Geotube - Bishop Aquatic Technologies Inc.
Our Mission
Founded on good business, and good science engineered for industries working with water, Bishop Aquatic Technologies Inc. is committed to changing how businesses work together to solve environmental challenges. Our focus is on the development and implementation of simple, cost effective, environmentally engineered solutions for our clients.
How We Do Business
At Bishop Aquatic Technologies we pride our selves on the development of innovative, cutting edge technology, geared towards simple, cost effective environmental solutions. Through creating partnerships with other like minded companies and environmental enthusiasts, we work everyday to provide safer, cleaner water for future generations.
The Bonnechere Valley Dewatering and Nutrient Processing Facility
For many septage haulers across Ontario the uncertainty surrounding the future of septage disposal is the cause of both frustration and confusion, however this is not the case for haulers residing in the Township of Bonnechere Valley (Eganville). Located an hour west of Ottawa, Bonnechere Valley is one of the few municipalities in Ontario which has already addressed the issue of septage disposal, their solution, Geotube® dewatering containers.
The township first trial tested Geotube® dewatering containers in a small pilot project, processing about 21,000 gallons of septic tank waste in July of 2005. A Geotube® unit measuring 22 ft. x 22.5 ft. was filled and allowed to dewater through the winter months. Not only did Geotube® units successfully dewater the sludge, the lab results of both the effluent and retained solids were impressive. The effectiveness of Geotube dewatering containers along with the simplicity and affordability of the technology encouraged Bonnechere Valley to implement Geotube® units as a long term solution for the treatment of septage and bio-solids from the wastewater treatment plant.
Construction on the permanent dewatering and processing facility using Geotube® technology began in September of 2007 and was completed in April of 2008. Located directly across the road from the wastewater treatment plant in the Village of Eganville, the dewatering facility is now fully operational and consists of six, thirty foot circumference, fifty foot long Geotube® dewatering units. Two of these units are located in a greenhouse structure so that bio-solids from the wastewater treatment plant can be dewatered during winter months. These units also provide haulers a with a winter disposal facility for emergency pump outs that may be required during the winter. Neither the haulers nor the township will ever have to haul sludge to outlying treatment facilities during the winter months again.
The process for a hauler to empty his or her truck load at the dewatering facility is simple and straight forward. Haulers are required to pull their tanker truck up to the septage station and empty the load from their tanker into the 10,000 gallon underground holding tank. After emptying his or her truck, haulers can then drive away, and resume business as usual. Haulers will no longer have to spend time land applying to fields, nor will they be required to handle potentially dangerous chemicals.
A simple bar screen removes solid waste, such as plastics during emptying to ensure nothing to large is pumped into the holding tank. Once the 10,000 gallon holding tank has reached capacity the screened septage is mixed by a submersible pump located in the holding tank. The waste is then pumped into a Geotube® dewatering unit. As the sludge is pumped from the holding tank it is mixed with a polymer solution. As with most dewatering technologies, polymer is required in order to separate the solids from the liquids. While Geotube® dewatering containers are filling, a clear filtrate immediately begins to filter through the container. Eganville’s Geotube® units sit on a concrete drainage bed which is designed to direct the filtrate, via gravity, into a 10,000 gallon filtrate storage tank. Once the storage tank is filled with clear filtrate, a batch entry is made back to the head works of the treatment plant where the filtrate undergoes further treatment to meet stringent Ministry standards before being released to a nearby river.
Once a Geotube® unit is finished dewatering and the retained solids have been processed into a nutrient, the contents are easily removed by mechanical means. The nutrients retained inside Geotube® units have several options for disposal. The nutrients can be allowed to further compost before either being applied to land, used for soil enhancement, or can be used for with an anaerobic digester to produce methane gas. Not only has Bonnechere Valley Township addressed the challenges facing the septage haulers across the province, it is also demonstrating environmental responsibility by choosing a treatment option for septage and bio-solids which does not produce a waste, but a valuable nutrient.
The simplicity and affordability of Geotube® dewatering containers means proactive septage haulers do not have to wait for the hammer to drop in Ontario so to speak. Affordable facilities can be implemented by haulers on their own land, providing dewatering, treatment and storage of septage. Haulers can also encourage their respective municipalities to follow Bonnechere Valley Township’s example and address the issues facing the septage industry.
The implementation of Geotube® dewatering units into the Eganville wastewater treatment process makes the village’s treatment plant one of the few in Ontario with the ability to accept, treat and store septage waste. For haulers in Bonnechere Valley Township, the dewatering facility provides a sense of security that few haulers in Ontario can enjoy. Regardless of when the Ministry of the Environment finally decides to ban the land application of raw septage, Bonnechere Valley septage haulers will always have a local, low cost and environmentally friendly means of disposal.
For more information on the Eganville dewatering and nutrient processing facility, or for a tour of the facility contact:
Matthew Green Bishop Aquatic Technologies, Inc
613-628-5266
matt@bishopaquatic.com
www.bishopaquatic.com
(George Griffith of George’s Septic Pumping empties his tanker truck into the holding tank at the Bonnechere Valley Township Geotube® Dewatering Facility) 
Posted on June 5th