USPOULTRY 2019 Clean Water Award

On Sept. 19, the U.S. Poultry & Egg Association (USPOULTRY) awarded its 2019 Clean Water Award, in the full treatment category, to our Pilgrim’s Sanford, NC, processing facility. The Sanford team was selected for this recognition by a committee of industry engineers, university personnel and industry media for going above and beyond in their commitment to sustainable wastewater treatment and water reuse.

On average, the Sanford facility generates a wastewater flow of 1.2 million gallons per day. To effectively manage this volume, the wastewater team has implemented a number of innovative processes and projects. By incorporating a dissolved air flotation (DAF) unit, the facility has successfully reduced the amount of biosolids that enter the activated biological treatment system. This system along with a recently added anoxic tank have greatly increased Sanford’s efficiency in removing nitrogen from the wastewater. Furthermore, the Sanford team has identified a process to lessen the impact of peracetic acid on their wastewater treatment system. Ultimately, the facility reclaims approximately 400,000 gallons of water per day, equating to 104 million gallons per year.

In addition to its innovative processes, the facility emphasizes the importance of continual training for personnel and management staff, as well as being active stewards in local community environmental efforts and wildlife management.