Waste Water Treatment Plant (FOV) represents one of the most important links in the environment protection chain in HIP-Petrohemija. It was designed to accept and process waste waters, not only from all of the HIP-Petrohemija's production plants, but also from the neighboring NIS Oil Refinery Pančevo. The plant started the operation in 1980. The waste-waters-extracted sludge processing line was started up in 1991.
A modern waste waters treatment system consists of closed sewage system in overall petrochemical complex, pre-treatment in the production plants, special treatment of caustic water flow from the Ethylene plant and central waste waters treatment plant.
Waste Water Treatment Plant specially performs primary (equalization, neutralization, flocculation and flotation) and secondary (two-stage biological treatment through a bio-filter and active charcoal) waste water treatment, as well as dehydratation and stabilization of the extracted sludge.
Processing capacity is 750 m3 of wastewater per hour.
The key parameters for verification of the efficiency of a waste water treatment plant's operation are the reduction levels of the oil content, phenol content and chemical and biological oxygen consumption. The water treatment in our plant achieves reduction levels of over 90%, which indicates the high purification levels, as well as efficiency and comparative advantages of the aerobic biological treatment used within the secondary water treatment.
After the NATO bombing in 1999, in the period from 2001 to 2004, water processing plant was rehabilitated (improved) in coordination with UNEP. The process of neutralization was automated within the primary treatment, while in the secondary treatment; bio-filter operation was improved by application of polypropylene stuffing with large active surface and a more contemporary concept of bio-filter “hand”, together with increased intake of oxygen.Also within the secondary treatment, process of water purification by active sludge was improved by installation of the bottom aerators and by introduction of the automation.