FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

All products are produced in the premises of Hydrotech Environmental in Greece. The production process is soon to be accredited by the ISO 9001 standards for quality management.

The Ydro Process® is patented and protected by a Secrecy Act in order to prevent the disclosure of the invention as a technology. This cannot be revealed or submitted to clients.

The guaranteed shelf life of our microorganisms is three months, provided that they are stored in ambient room temperature with low humidity concentration. Tests have been carried out, proving that they remain highly active even after stored for this period.

This information is confidential and cannot be published. The products are a mixture of microbial strains that are modified according to the waste to be treated. They are pure cultures, naturally occurring and have in no way been genetically altered. Our R&D group is constantly working on the product improvement. Prior to each application the end product formulation and blend of bacterial strains are selected according to the parameters of the wastewater to be treated.

The product Ydro 20 is a specialized product which has been formulated to treat sewer grid and collection systems. It cleans out the pipings, pumping stations and manholes, eliminates rising grid odors and decomposes the wastewater organic matter before it reaches the treatment plant which then requires less effort and energy to be treated. Basic parameters such as BOD, COD, SS etc. are reduced by at least 60% up to 90% while treated with Ydro 20 within the sewer grid. This reduction strictly depends on the length and the design of the sewer system and the initial wastewater parameters. Furthermore, when industrial wastewater is added to the sewer grid, the product can be customized and formulated according to the specifications and even added within the pre-treatment of each industry.

Yes, our R&D team has developed a product containing a specially formulated range of microorganisms capable of treating septic tanks of hotels, shopping centers and households and cesspools. The high performance facultative and aerobic microorganisms in conjunction with the contained minerals, micronutrients and amino acids create ideal conditions for the improved operation of the septic tanks and cesspools. It degrades organic compounds contained in the wastewater, breaks down fats, oils and grease and eliminates odours without harming any metal, ceramic, plastic or concrete facility or equipment. It avoids conglomeration of fats, eliminates the production of sludge within the septic tank or field lines and decreases the emptying or cleaning necessity. The application is easy, user friendly and creates no environmental effect or hazard.

The addition of microbial products as a technology has been applied for at least 40 years in the field of municipal and industrial wastewater processing. There are various companies involved in this field. However they cannot be considered competitors as they cannot offer all the benefits that the Ydro Process® does. The majority of these companies specialize only in fat and grease removal, odor control or even in minimization of the produced sludge but only up to 30-40%. Contrary to these companies which operate as retailers, Hydrotech Environmental produces and supplies the products, tunes the plants and provides any necessary technical advice and support to the end client.

The microbial population has been measured to be 10⁷ to 10⁸ CFU/gram. This is easily modified and can be increased according to requirements. Once the dry microorganisms have been soaked and let to reach the maturation stage in specific conditions they double every 20 to 30 minutes.

The application of microorganisms is carried out by the plant operator on a daily basis in order to keep the culture count at a certain level. In septic tanks and cesspools the dosing is carried once a week.

The ideal maturation of the microorganisms occurs when they are added to a mixture of fresh waste feed and water (approximately 10-20 liters), mixed gently for 1 – 2 minutes and left for at least 12 hours.

The ideal condition requires the presence of specific concentrations of Nitrogen, Phosphorus and micronutrients in the wastewater. Prior to an application laboratory tests are suggested in order to determine a possible nutrient deficiency. Urea and Triple-super Phosphate are used to create the ideal ratio of COD:N:P which is 100:5:1 or even 200:5:1.

The Ydro Process® applies to all oxygen conditions, i.e. oxic, anoxic and facultative according to the wastewater treated. Therefore there is no actual specification. It is strongly dependent on the wastewater treated, the plant and the focused stage.

When operating at a wastewater treatment facility, the first indication in terms of sludge minimization, is normally observed during the 1st – 2nd week of application, during which the sludge dewatering system is shut off and the operational conditions are monitored. The immediate indication is the odour reduction which occurs withing the first days of application.

In order to maintain the operational conditions of a wastewater plant avoiding “shocking conditions” the ideal duration to obtain 100% sludge reduction is 5 – 6 weeks. We have obtained immediate stoppage of excess sludge production but it is not recommended as it can cause high fluctuations of operational parameters due to high organic loading during the first week.

The microorganisms used follow conventional wastewater bacteria in terms of vulnerability. However, the Ydro products have been altered accordingly to resist extreme waste conditions.

The Ydro Process® is the cheapest, legal, environmentally friendly and cost effective solution against conventional methods and it varies between 30 – 80% of total costs (depending on each case) of conventional methods. (Sludge transportation and disposal, various chemicals and additives, dehydration equipment maintenance, potential energy savings etc)

The ideal pH range for the application of the Ydro Process® microorganisms is 6 – 9. However, this can be slightly altered according to local conditions of each case.

A big fraction of the measured inorganic content of the conventional sludge is actually hard degradable organic substance as well as inorganic salts. The Ydro Process® decomposes this big fraction and  breaks down these inorganic salts releasing inorganic ions in the output such as: Ca²⁺, K⁺, Na⁺, Mg²⁺ etc. The remaining inorganic content is removed by the sand and grit removal stage as well as the fine screening and is sent to landfills.

The microorganisms used for the Ydro Process® are not used for disinfection and are used to stimulate biological processes by promoting beneficial micro-organisms. They are not classified as biocides and do not fall within the scope of Directive 98/8/EC.