Pollution and Pollution Control - Environmental Biotechnology: Theory and Application - page 87

CaseStudy4.1 MicrobialPollutionControl (Maine,USA)
Pollution control often involves either minimising existing problems or dealing with
their aftermath and biological treatment can frequently be a very cost-effective
option in either case.
Caldwell Environmental of Acton, USA have developed a number of proprietary
biological approaches to deal with environmental contamination. One of the most
successful is BioRem ST, an affordable microbial process designed to liquefy
the solid waste build up in septic tanks, keeping the system in optimum working
order, while odour problems are also largely eliminated. Routine applications also
help to prevent drain blockage, which is often a problem for these installations.
The formulation uses Class 1 classified bacteria, as defined by the American Type
Culture Collection, which are safe to humans, animal and plant species, and
approved for use in federally inspected meat and poultry processing plants. Able
to reduce nitrogen and break down fats, carbohydrates, starches, oils, greases and
detergents, the treatment offers an effective alternative to reliance on corrosive or
toxic chemicals.
A good example of its large-scale use is the clean-up of accidental pollution from
a food market in Maine, USA. The facility, which was located less than 75metres
(250 feet) from a lake, had a 250 litre (1000 gallon) septic tank. Unbeknown to the
owners, the soakaway zone had failed and the discharge was going directly into the
water body, this fact only coming to light during a routine inspection by the local
authorities, using a dye tracer. Subsequent pollution control began with the daily
dosing of the soakaway zone with the bacterial formulation, while controlled levels
of additional nutrients were pumped in to bioenhance the area, thus optimising
microbial action. Nine months later, the treatment was complete, and the necessary
operational certifications granted for its continued use.
The value and effectiveness of this intervention would appear to have been more
than adequately demonstrated, since the site owners have instigated an ongoing
preventative maintenance regime, involving continued systematic microbial dosing,
to avoid any repetition in the future.