Currently the ASH is deployed on a mobile trailer and as such the ASH unit�s mobility affords it the flexibility of use in multiple scenarios. In its mobile configuration, it can be placed as needed in the treatment cycles for Collection Holding and Transfer (CHT), oily wastewater, and bilge water in both shore-based and shipboard applications. Determining factors for using the ASH unit include the volume of wastewater to be treated, the contaminant type, how early the contaminant is identified, and the location of the contamination source. The unit can be manufactured in a permanent configuration if it is desired to be part of a permanent pre-treatment facility.

The compliance benefits listed here are only meant to be used as general guidelines and are not meant to be strictly interpreted. Actual compliance benefits will vary depending on the factors involved, e.g., the amount of workload involved.

Consult your local industrial health specialist, your local health and safety personnel, and the appropriate MSDS prior to implementing this technology.

• The technology can remove approximately 90 percent of the oily particles and AFFF.
• The mobile ASH unit provides a timely response to spills and has the potential to reduce the cost of tank rental and final disposal.
• The technology has the ability to handle a large range of volumes with a lower retention time and high contaminant removal rate than typical gravity-based separation technologies.
• The rugged design allows for handling of multiple types of waste streams.

• The ASH system requires trained personnel to maximize contaminant removal and to ensure that the system is operating within proper parameters.
• The polymer used has a shelf life of approximately 6 months, necessitating rotation of stock.
• The unit as currently used requires utilities (electricity, water, and sewer discharge) to be provided.
• The ASH unit is a pre-treatment technology (i.e., further water treatment may be needed), not a turnkey treatment system.

Capital cost estimates range from $173,000 at 50 gpm to $275,000 at 150 gpm. Utility and chemical costs would range from approximately $0.17 per 1,000 gallons for AFFF removal only (i.e., no chemical treatment) to $2.54 per 1,000 gallons for extremely high oil and grease concentrations. In addition, repair and replacement costs for the alternative, more inefficient, oil/water separators are avoided. One estimate conducted by the U.S. Army Environmental Center stated that these repair and replacement costs of existing separators are on the order of $100 million.The payback would vary from 2-7 years, depending on the volume of the waste stream to be periodically treated, the concentration of the contaminants, and the cost of current treatment or disposal methods. Similar findings are reported in a 2003 ESTCP Cost and Performance Report in which the ASH technology was evaluated during 1-day field tests at nine Navy, Marines, and Air Force sites.