Situation
- An OEM waste water treatment plant was unable to keep up with treatment of the paint shop effluent
Background
- Galaxy had the chemical treatment and operations of one line in a two line assembly plant
- The waste treatment plant manager complained that she was unable to keep up with the treatment of the paint shop effluent
Solution
- Galaxy began an investigation and determined that the chemical company in the other line was using blow down to control their suspended solids problem
- Instead of solving the problem they resorted to blowing down the system to control the solids
- The OEM began a point source sampling program and discovered what Galaxy already knew
- The other chemical company was given six months to solve their problems
Results
- The other chemical company was unable to resolve their suspended solids problem
- Galaxy was awarded the second plant nine months later and got the other system under control
- Issues at the waste treatment plant were resolved
- The waste treatment plant should not be used as a crutch when systems are not in control – fix the system
CS 12 – Paint Shop Effluent Issues Resolved by Galaxy