Lightweight Cellular Concrete for Retrofitting Wastewater Treatment Plants
Wastewater treatment plants are evolving—and so should your infrastructure. Innovations like high-efficiency clarifiers and membrane bioreactors (MBRs) pave the way for better treatment processes, leaving older systems like deep settlement tanks behind. But instead of tearing everything down and starting over, why not work smarter? Elastizell Systems’ lightweight cellular concrete is here to make retrofitting easier, more affordable, and incredibly effective, so you can focus on what matters: serving your community.
For over 65 years, we’ve been helping municipalities and engineers reimagine what’s possible with lightweight cellular concrete. Designed to reduce costs, last for decades, and stand up to even the harshest wastewater environments, our solutions are tailored to meet the unique challenges of your facility.
Retrofitting Instead of Rebuilding: A Smarter Choice for Municipalities
Let’s face it—replacing an aging wastewater treatment plant is a huge undertaking. The costs alone, often in the tens or hundreds of millions, can make your head spin. That’s why retrofitting with lightweight cellular concrete is a no-brainer. It’s not just about saving money; it’s about extending the life of your facility and getting more value out of what’s already built.
Why Retrofit with Lightweight Cellular Concrete?
- Save Big on Costs: Avoid the massive expenses of demolition and reconstruction, freeing up funds for other important community projects.
- Lighten the Load: At 25% less weight than traditional backfill materials, it reduces foundation stress and gives aging infrastructure a much-needed break.
- Resist the Elements: Engineered to stand up to harsh chemicals like chlorine, it protects your plant from long-term wear and tear.
- Quick and Efficient Installation: Flowable and pumpable, lightweight cellular concrete speeds up retrofitting projects, minimizing downtime and keeping your treatment services running smoothly.
- Support Sustainability: By repurposing existing structures, you’re cutting waste, reducing carbon emissions, and doing your part for the environment.
Modernizing with UV Flumes: A Perfect Match for Lightweight Cellular Concrete
Take UV flumes, for example. These advanced disinfection systems are essential for many modern plants, but retrofitting existing tanks to accommodate them can be a challenge. Elastizell Systems' Class II lightweight cellular concrete acts as the perfect backfill material. With a unit weight of just 30 pcf—less than half the weight of water (62.4 pcf)—it reduces stress on deep foundations originally designed for heavier loads. This ensures the load will never exceed the foundation's original design parameters, eliminating the need for costly redesigns or structural reinforcements.
Applications for Lightweight Cellular Concrete in Wastewater Treatment
Elastizell Systems’ lightweight cellular concrete isn’t just a material—it’s a problem solver. Here’s how it can transform your wastewater treatment plant:
- Settlement Tanks: Fill deep tanks partially to optimize hydraulic flow and sedimentation while reducing stress on existing structures.
- Aeration Basins: Create raised platforms or partitions for advanced aeration systems like fine bubble diffusers, modernizing your plant with less strain on its foundation.
- Channel Linings: Repair influent and effluent channels with durable, chemical-resistant lining, ensuring reliable water flow without seepage.
- Sludge Storage Facilities: Reinforce or retrofit storage tanks and drying beds, delivering long-term durability against chemical exposure.
- Void Fills: Lightweight cellular concrete flows easily into voids around decommissioned tanks, pipelines, or unused vaults, preventing settling and ensuring uniform load distribution.
- Load-Reducing Fills: Perfect for areas with weak soils or aging foundations, it relieves stress while improving stability.
Built for Tough Environments
Let’s not sugarcoat it—wastewater treatment plants are tough on materials. Between constant exposure to moisture, corrosive chemicals, and temperature fluctuations, not every material can handle the pressure. That’s where Elastizell Systems’ lightweight cellular concrete shines.
- Durability You Can Count On: Designed to thrive in moisture-heavy and corrosive environments, it performs reliably year after year.
- Low Maintenance: Once installed, it works hard so you don’t have to.
- Resilience in Any Condition: Even extreme environments are no match for its strength and stability.
- Easy to Remove: When the time comes for future upgrades or modifications, lightweight cellular concrete can be removed with minimal effort, making it a flexible choice for evolving infrastructure needs.
Why Choose Elastizell Systems?
At Elastizell Systems, we’re more than just a supplier—we’re your partner in building smarter, stronger, and more sustainable wastewater treatment facilities. Here’s why so many municipalities and engineers trust us:
- Chemical Resistance: Our formulations stand up to the toughest treatment chemicals, including chlorine and other agents.
- Lighter Weight, Stronger Foundations: At 25% less weight than traditional backfill, our material reduces stress on aging infrastructure, giving it a new lease on life.
- Cost-Effective Solutions: Retrofitting with lightweight cellular concrete saves time and money, leaving more resources for other priorities.
- A Commitment to Sustainability: By reusing and reinforcing existing structures, we’re helping communities build for the future without wasting the past.
Build the Future of Wastewater Treatment
Upgrading your wastewater treatment plant doesn’t have to mean tearing it down. With Elastizell Systems’ lightweight cellular concrete, you can retrofit, modernize, and strengthen your facility with less hassle and more impact. From stabilizing voids and reducing foundation loads to upgrading tanks for advanced processes like UV disinfection, our solutions are designed with your success in mind.
When you work with us, you’re not just improving your infrastructure—you’re making a lasting investment in your community’s future. Let’s build smarter, together.
Contact us today to learn how Elastizell Systems can help your wastewater treatment project succeed.