Concrete Washout
With over 20 years of expertise treating contaminated waters from a variety of different applications and sectors, Siltbuster has developed a range of Concrete Washout systems specifically tailored to solve the waterborne challenges encountered during the cleaning and maintenance of concreting equipment.
If you are looking at creating a new dedicated onsite batching plant, considering upgrading your existing process or have a requirement to process the wash water frequently created during the cleaning of mixer truck chutes – our original solutions are industry renown, cost-effective and easy to operate. We also know that space on site is often minimal and our systems always reflect this with a small footprint/high treatment capacity ratio.
Traditionally, alkaline waters would be neutralised through the addition of strong mineral acids (such as hydrochloric, sulphuric or nitric) or through organic acids such as citric. However, these reagents are notoriously difficult to control from an operational process perspective and require specialised PPE and personnel training before use due to the aggressive and corrosive properties of the compounds.
Moreover, the introduction of mineral acids into water results in the reagent’s corresponding anion being released – often creating a secondary pollutant that often exceeds acceptable environmental limits for discharge.
Siltbuster pH adjustment systems incorporate digital pH controllers and probes for the automatic and controlled introduction of vapour carbon dioxide for the correction of alkaline waters, and has a number of advantages when compared to mineral acids, namely;
- CO2 is stored in steel cylinders rather than vulnerable plastic IBCs
- Partly spent CO2 cylinders can be returned to the supplier at no extra cost
- CO2 is easier to control from a process perspective with a far gradual titration curve
- No specialised training or PPE is required for handling
- It is cheaper per m3 to neutralise waters with CO2 than mineral acids
- No secondary pollutants are introduced
- It is theoretically impossible to overdose and acidify waters using CO2 unlike the case with mineral acids
Sources of alkaline water on construction sites:
- Washing down of machinery used with fresh concrete – chutes, drums, pumps
- Cutting or coring of concrete structures
- Hydrodemolition (high pressure water cutting)
- Surface water runoff from concreted areas
- Crushed demolition materials
Siltbuster Roadside Concrete Washout (RCW)
The Siltbuster Roadside Concrete Washout Unit (RCW) is designed and developed to capture and treat wash water generated from the cleaning of concrete truck mixer chutes on site.
Siltbuster designed the RCW to specifically address the concerns of the Environment Agency (EA) regarding the potential harm associated with the release of highly alkaline (high pH) waters into the environment during concreting and grouting activities.
The RCW’s simple two stage process initially separates and dewaters the waste concrete solids before its on-board automatic carbon dioxide pH adjustment system neutralises the high pH wash water down to (circa pH 6 to pH 9) limits set by the Environment Agency. The Siltbuster RCW can handle up to 30 washouts spread over a working day and can be operated via its own 12 volt battery, so no power required, or from a 110 volt electricity supply. View the Siltbuster Concrete Washwater range Profile Drawings.
Typical applications: Batch pours, Mixer chute washing
Siltbuster Concrete Washout pHD
The Siltbuster compact pHD unit is designed to provide a cost-effective method of treating high pH concrete wash water on sites where space is very restricted. Although small in size, it is a great solution for both small and large construction sites to remain discharge compliant.
The unit has been developed for use with either plastic lined builders skips or in combination with our range of primary reception units, which include:
- Dewatering bags for the smallest sites
- Concrete pump washout trays
- Crane skip washout stands
- Concrete Aggregate Reclaimer for the largest site
- View the Siltbuster Concrete Washwater range Profile Drawings.
Typical applications: For sites requiring washout facilities, for sites with limited space, can be used with wash out skips/catch pits.