As the fish processing industry grapples with increasing pressure to reduce water usage and comply with tightening environmental regulations, one challenge stands out across facilities of all sizes: (waste)water management.
Whether you're operating a seasonal plant, scaling up for peak catch periods, or facing stricter discharge limits, dealing with wastewater efficiently and affordably is no small task. For many processors—especially those in remote, coastal, or space-constrained locations—traditional fixed treatment plants aren’t always a viable option.
That’s where mobile water solutions are stepping in, offering a flexible, fast, and increasingly popular way to overcome operational wastewater hurdles.
Why mobile water treatment is gaining ground
Mobile water treatment systems, typically housed in containerized or trailer-mounted units, have become an increasingly popular solution in the seafood sector. These units provide:
Flexible, On-Demand Deployment: Brought in during seasonal peaks, plant upgrades, or emergencies, mobile systems are operational for as long as needed.
Rapid Setup: Unlike fixed plants, mobile systems can be installed and fully functional within hours or days, reducing downtime.
Modularity and Scalability: Units can be added or removed depending on production load, offering dynamic, adaptable treatment capacity.
Cost-Effectiveness: Leasing or renting mobile systems bypasses the upfront investment of permanent infrastructure — ideal for temporary or trial projects.
Versatility: Mobile units are perfect for remote or seasonal operations like floating fish plants or coastal villages, where transporting waste is difficult and infrastructure is limited.
What can mobile water solutions handle?
Modern mobile solutions go beyond simple filtration. They now include advanced technologies such as:
- Filter systems to remove TSS
- Dissolved Air Flotation (DAF) to remove solids, fats, and oils
- Membrane Bioreactors (MBR) or MBBR for compact biological treatment for polishing or water reuse
- Ultrafiltration and Reverse Osmosis (RO) for polishing or water reuse
- Sludge Dewatering Systems to reduce disposal volumes and costs
These systems can be tailored to meet local discharge permits, water reuse needs, or even achieve zero liquid discharge (ZLD) standards.
Conclusion
Mobile water treatment is a strategic tool for piloting new technologies, testing compliance strategies, managing environmental impact during expansion, and building operational resilience. With EU directives like the UWWTD and Industrial Emissions Directive tightening standards, mobile systems offer fish processors a flexible, scalable, and low-risk way to stay compliant and competitive.
Stay-tuned for our last blog, showing proving Nijhuis Saur Industries expertise in the fish processing industry.
