I manage a large treatment plant in Virginia Beach VA.  This plant has a large service area, very concentrated household and resaurant/hotel waste, and a very long travel time up to 3 days to get to the plant.  All flow is conveyed via force mains.  From Mid April through November we have a problem with very thick floating sceptic greasey scum in our primary clarifiers; that if not continuously manually skimmed, will cover the clarifier and completely overwhelm the scum collection system and cause the solids collection flights/chain to jump its guide sprockets and derail in the clarifier.

I am trying to contact other plants that might have this same problem and hopefully learn a few successful ways to either prevent this from happening or actually remove the greasey scum automatically without a lot of manual labor.

Erwin E. Bonatz Jr. P.E.

HRSD Atlantic Treatment Plant Manager

757 821 7402