FOTOFAX
BREVARD PLANT
PHOTO PRODUCTS DEPARTMENT
Dredging Clears Pond
Of Solid Waste Sediment
A recent dredging operation has
cleared the plant's settling pond of
solid waste sediment, so that it can now
operate effectively for another five to
10 years.
The operation was necessary for
environmental reasons, since the set
tling pond plays a key role in the
removal of solids in the water being
returned to the river.
The process, which took about two
weeks, removed an estimated 500 tons
of solids, pumped it through specially
laid pipe, through two receptor basins,
and back to the settling pond, a total
distance of about half a mile.
Two receptor basins, each covering
about a half acre, were prepared north
of the plant entrance. Two lines of pipe
were laid on top of the ground, one
from the settling pond to the first
receptor basin, and the other from the
second basin back to the settling pond.
A dredge was used to dig and suck up
the solid waste from the bottom of the
one-acre settling pond, and pump the
waste at a rate of two thousand gallons
per minute through the pipe to the
receptor basin.
As the solids were being pumped, a
chemical was injected to cause the solids
to rapidly settle out in the receptor
basin. By the time the water overflowed
from the first basin to the second, the
solids had settled out, leaving the water
clean.
This clarified water was then pumped
from the second basin back to the
settling pond.
Jim Henderson, Process Engineer,
and Bob McBee, Power Engineer,
directed the operation. The actual
dredging took five days, with the assem
bly and disassembly of equipment
taking four days.
When the sludge accumulated in the
first basin has dried, testing will be done
to determine whether the silver content
is great enough to warrant recovery.
Very little sludge accumulated in the
second basin.
This was the first dredging of the
settling pond, although some digging
of solid waste and removal was done
with a crane and dragline over a part of
the pond several years ago.
The dredging was done by Hydrarch,
Inc., of Jacksonville, Fla.
T
CfUPDN^ Vol. 11, No. 9 September, 1978
'i*
Barge in settling pond pulls dredge
out of water to show how it will work.
Pipe lines parallel entrance to plant.
9
e-'o
Black sediment is pumped into receptor basin
Clarified water is pumped back into settling pond.
Thrift Plan Offers Easy Way To Save
Each month, 804 employees, or just
over 63 per cent of the Brevard Plant
employees, add to their security through
payroll deductions in a savings program
called the Thrift Plan.
Linda McCants, who handles the sign
up for the plan, says employees save
for different reasons.
Some employees save for a trip, car
or boat, or other special needs. For
others, it means additional money for
retirement years.
The purpose of the plan is to encour
age and assist employees in following a
systematic savings program suited to
their individual long and short-term
financial objectives, and to provide an
opportunity for them, at no cost to
themselves, to become stockholders
in the Company.
How does it work? After at least one
year of continuous service, an employee
is eligible to participate. The employee
should see Linda in Employment and
Services to sign up. If the sign up is
done before the payroll closing date, the
plan goes into effect the following month.
The employee decides to save from
one to 10 per cent of his regular monthly
earnings. In addition, the Company
contributes 50 cents for each dollar
saved, up to six per cent.
The employee savings and company
contributions are invested into four
funds, according to the employee's
instructions.
Fund A: U. S. Savings Bonds, Series
E, which mature at five years with a six
per cent rate of return. This is a good
plan for short term savings with low risk.
Fund B; A fixed income fund with
principal and a fixed rate of interest
guaranteed by the Equitable Life Assur
ance Society of the United States. This
(Continued on page 3)
%
Linda McCants checks latest information on Thrift Plan.
AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
M/F