The City of Tulare, located in California’s world renowned San Joaquin Valley, is known for its rich agricultural and dairy industries. Tulare is home to six large-scale cheese and dairy producers. Like many municipalities, the city is challenged to meet industrial requirements at a reasonable cost while maintaining harmonious relationships with the surrounding community.

Lone Star Dairy is a leading producer of value-added dairy ingredients derived from locally-sourced milk. While Lone Star Dairy was already enjoying the benefits of low-rate anaerobic digestion, production capacity was driving flows and loads beyond the capacity of their existing system. Upgrades were needed to remain compliant to protect the downstream publicly owned treatment works (POTW).

Shanghai Xinlun Paper was upgrading its pulping and paper-making process. As this was taking place, new regulations came into effect that required the mill to invest in secondary wastewater treatment so it could meet stringent effluent limits of 100 mg/l chemical oxygen demand (COD), 30 mg/l biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), and 200 mg/l total suspended solids (TSS).