Storm Water Solutions and Water & Wastes Digest recently toured a winery in Canada that has implemented a new way of cleaning its wastewater, saving money and reducing the amount of biological oxygen demand (BOD) going down the drain.
Cave Spring Winery, located in Ontario's Niagara Region, was looking for a better filtration system. The Bloom Centre for Sustainability, a nonprofit organization that connects industry with technology providers, tipped off the winery to a system called BioGill from EcoEthic.
The BioGill system has been a success for the winery, removing as much as 97% of BODs from the winery's wastewater. Trying out this new technology saved Cave Spring $4,000 on yearly sewer surcharges, which are levied by the Niagara Region on industry that exceeds an allotted measurement of BODs, as well approximately $3,000 per year on odor control.
Cave Spring's story shows that it is possible for sustainability and cost-efficiency to intersect, in this case with the help of a knowledgeable third party. Municipalities and utilities, like business owners, generally don't have the time or resources to try out a number of solutions to see what works. Looking to trusted industry sources like associations, as well as this magazine, can help steer you in the right direction when you are looking for a new fix for an old problem.
