Managing Low and High Flow Specialty Wastewater with OxyShark®
May 22, 2025
Managing Low and High Flow Specialty Wastewater with OxyShark®
The McFadden Engineering team has developed OxyShark®, a multi-celled, fixed-film bioreactor, capable of handling hundreds of thousands of gallons of wastewater per day. The system can accommodate virtually any flow rate to meet the unique needs of a customer. Continue reading to learn more about the system, its applications, and the patented process.
Facilities that produce specialty wastewater face significant challenges due to chemical contaminants that traditional systems can’t handle. In rural areas, where access to municipal sewers is often lacking, the problem is even more pressing. These situations demand custom solutions that enhance existing wastewater treatment processes while supporting sustainability and operational efficiency. In industrial applications such as food processing, breweries and pharmaceutical production, treatment is necessary to meet regulatory and POTW limits.
OxyShark®: A Specialty Wastewater Solution
OxyShark® treats wastewater for discharge, reuse (e.g., washdown, cooling, landscaping), or regulatory compliance without hazardous chemicals, relying solely on beneficial bacteria and oxygen. This approach minimizes environmental risk and eliminates the cost of chemical treatments.
How It Works
For waste streams with pathogens or complex organics, OxyShark® offers a modular, multi-stage system. Additional pre- or post-treatment steps such as settling, clarification, filtration or chemical dosing can be added to suit specific needs. Ozone may also be applied in the final stage to remove odor, color and pathogens. These integrations maintain high efficiency without slowing operations.
Supporting Global Water Sustainability
Industrial and human activities pollute much of the world’s freshwater. Standard wastewater contains organic matter, nutrients, pathogens and toxins—all requiring treatment before safe discharge or reuse. OxyShark® uses biological processes: anaerobic digestion followed by aerobic treatment, along with nutrient removal and disinfection via ozone or UV.
Water recycling and conservation are key to global water security. Recycled water supports ecosystems, reduces the demand for freshwater, advancing a circular water economy and long-term sustainability.
OxyShark® is designed to be a versatile technology across specialty wastewater treatment needs and has delivered effective wastewater treatment solutions across a range of industries, from car washes to landfill management.
How OxyShark ® Can Work for You: Case Studies
Rich’s Car Wash
Car washes consume large volumes of water, leading to high utility costs and pressure on local water infrastructure. Rich’s Car Wash faced rising costs for both water use and wastewater disposal through the municipal system. OxyShark® provided a tailored solution capable of processing up to 20,000 gallons per day with a wastewater strength of approximately 140 mg/L BOD₅. The custom system not only met operational needs but also offered cost-saving benefits, enabling Richs to manage water more efficiently and sustainably.
Landfill Condensate Treatment
Landfill condensate presents variable and challenging water chemistry. To ensure treatment effectiveness, OxyShark® conducted lab analyses and treatability studies. The goal was to reduce BOD₅ levels to below 1,000 mg/L for discharge to the sanitary sewer and to evaluate the feasibility of reclaiming the treated water for onsite reuse, such as in cooling tower operations. These efforts demonstrated OxyShark®’s flexibility in handling complex waste streams and meeting regulatory standards.
McFadden Engineering’s team of water and wastewater experts specializes in providing environmentally sound solutions to solve unique civil and environmental engineering needs. Visit the OxyShark® website for more information or contact our team today to inquire about how the OxyShark ® system can serve your specialty wastewater needs.