Problem
Not satisfied with the variable cost of city water and the additional sewer charge associated with disposal of wastewater, managers at a Michigan oil refinery sought to restructure its water system by incorporating reverse osmosis (RO) technology. Plant personnel determined that reusing process wastewater would maximize efficiency and minimize expenses.
Solution
MPW’s comprehensive approach involved original system technical design, engineering and Field Services installation and support. Before implementing the water-reuse solution, MPW collected feedback from multiple client sources, including the corporate office and plant services. MPW personnel stayed in contact with the customer throughout the process, quickly responding to all questions and concerns.
MPW provided two pump skids, one frac tank and one mobile RO unit to process the plant’s membrane bioreactor (MBR) treated wastewater into supplemental boiler feed water. Just as MPW predicted, this system was the optimum solution for treating the plant’s wastewater. MPW’s advanced equipment, which includes remote monitoring, is a key to the system’s efficiency.
Results
MPW was awarded an initial contract of six months in which to execute this project, during which approximately 545 million gallons of water were treated using the MPW system. Based on attained results, MPW was invited back to perform this service annually. Since the outset of the relationship, MPW and the customer have been involved in multiple site-specific training events. To date, neither the plant nor MPW has recorded a single safety incident.