Rural Brewery Wastewater

[Andy Bishop]

Hello,
I would like to start a small microbrewery in my barn.
It has a floor drain and a seperate septic system.
Municipal sewer is not available in my area.
I will do my best to limit my discharge by composting, etc.
Please offer any comments on this.

Will I need some kind of expensive treatment plant?

Will regular pumping of the septic tank be enough?

I know I will have to approach the local health department eventually but I would like to gain as much knowledge as I can before that.

Thanks in Advance.
Andy Bishop
Hope BC
Canada

[Brew49411]

Your biggest problem will be your cleaning chemicals. You should call a company like five star or loeffler to ask them about discharging chemicals into your septic. These aren't your average cleaners! I don't see a problem other than that. You can get rid of grain pretty easy out in the country and as long as you have a good boiler for heating up your water, you should be good to go. (Might want to have your water tested to see if you need to add anything to it!)

[matthew keasey]

I have a barn that I am starting a brewery in and we have a DEP approved 3000 gallon poly tank that will be used to store our chemical waste. This tank is going to be pumped by a local treatment facility at $0.15/gallon. The heat exchanger water waste will be pumped directly back into the hot liquor tank and re-used. In Lancaster County Pennsylvania, a business can not use a home septic sewer as means for waste disposal. You may want to contact the proper authorities about using a septic system for industrial waste.

Cheers!
Matthew Keasey
President/Head Brewer
Spring House Brewing Co.

[Andy Bishop]

Gentlemen,
Thank you for your replies.
I have had my water tested as I am on a 150 foot well.
The water in the area is excellent. As a matter of fact Nestle has a large water bottling plant in the area.
I am familiar with Five Star and they claim there products are "septic safe".
My barn septic is a different from my house septic.
Thank you for your replies.
I hope there will be more.
Thanks
Andy