When it comes to industrial wastewater treatment, companies often face a challenging decision: invest in costly, long-term equipment or find a more flexible, cost-effective option to meet temporary needs. Renting wastewater treatment equipment, especially Dissolved Air Flotation (DAF) systems, could be a sensible and beneficial choice for companies seeking a solution that provides both efficiency and cost savings.
Xylem offers DAF rental units that can help utilities and industries tackle wastewater challenges without the burden of long-term investment. To learn more about how these units are beneficial for various industries and situations, I spoke with two of Xylem’s experts, Martyn Tyas and Adam Drakeley, who shared valuable insights on the technology and its diverse applications.
What is DAF?
Dissolved Air Flotation (DAF) is a proven and effective chemical technology designed to treat a wide range of industrial and municipal wastewater streams. This system uses fine bubbles of air to separate contaminants from water, allowing the solid particles to float to the surface where they can be removed. DAF systems are particularly effective for achieving a variety of treatment goals, including: product recovery and reuse, pre-treatment to meet sewer discharge limits, reducing the load on downstream biological treatment systems, polishing of biological treatment effluent and the thickening of biosolids.
Due to its versatility and effectiveness, DAF has become an essential technology in many industries, from food and beverage to pharmaceuticals, where water quality and wastewater management are critical.
Transition To Sustainable Practices And Environmental Benefits
The positive environmental impact of DAF systems should not be downplayed. Sustainability is a key concern in today’s world, and DAF plays an important role for companies aiming to decrease their environmental footprint.
“DAF has a positive impact in minimising water pollution by removing over 90% of the harmful contaminants in discharges. This reduction in harmful pollutants leads to significantly cleaner watercourses and a healthier ecosystem.”
DAF systems effectively remove suspended solids, fats, oil and grease (FOG), as well as insoluble Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) and Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD). Furthermore, DAF isn’t limited to industrial wastewater; it can also be used in drinking water applications to remove solids causing seasonal algal blooms and high phosphorus levels.
“In most applications, there are multiple benefits. These include the ability to treat variations in water quality without sacrificing performance, coupled with a reduction in chemical usage, producing enhanced water quality while saving on discharge surcharges, sludge volume production and being more environmentally friendly.”
We are seeing a transition towards sustainable practices across the water industry and, with the ever increasing pressure, the demand for effective wastewater treatment technologies has never been higher.
“The availability of effective and innovative wastewater treatment technologies have become essential. Among the highly effective technologies in wastewater treatment, the most versatile and applicable solution developed so far is the DAF!”
Flexibility To Meet Changing Needs
One of the standout benefits of renting DAF units is their unparalleled flexibility, especially when companies face temporary or fluctuating wastewater treatment demands. Renting allows businesses to secure reliable treatment without the financial commitment of long-term equipment ownership. Rather than making a large capital investment, renting a DAF system allows companies to respond to short-term challenges and run treatment on an operational budget, removing the equipment once it is no longer needed.
“This adaptability is invaluable for industries with seasonal production cycles or unexpected surges in wastewater volume. But we also see DAF rentals being used for a variety of reasons, from emergency breakdowns and temporary treatment during the installation of new equipment, to testing processes that confirm their effectiveness.”
Xylem’s extensive rental fleet goes beyond just DAF systems. The company offers a wide range of treatment equipment, including UV disinfection units, ozone generators, blowers, mixing tanks, polymer makeup systems, and more- all available for delivery across Europe through their European Rental Hub (ERB). To ensure the best possible solution, Xylem’s team of application engineers is also on hand to offer expert advice on treatment options and assist with equipment sizing, ensuring a tailored solution that meets the unique requirements of each customer.
Conclusion: A Smart Solution for Wastewater Management
Xylem’s DAF rental units present a smart solution for industries looking to improve wastewater management, reduce environmental impact and ensure compliance with regulatory standards. The ability to rent equipment for temporary or fluctuating needs offers a cost-effective and efficient way to address wastewater challenges without the financial commitment of purchasing permanent systems. As industries continue to transition toward sustainable practices, technologies like DAF are proving to be essential in managing wastewater challenges effectively and efficiently.
“In a recent discussion with a rental customer, they stated that without their treatment plant operating effectively, they would not have a business!”
This statement highlights the critical importance of reliable wastewater treatment in maintaining business operations- an area where Xylem’s DAF rental units can make a real difference!
