A Practical Approach to Water Pollution Control
for the Plating Company
DONALD LAVIN, Vice President
CHARLES LAVIN, President
Chemtronic Systems, Inc.
Niles, Ohio
INTRODUCTION
The restrictions imposed on water pollution controls at federal, state, and local levels
are fairly rigorous at present. There is every indication that they will, in most areas, become
even more rigorous in the near future. The enforcement of these regulations may be
expected to become increasingly strict. There is ample technical information available for
treating most industrial wastes. The problem facing industry today, who may be forced to
treat their waste water, is not "Can the job be done?" but "What is the most practical and
economical method for my particular plant to accomplish the job?"
It is the purpose of this presentation, not to provide technical descriptions and data on
the chemical processes of pollution control, but to provide a foundation and planning
program so that the problems of pollution control can be handled efficiently. Planning for
the installation of pollution control equipment should be completed with the same efforts as
a company would provide for production expansion. The same four basic questions must be
answered.
1. Where are we today? (Situation)
2. Where do we want to be? (Objectives)
3. How can we get there? (Alternatives)
4. What is the best method to get there?
It is important when starting a project for pollution control systems that the proper
personnel be involved in the project. Four distinct types of people or talents are necessary
for the most successful program. These are: Chemical understanding of materials;
operation of the treatment system; maintenance of the equipment; and last, but not least,
financial understanding of alternatives. This may be four people in a larger plant or one
person in a small plating shop. The exclusion of one of these talents in investigating the
pollution control system, best suited to a particular company, can lead to an improper
choice. Perhaps the one person left out in many cases is the operating personnel. No matter
how sophisticated a system is, if it is not designed forease of operation or understood by the
operating personnel, it will be a problem.
EVALUATION OF THE PRESENT CONDITIONS
The first and perhaps most important task is a careful survey and analysis of the
present conditions of the plating operation. A list of all chemicals used should be prepared.
This should include estimated usages and the concentration of the form used. A detailed
layout of the plating line(s) should be made (if not available). Items such as drain locations,
chemicals in each tank and flows from rinses should be put on this print.
It is at this point that a careful review of present conditions should be made. Many
times minor changes in the present operation of the plating line can make a major reduction
in the pollution treatment loads. Some examples are:
1. Reduction of rinse volumes.
2. Cascading rinses.
3. Reduction in chemical concentrations.
4. Change in chemicals, such as removal of cyanide materials.
5. Recycle of drag out materials.
202