The sludge handling and disposal process is a major cost for wastewater facilities. Improvements to older methods as well as innovative alternatives are now available for treatment plants. Some of these options include:


Belt Filter Presses


This type of equipment has been around for many years and is still considered one of the industry standards. These systems are easy to operate and familiar to most facility staff but are not the best alternative for containing odors.


Inclined Screw Press


Similar to the rotary disc press, this system feeds flocculated material into an inclined screw that rotates inside a stainless still wedge wire screen. It also operates at a very slow speed and is self-contained. It uses minimal horsepower compared to other methods, resulting in lower operation costs.


Horizontal Screw Press


This system is similar to the inclined screw press, but the flocculated material is fed into a horizontal rotating screen. It works well when higher quantities are anticipated. They have been used traditionally in the pulp and paper industry, and more recently with wastewater treatment plants.


The right sludge dewatering equipment for a treatment facility depends on a variety of factors such as:


- Sludge Belt Filter Presses quantity and composition 
- How much space is available for equipment 
- How quickly the sludge dewatering must take place 
- Operator experience and preferences 
- Odor control preferences 
- How the sludge cake may be used, such as land applications, landfill disposal, alternative fuels, or additional processing for some other purpose