Case Studies
Using IMET® Technology to Minimize Odor and Bio-Solids Buildup at an Ottawa County Pump Station
After installing an IMET system at Pump Station 50 (PS 50) in a prominent neighborhood in Ottawa County, Ohio, hydrogen sulfide (H2S) odor was significantly reduced to negligible levels. This is a major win considering the proximity of the pump station to residential homes and Catawba Island’s high tourist population in the summer. The organic mat that formed on top of the wet well disappeared, helping regulate the water levels and reducing how often it needed to be pumped.
The system delivered 80-95% reduction of CBOD5 in the wet well depending on the fluctuating residence time due to Catawba’s seasonal population changes.
Ottawa County reduced the amount of calcium nitrate sent upstream by 2,470 gallons, resulting in $6,700 in chemical savings from February to September of 2025.
-
Located in a residential neighborhood in Catawba Island, Ottawa County received complaints about foul odors coming from PS 50. Residents wanted the county to provide a sustainable solution that would get rid of the smell for good.
-
Waterways like riverbeds are naturally cleaned by microorganisms that are attached to rocks and sands primarily within their pore structures underwater. These microorganisms consume dissolved biowaste (BOD) in the waterbody to clean the water.
IMET technology mimics nature’s way of treating wastewater through its patented aerobic packed bed treatment module design. “We essentially took the riverbed and brought it to the pump station,” said Kaan Gencer, chief operating officer (COO) for IMET.
Before installing the IMET system at PS 50, the pump station wet well produced H2S, a gas known for its distinctive rotten egg smell. Installing two large IMET Modules into the wet well converted the pump station into a nearly 100% aerobic system, enabling aerobic microorganisms to thrive and causing anaerobic microorganisms to go dormant.
“We converted the PS 50 pump station into an aerobic system,” said Gencer. “We now have enough sustained dissolved oxygen in the water to maintain a high population of diverse aerobic microorganisms at all times.”
Each 14- by 40-inch IMET Module circulates wastewater through its high surface media (an area about half the size of a football field) via an air diffuser at the bottom. The diverse populations of aerobic microorganisms growing within the multi-media are constantly in contact with the dissolved nutrients in the pump station
One year after installing the IMET system, the results have been described as “a game-changer”. Installation of the IMET system resulted in the elimination of the organic mat including considerable amounts of Fats, Oils and Grease (FOG) within the pump station. In this specific application, another noteworthy result has been 80 to 95% reduction of CBOD5 in the wet well depending on the fluctuating residence time due to Catawba’s seasonal population changes.
There are no H2S odor complaints from the local residents and the organic mat has disappeared from the wet well without requiring pump outs.
The significant chemical savings realized together with other benefits of the IMET system, Ottawa County is setting its sights even higher.
“We feel the installation of the IMET system has been a positive outcome for us” said Christopher Goetz, Water Reclamation Superintendent for Ottawa County Sanitary Engineering Department. “We are hoping that we can reduce even more or eliminate the need for calcium nitrate altogether.”
Looking ahead, Ottawa County plans to implement more IMET systems in other pump stations across the county.
-
The IMET system reduces H2S production to near elimination by sustaining an aerobic environment and significantly enhancing the oxidation of dissolved sulfurous compounds in the wet well as it maintains dissolved oxygen levels greater than or equal to 3 parts per million (ppm). In some challenging cases the periodic inoculation of sulfur oxidizing bacteria within the IMET module(s) is added as part of the IMET system.
IMET’s technology pre-treats wastewater by creating a significantly efficient aerobic environment with extremely high population of diverse microorganisms within the wet well. In doing so, the IMET system also continually seeds the wet well and downstream lines delivering further BOD reduction before the treatment plant.
The IMET System significantly reduces FOG buildup within the wet well and in the downstream lines through efficient bio degradation of FOG. The result is a reduction in the need for pumping the wet well and jetting downstream lines.
The IMET system requires minimal power to operate i.e. each module uses between 200 to 450 watts. A typical pump station requires 1 to 4 IMET modules depending on the size of the wet well.
IMET® Aerobic Biological Technology Increases Capacity n a Coastal City Wastewater Treatment Plant on Aegean Sea
Coastal town Karaburun, Turkey was struggling to keep up with seasonal tourism surges that overwhelmed its wastewater treatment plant.
IMET Treatment Modules drastically increased the WWTP’s treatment capacity without expanding its footprint, restoring the town’s Blue Flag beach status while producing clean effluent used to irrigate nearby olive groves. Over a 5 year period of operation using the IMET technology, no bio-sludge was disposed from the WWTP.
-
Karaburun, a coastal city on the Aegean Sea, is a renowned tourist area for domestic and global tourism with a population of 3,500 during the winter months and a significant increase during peak tourism season between April and October to up to 15,000 people. Due to the city’s population increase of three times during tourism season, the city’s WWTP was failing and three times expansion was required which was both geographically and economically unfeasible.
-
IMET technology was brought in to use the existing WWTP infrastructure, without any additional construction, to handle the peak season population spike while continually meeting discharge requirements.
With the IMET system installed in the WWTP, the city achieved over 90% sustainable reduction of COD, BOD and TSS throughout the year meeting the effluent discharge requirements at all times, enabling irrigation of orange groves and olive groves on the hillside next to one of Karaburun’s major beaches. IMET technology also enabled the city to regain its coveted Blue Flag status.
In peak season, (summer) 32 IMET reactors operated using an existing 3.5 kwh pump. During the off-season only 1/3 of the WWTP plant capacity was used with 10 IMET reactors to maintain sustained results.
While the effluent quality was maintained the required discharge quality, the bio-sludge production was at an extreme minimum. Over a 5 year period of operation using the IMET technology, no bio-sludge was disposed from the WWTP.
With such a significant achievement the City Manager, Mr. Serdar Yasa took the lead, presenting the IMET technology to visiting industrialists from the USA and India.
-
Due to the governmental changes within Izmir province the management of WWTP in Karaburun was transferred to greater Izmir municipality. As a result of this change the IMET system was removed 2012-2013. The decision was based on political reasons and not system performance.
Failing Septic Tank Remediation and Residential Septic Leach Field Rejuvenation
- Published in Onsite Installer
A century-old home in Northeast Ohio faced a failing three-tank septic system and clogged leach field, with standing wastewater and strong odors. The county’s recommended fixes (a large sand mound or clearing a mature tree lot for a new leach field), would have dramatically altered the property.
Instead, IMET installed a single drop-in aerobic module in the second septic tank in under three hours. Within six months the septic system and leach field were fully restored, eliminating odors and pumping needs while achieving effluent quality below 10 mg/L BOD and 5 mg/L TSS.
-
The homeowner had a failing septic tank and leach field in the winter at their historical century home in Northeast Ohio. The failing 3 tank septic system and the failing leach field were found with standing septage water and noxious septic odors due to plugged soil. The county suggested a sand mound or new leach field. These two options would either put a very large sand mound in front of the century home or force the homeowner to cut down a mature tree lot on the property. The homeowner did not want any of the proposed options.
-
The County Health Department invited IMET® to install its aerobic biological IMET® module which did not have state approval at the time, to demonstrate complete remediation of the existing failing septic system and leach field. The “drop in” IMET® module was installed directly into the second tank of the septic system in just under 3 hours. The IMET® system only requires immersing a module in the septic wastewater and connecting its diffuser to a small, quiet, energy efficient air pump.
-
Within 6 months after IMET® installation, the existing septic system was converted into a well-functioning septic system and reclaimed the leach field back to a highly functional state. In summary, the homeowner has since never needed to pump the septic tank and has never experienced any odor while having a lush green, dry lawn to enjoy. Grab samples from the distribution box showed BOD less than 10 mg/L and TSS less than 5 mg/L.
Eliminating Odor Complaints, Minimizing Pumping, Seeding Downstream Lines with Aerobic Microorganisms - Published by Pumper
-
A world class resort in the Caribbean had multiple 3-chamber grease interceptors that were causing significant H2S odor issues for guests. Additionally, the grease interceptors were needing to be pumped twice a month due to significant grease buildup in all three chambers and to prevent grease from consistently exiting into the downstream lines. The resort was receiving odor complaints from guests regarding both of it grease interceptors. The resort wanted to eliminate the odor complaints and significantly reduce its pumping and maintenance requirement.
-
IMET® Grease Modules (IGMs) were installed directly into each chamber of the two 3-chamber grease interceptors at the resort. Each installation was completed in under 2 hours as each IGM System consists of a module connected to a small, quiet, energy-efficient air pump.
-
Within one day of installing the IGM, the grease cake built-up in the grease interceptors was completely gone in the 3rd chamber (final) of the grease interceptors. The first and second chambers only had a thin layer of grease floating on the surface. Since the installation, the resort is no longer receiving complaints about stinky H2S odors from guests. Pumping is virtually eliminated as pumpers periodically only skim the surface of the first and second chambers of the grease interceptors. Downstream lines are no longer receiving FOG overflowing from the grease interceptor. Instead, IGM are seeding the downstream lines with aerobic microorganisms, keeping the lines free and clear of FOG buildup.
A Caribbean resort struggled with severe odors and frequent pump-outs from its three-chamber grease interceptors.
After installing IMET Grease Modules in each chamber, odor was reduced to negligible levels and grease accumulation dropped so dramatically that pumping was reduced to occasional surface skimming.
IMET® System Provides Complete Treatment Including High-Strength Waste from RV park - Published by Onsite Installer
A large RV park in northeast Ohio needed to replace a failing septic system while accommodating high-strength wastewater from dump stations, seasonal campsites, and park facilities.
An EPA-permitted wastewater treatment system was installed to treat the wastewater before dispersal through a drip irrigation system. The system successfully treats both the high-strength dump station waste and the park’s other wastewater streams, producing effluent suitable for soil absorption. The permitted treatment system is now fully operational and supporting the park’s seasonal campers.
-
A new owner of an RV Park in Northeast Ohio was challenged with replacing the existing outdated, failing septic system. The RV Park with peak loading of 258 seasonal campsites, 22 transient RV sites, and 24 primitive sites. The high strength black water waste was being serviced through an onsite dump station collection system. The showers, the manager’s home and the office were all being treated through the same system. The new owner was also tasked with planning for new, centralized lavatories and showers for the RV park to be connected to the new wastewater treatment system
-
The Potter’s Company, a northeast Ohio based company, designed a wastewater treatment system employing the IMET aerobic packed bed media biological reactors for complete treatment to discharge into a drip distribution system for soil dispersal. IMET reactors are first used to treat the high strength waste from the dump stations. Treated effluent from the dump stations is then mixed with the waste from the manager’s home, office, new lavatories and showers in a flow equalization system to manage peak loading. IMET reactors are then used to complete the treatment of the wastewater to levels below 30mg/l for safe soil absorption.
-
The EPA-permitted wastewater treatment system went into successful operation on February 6, 2025. The RV Park is open to seasonal campers and fully operational. On a recent visit to the site, dip samples were taken through the treatment train. See images in the photo to the right.
IMET Pre-Treats Camp Grease Interceptor and Seeds Downstream Septic System with Aerobic Microorganisms
At Chewonki (an internationally recognized environmental education nonprofit in Wiscasset, Maine), heavy grease loading from kitchen operations was overwhelming the site’s grease interceptor and septic system, creating thick bio-solids buildup and frequent pumping needs.
IMET installed two aerobic biological modules directly in the grease interceptor, rapidly breaking down fats, oils, and grease while seeding the downstream septic system with beneficial aerobic microbes. Within two days the heavy FOG layer disappeared, and since installation in 2021 the interceptor has sustained no FOG build up and required no pumping, while septic tank pumping frequency has been reduced by 50%.
-
Chewonki, an Internationally recognized environmental education non-profit focused on nature-based education and stewardship in Wiscasset, Maine wanted to reduce or eliminate pumping frequency of its grease interceptor and the downstream septic system while also lessening loading to its leach fields. The grease interceptor was sending significant Fats, Oils and Grease (FOG) to the septic system creating a very thick and hard build-up of bio-solids when mixed with the black and grey water, resulting in a thick bio-solids mat that was hard to pump out.
-
IMET® installed 2 aerobic biological modules directly into the grease interceptor to pre-treat the grease interceptor waterbody before discharging to the three-tank septic system. The IMET modules installed also began to seed the downstream septic system with aerobic microorganisms.
-
Within two days of installation, the thick FOG layer in the grease interceptor was gone, with only translucent milky water remaining. Since IMET installation in 2021, the grease interceptor has sustained no FOG build up and has not required any pumping. The downstream septic tank, seeded by the IMET system has had its pumping requirement reduced by 50%. The camp is very happy with the results and is planning to install 6 IMET modules in the three tank septic system to provide complete treatment before effluent water is discharged to the leach field.