Problem:
A chicken processing plant in south Georgia has a 1.2 million gallon per day wastewater stream. The wastewater treatment system consists of a series of 4 ponds, all of which are anaerobic. The wastewater travels from the first pond to the second through a gravity feed system. From the second pond the water is pumped to ponds three and four. The plant has a wastewater land application permit and the water from ponds three and four is pump to irrigation guns which spray the wastewater onto hay fields. Two major problems existed. The solids (mostly grease, fats, and feathers) cap built up on the first pond had reached levels of 24" to a maximum of 42" and the retention capacity of the pond was greatly diminished. The plant was also experiencing major odor problems being generated at the irrigation guns during the land application. The odors were hydrogen sulfide as well as ammonia in origin.

Solution:
Ponds two, three, and four were shocked with a total of 500 gallons of Histosol OP-Bio 1. The product was applied with the use of a high pressure pump and fire hose to each pond. Histosol OP-Bio 5 was metered into the system with a continuous feed pump just as the wastewater leaves the plant and before the water discharged into pond one at a rate of 37 PPM of the daily flow of 1.2 million gallons. (Approximately 45 gallons per day.)

Conclusion:
Within 72 hours after treatment started the H2S and ammonia odors at the irrigation guns were eliminated. At the end of 30 days the grease and fat cap on pond one was reduced by an average of 47%.