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Gravity wastewater flow meter
2

Gravity wastewater flow meter

Gravity wastewater flow meter

(OP)
I am looking for a gravity line flow meter.  The project is a porta-potty company and wants to dump his trucks on-site, but the local municipality has no way of billing him.  Does anyone know of a metering device that can be used for billing purposes...remember that it is raw waste with a bunch of extra stuff.  You know how kids are with porta-potties.

RE: Gravity wastewater flow meter

washark, Have you considered using a flume in a metering manhole? One manu'f. is Plasti-Fab Inc. at www.Plasti-Fab.com

Hope this helps.
saxon

RE: Gravity wastewater flow meter

I'ld go with scales. Get the tare weight of each truck then convert the gross weight and convert the difference from pounds to gallons. The density of waste is nearly the same as water. This would be quicker and hygienically safer. Check the web for "truck-scales" that can be rented.

RE: Gravity wastewater flow meter

The contractor could go to any scale before and after he dumps. Then the City could use the scale reports to bill. A lot of Truck stops have scales, as well as most scrap metal yards and some ready-mix concrete plants. Hope that helps.

RE: Gravity wastewater flow meter

I developed a rate based on the capacity of the vac truck, ot the container truck.  We used to allow dumping into manholes, and then into the lagoons.  We almost settled on a cardlock system but if a company had multiple sized units, the quantities were always arguable.  We finally settled on a ticket system with which our operators supervised the dumping.  This was due to the fact, and the previous thread alluded to it, that no everyone puts "clean" waste into the system.  Some operators haul oil, chemical waste, etc, and do not properly steam or cleanse their tanks afterward.  Some even, dump hazardous waste into systems.  I've had the privalege of cleaning toxic and oil "spills" in our lagoons.  One dump of some really nasty material actually killed our biological treatment process.  Never caught them but it took six weeks for the plant to recover.  My advice is to either supervise dumping, or not accept at all and charge (generously) by the rated tank capacity as evidenced by your staff members.

KRS Services
www.krs-services.com

RE: Gravity wastewater flow meter

I can't see the problem. If this waste is going to flow down the sewer without blockage lower down it'll flow through a non-intrusive flowmeter. Why not fit a full bore flowmeter, such as an industry standard magnetic flowmeter in the line but put a dip in the drain to ensure the flowmeter remains flooded making sure that any bends aren't so close that they compromise the accuracy of the flowmter device. If solids would build-up then arrange for a suitable regular flushing mechanism - easy!?

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