Crane Engineers Solve Oconto Screen Problems

“This is definitely an improvement and a real great system, we don’t see that mess anymore. Compared to what we had earlier, when we had to watch the bar screen and compactor constantly, now we don’t have to worry about it on a daily basis. I’d almost say we can forget about it.”
Steve Woodworth, Plant Operator, Oconto WWTP

The Oconto Wastewater Treatment Plant had an Influent Screen that required extensive
maintenance every 5-7 years. The bearings needed repair, several of its lifting teeth had broken
off and rags would pass through and cause problems downstream. The screenings created an unhealthy environment to work in and foul odors. The flow sampler would frequently clog with rags that passed through the old screen. The headworks facility was extremely small.

Crane and the Plant Operator Steve Woodworth began working together on options for the headworks system. Working together Crane engineers were able to customize a JWC Environmental Bandscreen Monster™, and Screenings Washer Monster® to lift the screenings 19.5 feet and fit within the 7 feet by 8 feet room. The new headworks system was designed for 3.2 million gallons per day. Taking this one step further Crane utilized its service capabilities to remove the old system and install the new system. 

Crane had the two week on-site demonstration of the Screenings Washer Monster® enabling the Utility Commissioners to see the unit in operation prior to their purchase.

The unique Monster Separation System™ combines a high-flow finescreen, in this case a Bandscreen Monster™, and a heavy duty washer-compactor called Screenings Washer Monster®.
Together the system captures and cleans unwanted wastewater solids, producing a nearly dry,
compact plug with no visible fecal matter; moreover, the reduction in odor was tremendous and a
great relief to the Utility.

Prior to installing the Monster Separation System™ the operators were removing two 30 gallon
drums of screenings per day. Now they empty one 30 gallon drum once a month. This is
a reduction of over 90% of the solids.

The new Bandscreen Monster™ is an innovative traveling finescreen with a unique inside-out flow
pattern. Wastewater enters the screen and then flows through the left or right sides of the screen
through the movable panels. The panels have 6mm (1/4 inch) openings. Now the sampler does not experience plugging problems.

The following is a Press Release written by JWC Environmental.

Monster Separation SystemTM Tackles Tough Odor and Headworks Problems in Wisconsin
After five years in operation an old automated bar screen at the Oconto Wastewater Treatment
Plant was wearing out, several of its lifting teeth had broken off and, worse, it was letting rags pass,
leading to problems downstream.

Managers at the Wisconsin facility faced another problem too: foul odors. The heaping piles of
fecal matter, rags and sticks the screen pulled from the channel were creating an unhealthy and
obnoxious odor in the headworks building – the same place where operators had their office.
With his bar screen becoming toothless and useless, Plant Operator Steve Woodworth took action
and began working with Crane Engineering of Wisconsin on designing a new headworks system
for the 3.2 million gallons per day facility, with plans for better screenings performance and, for his
own sake, a greater reduction in odor. After a rigorous analysis of screens, Steve settled on the
Monster Separation SystemTM from JWC Environmental.

“We wanted to eliminate the mess of the old bar screen,” said Steve. “It was really bad – piles of
fecal material, rags and sticks all sitting in the discharge trough, really gross. The compactor would
get so overwhelmed at times, it wasn’t dewatering, it was just pushing stuff along.”

The unique Monster Separation SystemTM combines a high-flow finescreen, in this case a
Bandscreen MonsterTM, and a heavy duty washer-compactor called Screenings Washer Monster®.

Together the system captures and cleans unwanted wastewater solids, producing a nearly dry,
compact cake with no visible fecal matter; moreover, the reduction in odor was tremendous and a
great relief for Steve and his crew.

“We were introduced to the Screenings Washer at the Crane Tech Expo and we saw the
cleanliness of the system,” said Steve. “We had the two week on-site demonstration and I brought
the Commissioners out to take a look and we were approved to buy one.”

Prior to installing the SWM the Oconto operators were removing a 50 gallon drum of screenings
twice a day, but now empty the 50 gallon drum only about once a month, according to Steve. The
key to reducing the discharge by over 90% is the SWM’s six stage process: wash, grind, wash,
screen, compact and dewater. The integrated Macho Monster 40000 grinder helps break up
clumps for more effective washing and homogenizes the material so it is easier to dewater and
compact. Nearly all of the fecal matter is flushed out of the solids and back into the plant flow
where it belongs.

Oconto’s new Bandscreen MonsterTM is an innovative traveling finescreen with a unique inside-out flow pattern. Wastewater enters the screen and then flows through the left or right sides of the
screen through the moving panels. The panels, with 6mm openings, lift solids and unwanted
material out of the flow and to deck level where a series of deluge spray nozzles flush the material
into the Screenings Washer Monster. Since solids only touch the inside of the screenings band
there is no chance of carryover and bypass.

“This is definitely an improvement and a real great system, we don’t see that mess anymore,” said
Steve. “Compared to what we had earlier, when we had to watch the bar screen and compactor
constantly, now we don’t have to worry about it on a daily basis. I’d almost say we can forget about
it.”

Another benefit for the Oconto plant operators is an improvement in downstream processes, since
the Bandscreen Monster removes many of the troublesome solids at the headworks. For example,
the flow sampler would frequently clog with rags prior to the installation of JWC’s finescreen, but
now the plugging problem has disappeared.

Oconto’s wastewater treatment staff helps keep the local environmental clean and healthy, while
the JWC Monster Separation SystemTM helps keep the facility’s treatment processes safe and trouble-free.