October 2008  -  BHS IS GOING GREEN ON CONTAMINATED BATTERY WASH WATER

We would like to introduce the new and improved method for battery wash service. The only one capable of automatically washing batteries, collecting the wastewater, neutralizing and removing suspended solids, heavy metals, oils and greases to form an EPA approved non-leachable sludge.

We all know the importance of proper cleaning and maintenance of electric lift truck batteries. Battery corrosion causes shorts and grounds to the tray which can often result in unsafe operation, expensive downtime and lost production. Wash water from battery washing is among the worst wastewater produced. It contains high heavy metals, high suspended solids, oils and grease. You need to be able to clean your batteries, dispose of your wastewater properly to protect our environment and do it in a cost- effective way.

Here’s how the system works. The BHS Battery Wash System turns on automatically, using tap water, when the battery cleaning process begins. The dirty batteries are placed inside the BHS Automatic Battery Wash Cabinet where the batteries are washed, generating hazardous wash water.  The wash water is then pumped to the wastewater treatment unit. At this time the pH adjustment is made to a neutral pH of 8 for the removal of heavy metals. Then the wash water is treated with a reactive separating agent that, when agitated, encapsulates the contaminants forming large floc.  The treated water and the floc are then separated by natural gravity flow. The clean water is stored in the bottom of the tank for reuse in the automatic battery wash cabinet while the floc falls on the deep bed filter where it is dewatered and hardens into a non-hazardous, non-leachable sludge cake. The sludge cake can be safely and legally disposed of in the trash. This is a closed loop system that is constantly being ozone generated to remove bacteria (BODs) ensuring low odor control.

The EPA places strict regulations and imposes severe penalties on companies that dispose of wastewater improperly. Municipal wastewater treatment plants can’t handle materials such as heavy metals, oils and sulfates left by battery cleaning. Hauling your wastewater to be treated is costly and your liability continues during transport, storage and final proper treatment. You could be held liable at any time during this process if an accidental spill or leak would occur.

Unlike other traditional wastewater treatment processes that seem to use smoke and mirrors to prove their equipment to be green, our process has been independently lab tested and approved. The BHS system is superior to any and all inline filtration systems which leave dirt and corrosion behind in the filters. The inline filters become blocked and are listed as hazardous because the contaminants will leach back out into the environment. Also, some wastewater treatment processes claim your wastewater is clean and safe because the pH level is adjusted and the wastewater is neutralized. Just because your water is neutralized doesn’t mean it is clean. It will still contain the same heavy metals, high suspended solids, oils and grease.

The green benefits of this unit are enormous. While safely processing the hazardous wash water generated to meet EPA and DOT requirements, the closed loop BHS Battery Wash System does not allow contaminants to be discharged into our water supply or soil. There is no costly hauling, treatment, or disposal of hazardous wastewater, alleviating the unnecessary stress of cradle-to-grave responsibility. The treated, recycled clean water is reused and cleaned over and over allowing less new water to wash the batteries, therefore saving money on water usage. Cleaned and maintained batteries prolong the battery life thereby saving money on purchasing new batteries and properly disposing of old batteries. Join us as a company that cares for our environment and our health.