A downed clarifier constitutes an emergency for most wastewater treatment plants and industrial businesses. For that reason, managers should create a contingency plan that includes one or more portable clarifiers, which serve as an effective mobile water treatment system.

The chaos a clarifier failure can cause is not to be underestimated. Wastewater treatment plants risk penalties if they divert or discharge untreated wastewater. They may have to pump and store it if storage space is available, or truck it out for treatment until the permanent wastewater clarifier is fixed, at great expense and operational disruption. For industrial businesses, a clarifier failure can disrupt production, generating financial losses.

Having a contingency water treatment plan that can be quickly deployed allows for a rapid response and reduced downtime.

What is a portable clarifier?

A portable clarifier, aka mobile clarifier, is similar to a permanent clarifier but compact and portable. The main component is a tank designed to remove suspended solids, sediment or contaminants from water using one of several treatment methods. It can be moved into or near a facility and deployed as a temporary solution in emergency situations to maintain water treatment at expected standards.

Portable clarifiers are easy to operate and use very little energy. To separate suspended solids, they rely on gravity.

How a portable clarifier helps

A portable clarifier eliminates the need to store or truck out water. Compared to the cost of hauling water and having it treated offsite by a third party, renting a portable clarifier is very affordable.

Portable clarifiers are modular and can be customized using lamella plate technology to meet any flow rate and treatment requirements.

An equipment rental company that offers filtration equipment and expertise can often deliver and set up a portable clarifier system within 24 to 48 hours to keep operations running until the permanent system is back online.

A portable clarifier should be operated just like the primary system, which means staying within maximum flow rates and using chemical treatments such as coagulants or pH adjusters as necessary.

Planning ahead for a clarifier breakdown

Clarifier failures happen. Older systems are subject to mechanical problems due to wear and tear on raking mechanisms, bearings and other parts. Even newer systems can break down due to lack of regular cleaning and proper maintenance.

A full-service temporary equipment vendor such as United Rentals can assist in creating an effective contingency plan. Partnering with a reliable vendor ahead of time and detailing the specifications and requirements of a temporary water treatment solution before a failure in the permanent system occurs enables faster, smoother deployment.

United Rentals representatives will do a site walk to evaluate the conditions and help the customer:

• Determine minimum and maximum flow rates to ensure the right size portable clarifier is used.
• Identify where the unit will be placed—either onsite or offsite, with water pumped in and out.
• Decide whether to connect the portable clarifier to SCADA or run it manually.

From site assessments to portable clarifier setup and maintenance, United Rentals provides end-to-end support to ensure the temporary system is fully operational.

By creating a detailed contingency plan for a clarifier breakdown with the help of a trusted partner, plant managers can avoid being caught flat-footed if a failure occurs. A solid, well-designed plan helps plants minimize the cost of a disruption and protect their bottom line as well as their reputation.

Prepare for the unexpected. Contact the United Rentals’ Fluid Solutions team today for help creating a clarifier failure contingency plan.