You may outsource many aspects of your facility’s operations, but have you ever considered outsourcing your wastewater management? Nearly every industrial facility manager I’ve spoken to has mentioned that wastewater management is just another headache and source of stress. While it’s essential for your operations, let’s be honest — wastewater can be a pain in the butt.
Wastewater management can consume significant resources — not just costs, chemicals and energy, but also valuable time and personnel, which nobody has enough of. Improper wastewater management can also pose serious risks to your manufacturing facility.
So, what’s the answer? Wastewater treatment as a service — a modern approach to wastewater management that offers a multitude of benefits for industrial facilities.
What is wastewater treatment as a service?
Wastewater treatment as a service is an innovative model where companies can outsource the entire management of their wastewater treatment process to a specialized service provider, usually coupled with an onsite treatment system. Rather than investing in costly capital expenditures (CapEx) for equipment and technology, companies can leverage the expertise and resources of a wastewater treatment service provider to handle their wastewater treatment needs.
This service model is analogous to how businesses outsource IT services, logistics or even human resources. Just as you might bring in experts to manage these areas, wastewater treatment as a service allows you to offload the complex and resource-intensive task of wastewater management to specialists who are equipped with the latest technology and industry knowledge.
Why should you offload wastewater management?
Managing wastewater effectively requires a significant investment in time, money and resources. Not only does it involve the purchase and maintenance of equipment, but it also requires skilled personnel who understand the intricacies of wastewater treatment processes and compliance requirements associated with environmental regulations. For many companies, especially those in the food and beverage, pharmaceutical and manufacturing industries, this can be a daunting task that distracts from core business activities.
Wastewater management extends farther than simply ensuring compliance, it involves hiring, managing and training personnel, staying abreast of changing regulations and permits, and ensuring the efficiency of your treatment systems throughout production changes. Outsourcing wastewater management can free up your team to focus on what they do best while leaving the complex and often unpredictable task of wastewater treatment to a different set of experts. It’s a strategic decision that can reduce operational headaches and allow you to redirect resources to other critical areas of your business.
The hidden costs and risks of in-house wastewater management
One of the key challenges with in-house wastewater management is the sheer amount of resources it consumes. The cost of equipment, maintenance, chemicals, energy and skilled labor can add up quickly, turning what might seem like a straightforward operation into a significant financial burden.
There’s also a major risk factor. Poorly managed wastewater can lead to regulatory fines, environmental damage and even harm to your company’s reputation. The stakes are high, and any misstep can have far-reaching consequences.
By trading an already operational expense (OpEx) for a different but more reliable and predictable service, you can mitigate these risks. Instead of investing heavily in a CapEx system that may require frequent updates and maintenance, wastewater treatment as a service offers a more flexible and cost-effective solution, as well as performance guarantees. You’re essentially trading one OpEx (discharge to utility or hauling) for another, but with far greater benefits and peace of mind.
Full-service wastewater management
One of the significant advantages of utilizing wastewater treatment as a service is the expertise that comes with it. With a full-service wastewater management provider, such as Aquacycl, they handle everything from system installation and maintenance to ongoing monitoring and compliance support. This ensures your treatment process is optimized for efficiency and brings the greatest benefits to your facility.
Wastewater treatment as a service providers don’t just treat your wastewater; they help you understand the nuances of your wastewater composition and identify potential issues (or opportunities) within your production process. This proactive approach allows you to address problems before they escalate, ultimately improving your overall operational efficiency and helping you optimize your production processes, reduce waste, and lower costs.
The benefits of wastewater treatment as a service
The benefits of utilizing wastewater treatment as a service are numerous:
Cost savings: Avoid the significant upfront costs associated with purchasing and installing wastewater treatment equipment. Wastewater treatment as a service operates on an OpEx or service-based model, and you benefit from having onsite treatment which is usually more cost-effective than alternatives. Projects can be amortized over short or long-term schedules and are all-inclusive of equipment, monitoring and service from companies such as Aquacycl.
Expertise on demand: You gain access to a team of experts who are up to date on the latest regulations, technologies and best practices in wastewater management. This ensures your facility remains compliant and efficient, and will help you handle any production changes, expansions or new product lines.
Operational efficiency: Your internal team can focus on core business functions, leading to increased productivity and efficiency, and freed resources can be allocated to production.
Risk mitigation: Reduce the risk of non-compliance, environmental damage and costly downtime by entrusting your wastewater management to a provider with a proven track record.
Sustainability: Reduce your overall environmental footprint with sustainable treatment optimized to handle your wastewater. Improve water quality discharge while also reducing emissions across Scopes 1, 2 and 3.
Choosing the right partner
Wastewater treatment as a service should reduce risks and alleviate resources for your facility, that’s why it’s imperative to choose the right partner with the industry knowledge and technology that will bring your organization the most benefit.
