Wastewater Treatment for the Protein Industry

The Meat & Poultry Processing Industry

Protein processing facilities – including meat and poultry plants, animal rendering operations, and more – produce wastewater that is often rich in fats, oils, and grease (FOG), blood, solids, and nutrients. These contaminants significantly increase the organic load of resulting wastewater, making treatment more complex and increasing the risk of permit compliance violations.

At USP Technologies, we deliver customized industry-specific wastewater treatment programs that tackle the unique challenges of the protein processing industry – helping you continue to stay compliant, reduce costs, protect the environment, and keep your operations running.

Wastewater Challenges in Protein Processing

Odor and Corrosion

Odor and corrosion are two of the most persistent challenges in protein processing wastewater systems. Hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) – a byproduct of anaerobic conditions in collection systems and treatment processes – is the primary culprit. Left unchecked, H₂S can lead to:

Excess H₂S buildup that can impact worker safety
Foul odors that can negatively impact the surrounding communities
Accelerated corrosion of critical infrastructure, leading to costly repairs and premature asset failure.

Factors such as high organic load, warm temperatures, and long retention times in pipes and tanks make meat and poultry facilities especially vulnerable to these issues. Effective odor and corrosion control requires proactive strategies that address the root cause rather than masking symptoms.

High Organic Load

Organic load refers to the amount of biodegradable material in wastewater, typically measured by:

Biological oxygen demand (BOD)
Chemical oxygen demand (COD)

The higher the BOD and COD, the greater the concentration of organic matter in the wastewater. If untreated, wastewater with a high organic load can:

Overwhelm treatment systems
Harm aquatic ecosystems
Risk of permit violations and regulatory fines if improperly treated or discharged

Fats, Oils, and Grease (FOG)

FOG in wastewater tends to solidify, causing blockages in pipes and machinery. High FOG content in wastewater also increases sludge production and affects biological treatment processes, impacting effluent quality.

Solids

Solids present a significant challenge when treating wastewater from meat and poultry processing facilities. Solids, including pieces of meat, bone fragments, feathers, skin, undigested feed, and other debris from slaughtering and processing can make their way into wastewater effluent and impact the quality and conditions of the wastewater. Effective treatment is crucial to maintaining operations and ensuring wastewater effluent meets permit specifications for discharge.

Your Partner in Wastewater Treatment for Protein Processing Facilities

USP Technologies offers full-service solutions for wastewater treatment across various sites within the meat, poultry, and protein processing industry. With over 25 years of expertise in wastewater treatment, USP Technologies has the technical expertise to help craft targeted, full-service solutions designed for your facility’s unique needs. By choosing USP Technologies, you can access our:

Optimized solutions: At USP Technologies, we don’t believe in one-size-fits-all. We work side-by-side with our customers to deliver programs that truly work – for your system, your budget, and your long-term success.
Full-service support: Our full-service approach to wastewater treatment ensures tailored solutions and seamless implementation. Every customer we work with gets the support of a dedicated team of experts which can include application specialists, field service professionals, engineers, and technology developers.
Wide range of options: We offer a broad portfolio of chemical solutions to ensure your program is the best fit for your specific goals.