MILL HALL - With wastewater being one of their largest waste streams, local manufacturer Croda Inc. is looking at how it can reduce the amount of wastewater generated at its Mill Hall facility.
Croda environmental compliance supervisor Jim Crays spoke recently with members of the Croda Community Advisory Council (CAC) about the facility's wastewater treatment process.
Crays, who has oversight for those operations, said Croda is the largest industrial discharger of wastewater to the city of Lock Haven's sewage treatment plant. On average, he said the plant treats and discharges approximately 63,000 gallons of wastewater daily to the City's facility.
Article Photos
PHOTO PROVIDED
Jim Crays, environmental compliance coordinator at Croda’s Mill Hall facility, shows a sample of wastewater generated at the local plant to members of the Croda Community Advisory Council. Crays, who oversees wastewater treatment operations, said Croda continually looks at ways to reduce the amount of wastewater the plant sends to the Lock Haven sewage treatment facility, and wastewater solids, which are sent to the Wayne Township Landfill.
Crays explained wastewater includes water from several different areas. For example, water run-off from roofs throughout the Croda complex is collected, treated and then sent to the city treatment plant. In addition, wastewater from the plant's process operations and water used for cleaning tanks and other equipment is also treated and then sent to the city sewage treatment plant.
Crays said Croda has an extensive monitoring process for wastewater treatment, including daily sampling and monthly monitoring to make sure the facility is in compliance with discharge parameters which are set by the city of Lock Haven.
Crays explained the treatment process, noting in addition to treatment of wastewater liquids, sediment from the wastewater is put through a de-watering process, with the remaining solids then being sent to the local landfill.
"Wastewater solids are our largest source of waste," said Crays. "For many years now, we have looked at ways to reduce the amount of wastewater solids generated at our facility, and we've seen success. Over the last four years we have reduced the generation rate approximately 57 percent."
"We continue to look at that today," added Crays. "Croda has established goals and targets for reducing waste. Reducing the amount of wastewater solids we generate would in turn reduce the amount of material going into the landfill, and it would also reduce our disposal costs."
The Croda Community Advisory Council was established in 2001 to better educate the community about Croda and to enhance peoples' understanding of the local manufacturer. The CAC meets every other month, and membership includes people from all walks of local life. Current members include Nick Agostini, Keith Bittner, Jim Burnworth, Charlie Haftl, Matt Kellander, Frank Killinger, Megan McCormack, Catherine Shope, Trish Smith, Bill Strunk, Jonathan Temple and Brandon Yost.
