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CONSULTING AND DIAGNOSTICS OF TREATMENT SYSTEMS (SEPTIC TANKS) IN A STEEL INDUSTRY
THE CHALLENGE: LIABILITY MANAGEMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE
Old wastewater treatment systems can become invisible bottlenecks and critical environmental risks. At a major steel industry facility in João Monlevade, Minas Gerais, the challenge was to map the actual condition of more than 40 septic tanks that had been operating for years without a technical performance assessment.
The industry needed more than maintenance: it required an engineering diagnosis to serve as the foundation for strategic decisions and future investments.
GIGWATER METHODOLOGY: FROM THE FIELD TO THE LABORATORY
GIGWATER’s Process Engineering team carried out a complete technical immersion at the steel plant. Visits and inspections were conducted on all septic tanks distributed throughout the industrial complex.
The team collected effluent samples at strategic points and sent them for laboratory analysis, making it possible to accurately measure the quality of the treated effluent and identify deviations from the required standards.
GIGWATER SOLUTIONS: CUSTOM PROJECTS AND ANALYSES
Our team conducted individualized studies, presenting modern and financially viable solutions tailored to the client’s needs.
We proposed interconnections between nearby septic tanks to enable joint treatment and economies of scale, the implementation of biodigesters to increase the efficiency of organic matter digestion, and the installation of a Wastewater Treatment Plant with a UASB reactor for points with the highest pollutant load.
GIGWATER’s Project Engineering team also developed flowcharts and layouts for the proposed alternatives, allowing visualization of how each solution operates. In addition, our Commercial team prepared a financial feasibility plan with estimated investment costs for each proposal.
RESULT: COMPLIANCE WITH MINAS GERAIS ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATIONS
The consultancy provided the steel company with a complete, technical, and reliable overview of the actual condition of its septic systems.
With the detailed report in hand, the company gained a clear understanding of which systems could still be maintained through corrective maintenance, which required renovation or replacement, and the investment needed for each scenario.
Based on this assessment, the steel company was able to make strategic decisions supported by technical, environmental, and economic considerations.
