Wastewater Plant · Hesse Reference · Stadtwerke Pfungstadt · 5 min read · Video: 5:10

Stadtwerke Pfungstadt: 30% Fewer Pump-Outs with lipasanF®

Stadtwerke Pfungstadt operates the municipal wastewater treatment plant for the town of Pfungstadt in the Darmstadt-Dieburg district. In this interview the plant manager explains why they integrated lipasanF® into operation and what has changed since.

Pfungstadt is a reference case for medium-sized municipal plants: manageable capacity, heterogeneous catchment area (residential + foodservice), seasonal peak loads. A setting many operators recognise.

Plant Manager, Stadtwerke Pfungstadt

Stadtwerke Pfungstadt · Darmstadt-Dieburg District · Hesse

Stadtwerke Pfungstadt · Treatment Plant · Interview with Operations Manager Subtitles available: DE · EN · FR · ES · IT · PT · DA · HR

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Operations Manager: "We had the classic problem: more floating sludge in the primary clarifier than the design anticipated. We attributed this to elevated fat inputs — mainly from the foodservice area in the town centre. We then discussed various approaches — mechanical upgrades, more frequent removal — and ultimately decided to test a biological supplement before investing. lipasanF® was dosed in the influent area for three months. The results were clear: floating sludge in the primary clarifier decreased, the quality of the outflow from the primary treatment improved, and we had fewer manual removal intervals. What surprised me: the stabilization was gradual, not sudden. You notice it after two to three weeks — but then it's reproducible. We now have the product permanently in operation. We dose automatically, check monthly, and have been able to reduce the removal frequency of the primary clarifier by about 30 percent."

Medium Municipal Treatment Plants and Their Fat Problem

Medium municipal treatment plants — between 5,000 and 50,000 population equivalents — face a specific challenge: they lack the capacity of large central plants but must deliver the same treatment performance. Fat from the catchment area — especially from restaurants and takeaways — loads the primary clarifier and disrupts the biological treatment stage.

Pfungstadt addressed this systematically: first an analysis of fat loads in the influent, then a pilot phase with lipasanF® at the critical points, then evaluation.

What Pfungstadt Achieved in the Pilot Phase

Three documented changes after three months of pilot operation:

1
Floating sludge in the primary clarifier reduced — fewer manual removal intervals required
2
Outflow quality from primary treatment improved — measurable in laboratory records
3
Removal frequency reduced by ~30% — automatic dosing, monthly check sufficient

Why Biological Pre-Treatment Makes Sense for Medium Plants

Investments in mechanical upgrades are expensive and take time. A biological supplement can be implemented within a few weeks — with manageable operating costs and measurable effect. Pfungstadt chose this path before mechanical measures were resolved.

The decisive point for municipal decision-makers: the effect is continuous and scalable. It does not replace mechanical cleaning, but reduces frequency. This improves cost-effectiveness and relieves operational staff.

"We were able to reduce the removal frequency of the primary clarifier by 30 percent — that was our measurable goal."

— Plant Manager, Stadtwerke Pfungstadt

Questions About Biological Support in Municipal Treatment Plants

How long does it take for results to appear?

Pfungstadt reports: first measurable improvements after 2–3 weeks, stable results after 6–8 weeks. This is typical for biological pre-treatment.

How much effort is integration into ongoing operations?

Minimal. Pfungstadt doses automatically via a doser. Setup and calibration typically take half a day. Monthly checks are routine overhead.

Can we run a pilot phase without measurement technology?

Yes, but we recommend at least simple record-keeping (removal volume, removal frequency) to document the effect cleanly. This significantly simplifies later decisions.