Ecological Waste Water System for Agri Giant Limoneira

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The Background:

In 2013 the Limoneira Company, the largest producer of lemons and avocados in North America, faced a decision. In order to continue operating and handling the wastewater from their lemon processing plant, as well as from 350 facility housing units, they were required to upgrade their wastewater discharge. Initially, they looked to conventional chemically-based systems to meet compliance standards. However conventional wastewater treatment has a very high-energy footprint and a high capital cost, and of course, environmental impact. Limoneira was strongly motivated both in their corporate values and interests towards becoming a leader in ecologically sustainable design: Having previously installed a five-acre solar field and in setting an internal goal for the company of being completely off-grid by 2020. 

The Solution: 

Eco Lake Solutions was able to offer an alternative to conventional chemical wastewater treatment technology. By retrofitting Limoneira's existing treatment lagoons and using an applied ecological design, Eco Lake was able to meet the municipal discharge requirements imposed by the Regional Water Quality Control Board. Moreover, Eco Lake was able to do so at 20% of the costs and with significant (over 50%) energy savings. 

Eco Lake Solutions remains involved with the Limoneira Ecological Wastewater Treatment System and the system remains in compliance with the stringent discharge requirements of California's Regional Water Quality Control Board.