About Our Business

Wastewater reclamation and treatment facilities have always had a problem with sand and grit
accumulating in their lift stations, grit chambers, aeration basins and digesters.  Over time, this
accumulation builds to the point where the efficiency of the plant and quality of their effluent is
greatly diminished.  Since most of the wastewater plants cannot be shut down and drained for
cleaning, a way was needed to clean them while they were still operating.

In order for reclamation facilities and wastewater treatment plants to be properly operated and
maintained, and produce the quality of effluent that is necessary to protect the public health,
environment, and meet regulatory requirements; Routine maintenance and things such as
regular removal of sand and grit from the different unit processes is absolutely necessary.

In the early 1980's, Ken Mims created and patented a self-contained system that removed sand
and grit from wastewater treatment plants while they were still operating.  This system evolved
into what is now known as the "Vertical Grit Separator." (VGS) Patent Pending.

The Settled Solids Management process allows wastewater reclamation and
treatment facilities to stay on-line and in operation while the non-biodegradable settled solids
are removed and pH stabilized for safe disposal.  Through special vacuum heads, the settled
solids are removed through custom pumps to the "Vertical Grit Separator" (VGS) where the
solids are separated from the water and biomass.  The water and biomass are returned to the
plant for further treatment as required. The sand and grit and other non-biodegradable material
is mixed with dry lime to achieve a pH level of 12+ for the 23 hours as required by the regulatory
authorities, and to absorb any water that may pass our system to produce a product that will
pass the standard paint filter test used at landfills for acceptable disposal.

By removing the volume of mass (sand and grit), the air transfer system (DO Transfer System)
is at its maximum efficiency as designed by the professional engineers.  It has been proven
that the removal of sand in and around the diffusers will result in an average savings of 40% of
the electrical energy bill.  (Results from research conducted 1994-95 at the University of Florida,
Gainesville, Treeo Center)

Silica sand is extremely abrasive and causes premature mechanical failures in all equipment
that comes in contact with it (pumps, aerators and mixers).  Sometimes the concrete vessels
themselves are eroded away.

By removing the non-biodegradable mass (sand and grit) from aeration tanks, the optimum
mixture of dissolved oxygen and incoming biological matter can be achieved and maintained by
the plant's operator.  This greatly reduces the amount of suspended solids in the effluent,
therefore resulting in less chlorine usage.  The overall effect is better quality biomass resulting
in less nitrates that need to be removed.

Settled Solids Management, Inc. provides a service that allows pollution prevention programs
to be implemented with assurances that these same programs will run successfully.