I'm in the process of constructing my first 8.5 bbl brewery system, and have already run into the issue of my state's Health Department questioning me about how I plan on ensuring my brewery wastewater remains within the required pH range of 5.5 & 10. I'm currently using a double-tank CIP system with acid sanitizer in one tank, and a caustic cleaning solution in the other.
Once this cleaning process is complete, what's the best way to ensure my sewer effluents are in the required pH range? I'd like to avoid installing a sump pump and/or purchasing a high-cost automatic pH adjuster, if possible.
Generally, the average pH of your brewery wastewater will be 5.5 or lower. Nevertheless, my recommendation for pH adjustment would be to buy a lower-end caustic solution, as well as a durable pH meter and a small peristaltic dosing pump. For instance, in order to neutralize the wastewater for a 25hL system brewing 24 hrs/day, our brewery in Ontario utilized roughly 10L of caustic each week. We installed one main duct at the intersection of all the floor drains where our wastewater met before being sent out of the building into the sanitary sewer system. Finally, if you had one large holding tank, you might be able to recycle your expended caustic solution(s).
