluent stream comprising:
 a flow measurement device for measuring the flow rate of said wastewater entering said system;   a plurality of pumps for supplying a plurality of chemical additives at variable flow rates to said wastewater stream at a plurality of points;   a first turbidity meter disposed in said wastewater stream downstream of said chemical additives for monitoring the clarity of said wastewater stream; and   a controller for monitoring said flow rate of said wastewater and varying the flow rates of said chemical additives proportionally.   
     
     
         2 . A system for treating a wastewater stream to produce an effluent stream as claimed in  claim 1  comprising:
 a coagulant pump having a variable flow rate for delivering a coagulant to said wastewater stream; and 
 at least one polymer pump having a variable flow rate for delivering a polymer to said wastewater stream. 
 
     
     
         3 . A system for treating a wastewater stream to produce an effluent stream as claimed in  claim 1  comprising:
 a second turbidity meter disposed in said effluent stream for monitoring the clarity of said effluent. 
 
     
     
         4 . A system for treating a wastewater stream to produce an effluent stream as claimed in  claim 3  comprising:
 an output from said second turbidity meter representative of effluent clarity operatively coupled to an input of said controller, whereby an output exceeding a predetermined threshold causes said controller to initiate a jar test. 
 
     
     
         5 . A system for treating a wastewater stream to produce an effluent stream as claimed in  claim 1  comprising:
 an output from said first turbidity meter representative of effluent clarity operatively coupled to an input of said controller, whereby said output is representative of the turbidity of a treated wastewater stream. 
 
     
     
         6 . A system for treating a wastewater stream to produce an effluent stream as claimed in  claim 1  comprising:
 a plurality of flocculant tubes through which said wastewater stream is passed, wherein said chemical additives are supplied to said system in said flocculant tubes. 
 
     
     
         7 . A system for treating a wastewater stream as claimed in  claim 6  wherein said first turbidity meter is disposed downstream of said flocculant tubes. 
     
     
         8 . A system for treating a wastewater stream to produce an effluent stream as claimed in  claim 1  comprising:
 at least one pH meter in fluid communication with said wastewater stream having an output representative of the pH of said wastewater stream operatively coupled to said controller; and 
 at least one pH additive delivery pump for supplying an acidic or alkaline solution to said wastewater stream responsive to said pH meter.