First Milk improves wastewater recycling

Dairy business First Milk has installed a new dissolved air floatation (DAF) treatment system at its Haverfordwest creamery, Pembrokeshire in a bid to improve its wastewater recycling process.


The new system, installed by effluent and water treatment firm Siltbuster Process Solutions (SPS), replaces First Milk’s older system, which it said “had deteriorated with age and needed to be replaced to avoid any operational risks”.

According to Siltbuster, a major challenge it faced in replacing the system was carrying out the installation without causing disruption to production at the plant.

As a result, a packaged compact DAF D100 unit was chosen for the creamery, which could be installed with minimal disruption. It is also possible to easily relocate the unit, which will be required when the plant is decommissioned in two or three year’s time, said First Milk.

SPS business unit manager Clwyd Jones, said: “Treating effluent can often prove challenging for food production sites when they have to be so focused on production commitments.

“Our packaged design enables us to install the DAF units in a compact area which can be up and running in a matter of days, sometimes hours, with little or no disruption to production, as was the case at Haverfordwest.”

The upgraded DAF unit uses established solids and liquid separation technology to generate ‘whitewater’, a process where microfine air bubbles combine with solids, fats and other particulates which rise to the surface. The thickened solids are then removed using a motorised scrapper and taken away for recycling, while the treated water flows onto the biological treatment stage of the effluent treatment plant.

Commenting on installation, First Milk site manager Tim Whittal-Williams, said: “We are very happy with performance of the DAF unit as it has improved process security and the installation was achieved without any downtime in production. SPS’s accommodating approach and expertise helped to ensure that the switchover was carried out quickly and efficiently, while also ensuring compliant discharge.”

Carys Matthews

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