Application Description: Golf, Turf and Agricultural Industry

Applications are all golf courses, turf farms, agricultural farming, parks and municipalities.
As the EPA and Government applies more stringent compliance demands for environmental management, workplace safety and sewer discharge standards.
Our goal is to provide assistance to the golf, turf and agricultural industry to provide equipment and solutions as part of your Environmental Management Plan (EMP).
Washing After Use – Cleaning equipment after use is important for proper maintenance, safety and upkeep.
Preventative Maintenance – Golf and turf equipment shops perform routine maintenance on equipment to maintain smooth operation and assurance of equipment life.

Repair or Modifications to Equipment – Golf and turf equipment shops must clean equipment before repairs or modifications can be performed. Treating the water used after cleaning turf equipment is where WaterStax can help.

How Waste water is Generated:
There are two types of water generated when washing golf course, turf and agricultural equipment.

1. 1. Wash Pad – The piece of turf equipment is moved on to the wash pad. Grass clippings containing herbicides, insecticides, fertilizers and pesticides are washed off using a spray nozzle or hot or cold water pressure washer.
2. 2. Excess or Contaminated Waste Water – Waste water from equipment maintenance, floor scrubbers waste water, washing machine water or parts washer waste water should be concentrated in an evaporator. Isolating contaminated waste water from the WaterStax, recycling or sewer discharge system is very important. Waste water containing these types of contaminants can be toxic to the biology in the WaterStax or may not be removed when processing through a recycling or sewer discharge system.

Wash Water System Recommended:

1. 1. 1. Wash Pad Area – Minimum pressure washer, catch basin and WaterStax (see pad drawings)
2. 2. 2. Contaminated Water Treatment Area – An HBG waste water evaporator should be set up to evaporate excess water from the WaterStax if sewer discharge is not feasible. The HBG will evaporate waste water from equipment maintenance, floor scrubbers waste water, washing machine water or parts washer waste water.

Reasons for Recommendation:

1. 1. Wash Pad Area – Grass clippings and chemical are washed from mowers, mulchers and chemical spreaders. A garden hose spray nozzle or cold water pressure washer that is capable of producing about 7.5 lpm (litres per minute) and pressure of 1100 PSI maximum to effectively remove residuals. Proper pad design will enhance the handling of grass clippings, sand and solids. Water separated in the hydro screen will flow into the WaterStax to begin the biological treatment process.
2. 2. Contaminated Water Treatment Area – Excess water from the WaterStax, liquid from parts washers, floor scrubbers, washing machines or water contaminated with other chemicals used in repairing equipment, should be placed in an evaporator to be disposed of. These liquids must be kept separate from the wash pad with a trench drain flowing into a small catch basin will have a sump pump which transfers the waste water into a cone bottom holding tank. Residence time in the holding tank will allow separation of solids, oil and grease. The pre-treated water can then be reduced by an evaporator prior to transportation.

How the WaterStax Works:
The WaterStax bioremediation technology removes oil, grease and hydrocarbons from waste water.

Unlike other systems that filter the contaminants, which must then be disposed of, the WaterStax literally consumes the wastes converting it to harmless water and carbon dioxide.

The process of converting the hydrocarbon contaminants into carbon dioxide and water is beta-oxidation, and more specifically catabolism.

Since beta-oxidation is enhanced in aerobic conditions, the WaterStax is aerated at night when washing doesn’t occur.
"Bacteria break down complex organic compounds through a series of coupled chemical reactions termed catabolism.
For respiratory bacteria, the central pathways involved in metabolism are glycosis, the Krebs cycle, and the electron transport system.
The overall generalised reaction is:

CH O (complex carbon) + O2 = CO2 + H2O + energy

This equation represents the complete conversion of the complex carbon compound, also called the substrate, to carbon dioxide and water, a process called mineralisation. Energy attained in the form of the ATP is used for a variety of cellular activities, including synthesis of new cell components and motility” (Source: Baker and Herson. Bioremediation. (1994, 1999) McGraw-Hill)

BioStax microbe solution is non-toxic and free of pathogens, it meets all current and proposed regulations for biological treatment.

WaterStax Operation:
The WaterStax is simple, yet extremely effective:
Water from a spray nozzle or pressure washer is used to wash grass clippings off turf equipment which may contain herbicides, insecticides, fertilizers and pesticides. To meet regulations the water must be contained and treated.

• 1. A wash pad is designed with a trench drain baffled to slow water flow which allows heavy grit such as sand and gravel to separate for easy removal with a shovel. The water then flows into a catch basin and pumped into the hydro screen separating the grass clippings and water. The grass clippings fall into the grass cart and the separated water flows into the WaterStax.
• 2. Tank #1 of the WaterStax allows oil, grease and solids to separate. The sludge removal valve at the lowest point of the tank #1 is designed with a fresh water backwash in case of solids blocking it.
• 3. Tank #2 contains fourteen square metres of bio-media to enhance bacteria population and serve as a bioreactor.
  
  Inside tank #2 showing bio-media
• 4. Tank #3 serves as a final settling tank before discharger polishing for recycle.
• 5. Tank #4 on the WSR-1000K model serves as a final polishing stage before recycling.
• 6. The WSR-1000K will use ozone from a CD ozone generator to oxidize bacteria and any trace amounts of herbicides, insecticides, fertilizers and pesticides that could flow into tank #4.
  
  WSR-1000K 4 stage wash water recycle system
  a. Float switch #1 in the sump pit for sump pump low water shutdown
  b. Float switch #2 for fresh water make-up located in tank #4
  c. Float switch #3 rainwater overflow located in tank #4
  d. Float switch #4 for low water protection of the ozone and transfer pump located in tank #4
  
  The CD ozone generator will operate on a timer and also will be activated any time the transfer pump calls for water from tank #4. There are four floats in the WaterStax WSR-1000K system.
  
  WS1000K – 3 stage treatment system
  
  

Application Challenges:
Most application challenges of the golf, turf and agricultural industry deal with processing large quantities of grass clippings, odor problems, and pad and pit design (see pad drawings attached). Listed below are some things to remember when designing a WaterStax treatment system.

• 1. Grass Clippings – Large quantities of grass clippings can settle to the bottom of the sump pit causing the sump pump to become blocked. A water by-pass valve assembly on the outlet of the sump pump has been designed to cause turbulence within the pit. The water by-pass stirs the grass clippings within the water making it simple for the sump pump to process the grass.
• 2. Fine Grass clippings – Grass clippings that are very small have a tendency to float or stay suspended in the water allowing grass fines to be discharged with the processed water. An optional cartridge filter can be installed to capture small particles that may flow through the system.
• 3. Poor Maintenance – Odors can develop if grass clippings are not removed daily from trench drain or grass cart. Sludge from tank #1 should be removed daily to prevent blocking of the sludge port.
• 4. Poor Pad Design – Pad design is very important to reduce maintenance and for proper operation of the WaterStax. Pads, which do not have proper trench drain design, can have a higher volume of sludge in tank #1. As grass clippings, sand and grit are washed from equipment, the heavier solids should be separated on the wash pad and trench drain for easy removal.

DO’s When Setting up a System:

• 1. An area should be designated on a dry corner of the wash pad to allow for removal of heavy amounts of grass clipping which collect on equipment during use. Compressed air will effectively blow off the grass clippings leaving them dry and easy to manage.
• 2. Design the concrete pad so water will flow into a trench drain then into the sump pot. The trench serves as a method of collecting sand and gravel.
• 3. Baffle the trench drain to slow the flow of water allowing sand and grit to separate. This will lower the amount of sludge that will accumulate in tank #1.
• 4. The trench drain and grass cart should be cleaned daily to not allow decaying grass to cause odor. The sludge valve on tank #1 should be opened daily to remove any sludge accumulated from processing the waste water.
• 5. Use cold water on the wash rack when washing equipment. A garden hose with a pressure nozzle or cold water pressure washer can be used.
• 6. Parts washer must include the larger 50-micron filter to handle grass clippings.
• 7. If soap is needed, always use quick release soap when washing on the wash pad.
• 8. Always keep large quantities of oil, grease, VOC’s (Volatile Organic Compounds) or antifreeze products away from the wash pad. Allowing these chemicals to overload or contaminate the WaterStax can cause incomplete processing or even destroy the microbe colonies used in the system.
• 9. The WaterStax is designed to treat hydrocarbon based contaminants only, other constituents may be discharged without being effectively treated or can cause damage to microbe colonies.
• 10. Always use soaps which are biodegradable and contain rust inhibitor in parts washers.
• 11. Always place liquids that contain emulsified oils, antifreeze, floor scrubber liquid, washing machine water, engine cleaners or other chemicals in an evaporator to be concentrated before being transported for disposal.

DON’Ts When Setting up a System:

• 1. Never remove heavy dirt loads on the wash pad. This will overload the sump pit and WaterStax system. The WaterStax is designed to process water containing light dirt and vegetation loads (i.e. grass clippings and farming vegetation debris) washed from equipment after use. Heavy solids should be removed in another area.
• 2. Never wash equipment using soap on the pre-wash pad. Oil and grease can be washed off contaminating the mud, making it a hazardous material.
  3. Never place large quantities of oil, grease or organic hydrocarbons in the WaterStax. Allowing these chemicals to overload or contaminate the WaterStax can destroy the microbe colonies used in the system.
• 4. Never allow waste water that contains floor scrubber water, washing machine water, or other toxic chemicals in the WaterStax.
• 5. The WaterStax is designed to treat hydrocarbon based contaminants, other constituents may be discharged without being effectively treated or can cause damage to microbe colonies.
• 6. Do not use pressure washers that are rated 1100 psi or higher. Hot water machines can be used for general clean up.

Note: The proper wash pad design is a critical part of the overall system and special attention should be devoted to making sure an adequate pad is specified for each application. Enware can provide expertise for wash pad design on a case-by-case basis.
For more information contact Enware on 1800 671 864 or email: info@enware.com.au