Plant Microbial Filter Wastewater Pretreatment System for Corrugated Operations, 1997 Environmental Conference Proceedings

As a result of escalating public and regulatory scrutiny, industry today is under increasing pressure to not only adhere to, but actually surpass environmental standards. Because of increased demands to improve wastewater treatment methods, innovative wastewater treatment technology must be developed. Present economic conditions also dictate that this technology be cost effective and more efficient than conventional wastewater treatment methods, while at the same time using less energy. To improve upon the quality of the wastewater effluent at Tenneco Packaging’s container facility in Harrisonburg, Virginia, a long term study and operational evaluation was initiated. The goal was to identify opportunities for improvements which could be incorporated into the existing treatment system structure. The results of this study recommended the installation of a modified plant microbial filter using plant root microecology for treating industrial wastewater. The system’s design offers an aesthetically pleasing, environmentally friendly, artificial wetlands area capable of handling the facility’s twenty to thirty thousand gallon per day combined sanitary and industrial wastewater flow.