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Powder coating pretreatment on a septic system.

1998

We are in the process of gathering quotes on powder coating equipment. One of the stumbling blocks that we have encountered is the fact that our plant is on a septic system. Can we adequately and economically expect to deal with powder coating pretreatment of hot and cold roll steel in dip tanks under these circumstances? What happens to the rinse tank run off?

Thank you for your comments,

Thanks,

Mike Hanson

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1997

I don't see why a septic system could not handle a wastewater stream from alkaline cleaner and acid rinses if the septic were properly designed. The metals would precipitate at the proper pH, and microorganisms could eat the biodegradable organics. I would do pH adjustment, precipitation, and solids removal in a batch treatment of any cleaner and acid dumps and would not hard pipe any of these tanks to the septic system. And you would need to test the ability of your septic tanks and fields to accept the new organics and the hydraulic load from the rinse tanks.

You might want to calculate hydraulic loads yourself using Finishing Technology's Perfect Rinsing software. If you still think it would work, you might need our Consultant's Directory.

  
Tom Pullizzi
Falls Township, Pennsylvania