How to Choose the Right Headworks

November 24, 2020

Headworks function as a pre-treatment system for a wastewater treatment facility. Choosing the right headworks for your wastewater filtration system in Camden County, MO is key to protecting the downstream equipment, but keep in mind that there is no one-size-fits-all solution to which headworks you’ll need.

Here’s a brief overview to help you choose the right headworks.

What headworks do

The goal of a good headworks system is to remove much of the debris and solid matter before it gets to the downstream equipment. Using screening methods will remove large items like paper, wood, cloth, plastic, oils, grease and solid fats. The more a pre-treatment system is able to deal with problems like these, the less work the downstream equipment will have to do to treat the wastewater.

Choosing the right equipment

Choosing the right equipment is the determining factor in whether your wastewater treatment plan will succeed. You’ll need a solids-control strategy, and it needs to be the right size for your specific needs. Otherwise, you won’t be able to meet the required pre-treatment levels and it won’t have the desired effects.

Here’s an overview of the types of equipment you might work with:

  • Manual bar screens: Manual bar screens have historically been used by smaller plants. These screens control how many solids pass through and into the downstream equipment. They consist of metal bars spaced one to two inches apart, which catch debris. The downside is that the screens constantly need to be raked to remove solids and to let water flow freely. Today, the prevalence of disposable diaper wipes makes manual screens untenable for most applications.
  • Automatic bar screens: Automatic bar screens include an automatic raking system, which saves time and manpower. While they can catch plenty of large solids before the water moves downstream, they’re also more expensive and more complicated to use. You can expect that if you pick an automatic bar screen for your plant, you’ll spend more capital investing in it as well as training operators to monitor its function. On top of that, it doesn’t catch finer debris and you still have to figure out what to do with the waste and debris the screen catches.
  • In-channel auger screens: Finally, in-channel auger screens are the mid-range option. Instead of merely screening out large debris, the auger screen collects it, grinds it up and compacts and dewaters the solids before removing it to a dumpster. This option is the best at protecting your downstream equipment, especially because it does the work of three different tools in one. This is a smart, cost-effective way to get the most out of your pre-treatment system, without having to install multiple pieces of equipment.

Whichever type of headworks you choose to use in your Camden County, MO wastewater treatment facility, getting the most value for your money and the best use of your space can make a world of difference. If you have questions, be sure to call the team at Enviro-Line Co., Inc. today to learn more.

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