Intuition-6 Winery Application
The Walchem Intuition-9 controller helps North American wineries comply with strict environmental regulations for wastewater treatment.
Customer | Wineries | Breweries | Wastewater
APPLICATION
The U.S. wine industry has experienced significant growth over the past decade. This surge in production has led to increased scrutiny of wastewater treatment practices, particularly during the seasonal grape crush, when wastewater discharge peaks. Many wineries now face stricter regulations that require them to implement wastewater pretreatment systems to avoid costly fines and permit bonds.
PROBLEM
Grape crush wastewater presents unique challenges due to its low pH and high organic load, measured as chemical oxygen demand (COD) and biological oxygen demand (BOD). When discharged untreated, this wastewater can disrupt municipal treatment plants by killing beneficial bacteria, leading to compliance issues and potential fines.
In response, several counties in Northern California have introduced stricter wastewater treatment regulations. For example, Sonoma County requires wineries to post a $100,000 cash bond for wastewater permits, refundable after a year minus any fines. To meet these requirements, wineries are investing in pretreatment solutions such as holding ponds, aeration systems, and chemical treatment processes.
SOLUTION
A typical setup includes:
• pH Sensors (2) – Monitoring wastewater before and after treatment to ensure proper neutralization.
• Turbidity Monitor (1) – Measuring suspended solids to maintain effluent quality.
• Ultrasonic Tank Level Monitors (2) – Tracking chemical storage levels for caustic and polymer dosing.
• Chemical Pumps (2) – Precisely dosing caustic + polymer for pH and solids control.
• Chemical Pump Feed Verification (2) – Ensuring accurate chemical delivery.
• Flow Meter (1) – Monitoring effluent discharge for compliance reporting.
Figure 1 – Walchem Intuition-9 Winery Wastewater Application
If the Intuition-9 controller is being used on a waste treatment pond, a Pyxis self-cleaning dissolved oxygen sensor can be used in conjunction with an aeration system. Typically, these ponds will be seeded with bacteria and nutrients and may require chemical pumps to replenish these levels.
The Intuition-9 provides real-time monitoring, instant alerts via email and text, and detailed data logging for compliance reporting. By optimizing chemical use, it lowers costs while improving efficiency, allowing wineries to focus on production without regulatory concerns
RELEVANT PRODUCTS
Walchem and our distributors can provide plug-and-play systems that incorporate the Walchem controls, sensors and metering pumps for your application. Contact us or your local distributor to learn more.