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Hey everyone,
My name is Denise – and I am in the process of opening a farm brewery. I have done my application with TTB and am working with my county.
Anyway, I am now installing proper drainage in my converted garage. I plan on treating the water and using it to water my hops (which are luckily enough downhill).
Does anyone know what size tank I should get based on 500-1000 BBL per year production? Where to buy? Above or below ground install.
Any help on this would be much appreciated. This is not an easy process – as I am sure many of you know.
Thanks,
Dee
Denise, it’s looks as thought I’m going to be in the same boat. The Queen Anne’s County Health Department is showing no mercy with my inquiry. I was asked today what I would be doing with my waste water and we did plan on reclaiming it and using it for watering our hops, etc. I guess we’ll see what they come back with tomorrow. My biggest hurdle right now is that they want me to install hard stand bathrooms on the farm with a brand new septic and everything. This even after we told them we would only be open Saturday and Sunday, 13 hours total.
Denise
Have you looked at the MDE / MDA exemption for surface disposal permit? There is a process for approval, and limitations on when you can actually field apply. It is very feasible that you won’t have to treat that wastewater at all – it involves having a sample analyzed by the MDA chemist’s office. If they determine the sample meets the requirements of a soil conditioner (aka: fertilizer), MDE will probably grant permission to apply it to crops for all but about 2-3 months, depending on where you are located in the state (12/16 to 2/28 here on the Eastern Shore).During those times when surface discharge is not allowed, you are required to have sufficient storage for 7 days worth at a minimum. Assuming you generate 2-3 bbl wastewater per bbl of beer, that’s anywhere from ~600 – ~1,800 gal. (keep in mind that your lowest demand may very well be during that time, so you might only need to brew a few bbls / wk, and only generate ~250 – ~350 gal / wk – also keep in mind that if you’re particularly conscientious and careful you should really be able to keep closer<span style=”mso-spacerun: yes;”> </span>to 2 bbl wastewater / bbl produced) – On the other hand, MDE will require a hydrostatic leak test and engineer’s stamp for the tank – you will also be required to have a Nutrient Management Plan written by a MD certified nutrient management planner. Unfortunately, there doesn’t seem to be any low cost option here.
I have some documentation on all of this, but can’t figure out how to do an attachment in this forum. I could easily do that if I had your e-mail. The other option is to contact BAM, who can give you further info. Good luck.Tim Gavigan, Plant Engineer / Brewer, Gateway Craft Brewing, tgavigan@comcast.net
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