What to Look for in a Centrate Tank

Efficient wastewater treatment systems rely on a lot of components working together to ensure water can be treated safely and efficiently. Centrate is just one part of this complex web, but if it’s not managed properly, it can disrupt downstream biological treatment and create handling risks on site.

At TerraTank, we’ve worked with many different wastewater treatment organisations across the UK, providing crucial capacity support through our range of specialised liquid storage tanks. As part of our catalogue, we have specialised centrate tanks, with unique features to help plants effectively manage centrate in both short- and long-term applications.

What is a Centrate Tank?

A centrate tank is a liquid holding tank specifically designed for managing centrate – a liquid by-product of the wastewater treatment process.

In simple terms, wastewater treatment involves various stages of water filtration, from removing large items at the beginning to removing microscopic bacteria at the end, before safe water is returned to the environment.

After primary and secondary treatment, the resulting sludge typically undergoes further treatment – usually anaerobic digestion – before being dewatered to separate the remaining liquid. This can be done in various ways, but one common method is with a centrifuge. The liquid removed during dewatering is called centrate, and is often siphoned off to specialist centrate tanks. The dewatered solid, or “cake”, can then be further processed into a usable by-product, usually a bio-fertiliser.

Why are Centrate Tanks Vital to Wastewater Treatment?

Centrate often needs its own specialised container because of the high concentration of nutrients it contains, such as ammonia and phosphorus.

If centrate is released directly into the next treatment process, it can disrupt the careful chemical balances that are required in later treatment stages, where bacteria break down pollutants in the wastewater to purify it before release.

​​Therefore, many wastewater treatment plants use centrate tanks to hold this concentrated liquid separately from the rest of the treatment process. Rather than forwarding centrate straight into the works, holding it in a dedicated tank lets operators control the rate and timing at which it’s returned – avoiding the sudden nutrient spikes that could otherwise overwhelm downstream biological treatment.

The Advantages of Specialised Centrate Tanks

TerraTank’s centrate tanks, such as the TT03 and TT10, come with many unique features that make them great for efficiently managing centrate at scale.

Flexible & Reliable Performance

As with all our tanks, the TT03 and TT10 are designed with plug-and-play in mind. Their rectangular, modular footprint allows them to fit neatly into existing systems and site plans, while the built-in submersible pump can be easily attached to various systems.

The integrated pump also allows for various flow levels depending on your site’s requirements, accommodating up to 100m3/hr depending on the discharge pipework configuration.

Smart Controls

The TT03 and TT10 centrate tanks have built-in control panels and various features to ensure safe handling of liquids and prevent overflows:

• High/Low Float Operation – helps control flow rates during changes of demand.
• High Level Alarm – ensures site staff can react to potential overflows.
• High Level Remote Inhibit – switches off upstream parts of the treatment process to prevent overflows.

Low Maintenance & Easy Cleaning

Beyond the automated safety features, there are many other features of our centrate tanks designed to ensure they can be run as smoothly and easily as possible.

Our centrate tanks’ pumps feature an 80mm solids passage, allowing for heavy solids and slurry without clogging. The TT10 tank features a sloped floor, ensuring settled sludge can be efficiently drained and the tank easily cleaned between uses. Our tanks’ chemical-resistant epoxy linings also protect them from corrosive concentrates for long-term performance.

Our centrate tanks are ready to assist wastewater treatment providers across the UK. Whether you need short-term capacity or long-term support during a large investment project, our experienced team is here to help. Simply reach out today and see how our liquid storage solutions can provide the performance and efficiency you need.