Oct 30, 2026Industry Solutions

What Data Is Needed Before Quoting a Packaged Industrial Wastewater Treatment Plant?

A packaged wastewater plant cannot be selected from flow alone. Define wastewater quality, peak loads, discharge target, site limits and sludge handling first.

A request such as "please quote a 500 m3/day wastewater treatment plant" is not enough for reliable equipment selection.
The same flow can require completely different treatment trains depending on industry, BOD/COD, TSS, FOG, pH, nutrients, salinity and discharge target.

Define the Wastewater Source

Provide industry, production process, raw materials, cleaning process, batch discharges and side streams.
This helps identify likely treatment risks.

Define Average and Peak Flow

Collect average daily flow, peak hourly flow, operating hours, batch volume and future capacity.
A plant producing 500 m3/day over 24 hours has a different hydraulic duty from one producing the same amount in 8 hours.

Provide Wastewater Analysis

Useful data include:
  • BOD;
  • COD;
  • soluble COD where available;
  • TSS;
  • FOG;
  • pH;
  • temperature;
  • ammonia;
  • nitrogen;
  • phosphorus;
  • salinity/conductivity.
One sample may not be enough when production is highly variable.

Define the Required Effluent

State whether treated water goes to municipal sewer, direct discharge or reuse.
Provide the actual required limits where available.

Identify Pretreatment Needs

Possible pretreatment includes screening, equalization, oil separation, pH neutralization, coagulation/flocculation, DAF or clarification.
The need depends on raw wastewater.

Define Biological Duty

If biology is required, provide biodegradable load, ammonia target, temperature, pH, alkalinity and available reactor volume.
Possible options include activated sludge, MBBR, IFAS or another project-specific process.

Include Sludge Handling

Define sludge source, quantity, storage, thickening, dewatering and final disposal.
Do not leave sludge equipment until after the main system is quoted.

Provide Site Constraints

Collect available footprint, height limits, indoor/outdoor installation, climate, utility power, water supply and maintenance access.

Define Automation and Scope

Ask whether the project needs local PLC, automatic dosing, level control, DO control, remote alarms or flow monitoring.
Also define whether the quote includes tanks, pumps, blowers, dosing, instruments, piping, installation or commissioning.

Practical Project Checklist

Group
Required Information
Industry
Process and product
Flow
Average, peak, operating hours
Water Quality
BOD/COD/TSS/FOG/pH/N/P
Target
Sewer, discharge or reuse
Site
Footprint, power, climate
Pretreatment
Screening, DAF, pH
Biology
BOD/ammonia duty
Sludge
Storage/dewatering/disposal
Automation
PLC, alarms, instruments
Scope
Equipment vs complete installation

Technical Principle

A packaged wastewater system is a compact delivery format, not a universal treatment process.
The process should still be developed from:
influent -> treatment objective -> unit processes -> sludge line -> controls -> site constraints.

Need a Preliminary Packaged ETP Review?

Send HydroNovus the industry, flow, wastewater analysis, discharge target, available footprint, power supply and required scope.
HydroNovus can provide a preliminary equipment list and identify missing data before quotation.