CDC Coatings/Dickson Weatherproof Nail Co.

Year Submitted: 2003

Process: Wastewater Treatment

Industry: Metal Fabrication

Wastes Reduced: Wastewater

Equipment: Settling Tanks

Location: Houston TX

No. of employees: 90

Contact: Gary Edwards

Phone: (713) 452-6429 ext. 205

Description:

CDC Coatings/Dickson Weatherproof Nail Co. manufactures specialty nails and various metal fasteners. A proprietary galvanizing process or special paint coatings are added to their products to provide corrosion protection. These special paints and galvanizing materials used in their process end up in the wastewater as a result of cleaning operations. These materials are removed by their wastewater treatment system prior to discharge.

P2 Application:

The wastewater treatment system experienced difficulty with the settling process during peak production loads. When the system had problems during peak loads, it was necessary to backwash the filters more frequently, which requires additional water to be treated. In an effort to conserve the amount of water being treated, a wastewater recirculation system was installed on a large receiver to improve the wastewater treatment operation.

Environmental Benefits:

In the past it was difficult to stay under the permit limits for daily maximum flow for the treatment system. The added recirculation system improved the efficiency and reduced the flow through the system to the point where it is no longer difficult to stay in compliance. As a result of improved operation, the daily water usage has been reduced 60%.

Details of Reductions

Additional Information :

The wastewater recirculation system cost less than $10,000 to install and saved over $156,000 in treatment cost the first year. The payback period was less than 17 days.

Source: TCEQ