STEP 5 – Primary Clarifier

We Collect the Sludge in Big Tanks

After we get rid of the dirt and trash, the wastewater flows into big tanks. They are called clarifiers. More than half of the sludge (food and poop) settles to the bottom. From there the sludge is pumped to our digesters.

In the clarifiers fats and oils float on top of the water. Fats and oils are skimmed off and collected by an arm that moves around on top of the water. We should not pour fats and oils down the kitchen sink because they cause clogs in the pipes. Clogs are expensive to break up, and they stop the wastewater from flowing to the plant. YUCK!