Plasti-Fab Celebrates Earth Day and Clean Water Treatment

Until the early 1970s, in the United States, wastewater treatment mostly consisted primarily of the removal of suspended and floating material, treatment of biodegradable organics, and elimination of pathogenic organisms by disinfection. Standards were not uniformly applied throughout the country. In the early 1970s until about 1980, aesthetic and environmental concerns were considered. Treatment was at a higher level and nutrients, such as nitrogen and phosphorus, were removed in many localities. Since 1980, focus on health concerns related to toxics has driven the development of new treatment technology. Water-quality standards were established by states and the federal government and had to be met as treatment objectives. Not just direct human health but aquatic-life parameters were considered in developing the standards.

Today, it is estimated that somewhere around 15% of all waste water in the USA has some form of unsafe elements. Long strides have been made over the years, in large part do to shifting nationwide attention to the residual effects on the environment. The original Earth Day in 1970 was the first major step as the beginning of regulation for wastewater, leading to the Clean Water Act in 1972.

Plasti-Fab has always been conscious of the effects water and waste water treatment products, such as flumes, gates, and manholes, may have on the environment. With the use of FRP non-corrosive composites, Plasti-Fab is at the forefront of technology that plays a major role in the water treatment process. Plasti-Fab is also implementing important standards on their manufacturing process of its FRP material. Their new MEP, or Manged Emission Process, has integrated large scale recycling and resulted in a severely reduced rate of VOC emissions into the FRP production process.

Environmental impact is a the forefront of our concerns as a manufacturer of water treatment equipment. We continue to look forward to ways in which we can help protect our footprint in the treatment chain. Follow our green evolution as a company in a environmentally sensitive industry by reading more on our MEP page.