Simple Process Explanation – Wastewater produced in winemaking facilities contains mainly soluble sugars and ethanol associated with the wine. These “contaminants” are dissolved into the water and cannot be separated by mechanical means. The Lyve System uses naturally occurring bacteria to break down these compounds. The wastewater is screened using a rotary or flex rake screen to remove coarse solids. The screen mesh is sized for 0.5 – 1.0mm. An equalization tank, with the capacity to hold at least one peak day’s wastewater production, buffers the hydraulic and contaminant load surges and allows the pH to balance to some extent. A pH monitoring system adjusts the pH when required to maintain a pH value between 6.5 and 8.5.

The heart of the Lyve system is the Moving Bed Biofilm Reactor (MBBR), where ideal conditions are maintained for bacteria to proliferate. It’s in the MBBR where the bacteria metabolize the dissolved compounds as the wastewater flows through. Blowers supply air to a fine bubble air diffusion system. This system dissolves monitored levels of oxygen into the MBBR to satisfy the bacteria’s respiration requirements. Nutrient levels are also maintained as the bacteria require ammonia nitrogen and phosphate for enzyme production and growth.