Even though it is a small island, Puerto Rico has historically had big issues with sewage treatment. Due to its tropical location in the Caribbean, heavy storms can create unusually large peak flows at the treatment plants.
The Headworks® MS Bar Screen was installed in 2006 at the Caguas Waste Water Treatment Plant (WWTP) in Puerto Rico. This screen was purchased by PRASA, the Puerto Rico Sewer Authority, in order to eliminate the multiple problems and extended downtime caused by “climber type” screens previously installed at their plant. The performance of this first Headworks MS Bar Screen at Caguas was so impressive that PRASA soon decided to move forward and replace the remaining two climber screens with Headworks bar screens.
The two additional bar screens where also manufactured in SS 316, for channels 29 feet deep by 4 feet wide with bar spacing of 0.5 inch. Peak flows at the plant are up to 28MGD per screen. The screens were successfully installed once again by INECO, Headworks’ distributor in Puerto Rico.
Israel Almodovar is the Manager of Regional Systems for PRASA’s Eastern Region which oversees the Caguas WWTP. In March 2010 he stated, “We now have all three MS screens in operations at Cagua, and they are all working very well. There’s really no point of comparison between the Headworks screens and the climber screens we replaced. The Headworks bar screen is the type of screen that we always needed, given the tough conditions at this plant. The Headworks bar screens are very efficient, reliable and consistent and require minimal maintenance, which is what we always look for in the equipment for our plants. Overall we are very satisfied.”
The Headworks MS Bar Screen, with its robust all stainless steel structure, multiple-rake and sprocket mechanism, is the equipment of choice for large screen applications like Caguas where the equipment is expected to handle the toughest possible conditions without damage, with minimal maintenance, and without compromising the plant’s operations for many years.
Headworks was proud to work with PRASA on the Caguas project once again. Nothing speaks more about the quality of our equipment and our services than having a satisfied customer returning to add more screens to their plant!
