No Más! As Black Waters end bad odours at the paper mill
Written by Chris French
“The Landia AirJet solved what surface aerators couldn’t—efficient mixing and oxygen delivery in a challenging tank setup.”
- Roberto Escalante, Black Waters
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When a paper mill in El Salvador faced severe odor issues and the threat of major fines, traditional aeration systems failed to deliver. With sludge buildup and poor oxygen levels pushing the treatment plant to the brink, a new solution was urgently needed.
That’s when the Landia AirJet system stepped in—mixing, aerating, and restoring full biological performance.
CHALLENGE
A paper mill in El Salvador faced severe odor problems due to insufficient aeration in their wastewater treatment process. Despite having four 30HP surface aerators, the slanted rectangular tank (1,000m³) was poorly mixed, causing sludge buildup and septic conditions.
New environmental regulations escalated the issue, threatening the mill with multi-million dollar fines.
Surface aerators created the illusion of activity, but oxygen levels were critically low at the bottom, leaving the biological process ineffective.
SOLUTION
The paper mill brought in wastewater specialists Black Waters to assess and address the crisis. A sludge profile revealed heavy sedimentation, confirming the inefficiency of the existing system. After evaluating multiple options, six Landia AirJet systems were selected—each combining a chopper pump with a venturi nozzle for simultaneous mixing and aeration.
Despite the complexity of the slanted tank (divided by a concrete wall), the AirJets were successfully installed using concrete guide blocks and support from Landia's engineering team, including on-site help from their Aftermarket Manager.
RESULTS
- Odors were completely eliminated.
- The tank is now properly mixed and aerated from top to bottom.
- The biological process is fully functional, with sufficient oxygen to prevent septic conditions.
- The risk of regulatory fines and lawsuits was removed.
- The Landia system has proven reliable, with easy maintenance and strong performance.
