How can a wastewater treatment plant manage the ever-increasing volume of generated sludge? This was the challenge faced by the Wilmington Wastewater Treatment Plant in Ohio (USA). The facility’s rapidly changing operational demands prompted the search for a solution that could not only handle current loads but also allow for increased capacity in the future.
The perfect answer to these needs turned out to be an ESMIL multi-disc screw press, whose scalable design makes it possible to adapt the unit to both present and future requirements of the installation. After consulting with the ESMIL engineering team, our client chose the MDQ-404(3) CLD model.
Increasing Demands on the Dewatering Process
The wastewater treatment plant in Wilmington processes waste activated sludge (WAS) generated in its SBR reactors. Although the facility had effectively managed the dewatering process for many years, the growing volume of sludge made maintaining efficiency an increasing challenge. To ensure stable operation of the installation, the decision was made to modernise the dewatering system.
The next step was selecting the right manufacturer – and that’s how the project was awarded to our American branch, Esmil Corp.
A Dewatering Unit Designed for the Future – ESMIL MDQ
Based on the data regarding current flow rates and sludge characteristics, the ESMIL engineering team recommended the MDQ-404(3) CLD multi-disc screw press. The unit features three active dewatering drums and all mechanical, electrical, and control components are factory-prepared for the installation of a fourth drum in the future.
This design allows the press capacity to be easily increased in line with the plant’s growing needs – without costly upgrades or extended downtime.
Technological Advantages of the MDQ Series
The MDQ series has earned the trust of both municipal and industrial wastewater treatment plants across North America thanks to its practical technological advantages, such as:
- High dewatering efficiency – consistently produces sludge cake with a dry solids content near or above 25%, depending on sludge type.
- Low maintenance requirements – the self-cleaning drum design prevents clogging and minimises the need for maintenance.
- Quiet, energy-efficient operation – ideal for indoor installations.
- Compact design – suitable for facilities with limited space.
- Scalable configuration – additional dewatering drums can be easily added to increase capacity.
- Operational versatility – ensures stable performance with different sludge types (primary, secondary or mixed).
Scope of Supply and Commissioning Process
As part of the order for the Wilmington wastewater treatment plant, we supplied:
- an MDQ-404(3) CLD unit,
- an integrated polymer preparation and dosing system,
- a control panel with a touch-screen interface.
The commissioning was carried out by the ESMIL field engineering team, who ensured proper equipment calibration and provided operator training on the press.
The implementation went smoothly thanks to the plug-and-play configuration.
The plant’s staff highlighted that there were no interruptions to operation and the system immediately achieved the target dewatering performance.
Implementation Results
The Wilmington wastewater treatment plant began seeing benefits within the first days of operating its new ESMIL-based dewatering system, including:
- Improved dewatering efficiency, resulting in reduced sludge hauling costs,
- Stable 24/7 operation of the equipment,
- Time savings for operators thanks to the system’s fully automated operation.
In addition, the MDQ-404(3) CLD press was factory-prepared for the installation of a fourth dewatering drum, allowing for an easy increase in capacity whenever needed.
The Wilmington project perfectly reflects the ESMIL philosophy: delivering solutions that solve today’s challenges while preparing our clients for the needs of tomorrow.
