Aquacycl FAQ
Have a question about our company or services? Scroll through our FAQ for some answers. If you still can’t find what you’re looking for, don’t worry! Contact us and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
What is Aquacycl?
Aquacycl was founded in 2016 by Orianna Bretschger (CEO) and Sofia Babanova (CTO) with the goal of creating distributed wastewater treatment to address water scarcity and lack of infrastructure. Together, they developed the microbial fuel cell (MFC) technology utilized in the BETT system, a decentralized biological wastewater treatment system for removal of organic carbon (BOD/COD) for a fraction of the physical, energy and carbon footprint of any other treatment. Learn more about Aquacycl.
Where are you based?
Our company headquarters is located in Southern California (San Diego), but we are rapidly growing internationally with our European location (Netherlands) opened in 2023. Learn more about Aquacycl.
Why should I care about my wastewater treatment?
We have found that usually, 80% of wastewater costs come from 20% of the volume because 80% of the organic carbon load (BOD/COD) comes from 20% of the flow. We can save you 20-60% of costs by treating this 20% and we do it more sustainably (90% less GHG emissions, no chemicals), with lower energy expenditure, and provide peace of mind by guaranteeing permit compliance and 24-hour service and monitoring.
What are the benefits of BETT vs. conventional treatment systems?
Conventional anaerobic treatment systems treat wastewaters of up to 15,000 mg/L BOD; BETT treats wastewaters of up to 150,000+ mg/L BOD. BETT treats wastewater faster, with lower energy expenditure, no fouling, no overgrowth of bacterial population, and in a smaller footprint (40ft shipping container). Learn more about BETT.
How do you monitor and retrieve data?
Each line of BETT reactors is monitored remotely and constantly compared in efficiency, we have 160 different alarms that can be triggered to identify the problem and intervene remotely or send someone to fix it. As a customer, you will have access to our monitoring platform to see exactly what is happening with your treatment system at all times. Aquacycl personnel conduct site visits at least monthly for preventative maintenance or more frequently if any issues happening onsite.
We are generating X gallons per day (GPD) of wastewater, can your system handle that?
We can handle any volume, as the system is modular and scalable, volumes can be discussed during your consultation meeting and our sales team will work on a custom solution for you.
Does your system have pH treatment?
Yes, pH balance is a part of our treatment prior to entering the BETT system. We will monitor and balance on the way out to ensure compliance.
What are the specs of your BETT system?
Download our BETT 40′ Technical Data Sheet for product specs.
Do you have a typical contract you could share?
Yes, our sales team can send you one. Contact us for more information.
With guaranteed compliance, if we have an out of compliance event is the fee covered?
Yes, as long as your water is in line with what we agreed upon we will cover any out of compliance events.
What is the implementation process of an Aquacycl system?
Check out our Implementation Workflow to see our process from contract signing to starting up your new wastewater treatment system.
What do we have to do to get the site ready?
It is your responsibility to be ready to receive the system (concrete pad, piping to unit, pumps, electricity) and depends on local regulations but we will work with you to ensure the site is compliant. We take care of everything from the equalization tank to the output of our system.
If site plans change, can the unit be moved?
Yes, provided we find adequate room for the unit and tanks. There will be a cost associated and no guarantee of service during the move since the system will not be powered. If scheduled properly, there will be no issues and should take no more than a few days.
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