---
title: Estimating Costly Sludge Hauling at Harnett County
description: University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida uses sludge thickening centrifuge to eliminate 50% transportation surcharge
---

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# [Estimating Costly Sludge Hauling at Harnett County](https://www.centrisys-cnp.com/case-studies/estimating-costly-sludge-hauling-at-harnett-county)

 Written by [Sample HubSpot User](https://www.centrisys-cnp.com/case-studies/author/sample-hubspot-user) | Jun 15, 2026 9:26:50 PM

## Replacing sludge lagoons with decanter centrifuges to reduce disposal costs and restore operational control at a dual-facility water system in North Carolina.

Industry: Municipal Wastewater & Water Treatment  
Location: Harnett County, NC  
Application: Sludge Dewatering — Lagoon & Alum Sludge  
Equipment: (2) CS26-4 Decenter Centrifuge Systems   
**Scope: **New Installation Replacing Sludge Lagoons  
Installed: April 2020

**KEY CHALLENGES**

- $80,000/MG sludge disposal cost
- 2–3% TS incoming sludge — both facilities
- No operational flexibility with lagoon-only approach
- Dependent on hauler availability for sludge removal Limited control over a critical plant process

THE CHALLENGE

Harnett County operates two facilities: a 42 MGD Water Treatment Plant (WTP) producing alum sludge and a 16 MGD Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) handling lagoon sludge. For years, both facilities relied on sludge lagoons as their primary management method — but the operational and financial consequences were mounting.

Disposal costs had reached $80,000 per million gallons of sludge, with no relief in sight. More pressing was the lack of operational flexibility: the county depended entirely on the availability and willingness of hauling contractors to remove sludge. When haulers were unavailable or capacity was tight, the facility had no alternative — leaving operators with little control over a critical process.

<https://www.centrisys-cnp.com/hs/cta/wi/redirect?encryptedPayload=AVxigLJmMDtzxZI5UjkKniZbi4J2sdlECEgKaxT3xkZm9DtV%2FpMajURxdzzuYy8Xv0HGd0Z%2BgaW8SBtk%2FAe%2FwYl0CC0AASzn%2BqpG%2FYWnuqffv2J%2BrpoUlnwj2dyfzfVmurtZGWLQYnirK%2FCGA45uiJj7r6LKFDdqnIXyV45KR8edckZv5QauOxC9hDdO412lpU%2B32YkiZBg96czu7PW7ZL4%2FAPYrUEMcZg%3D%3D&webInteractiveContentId=200326046013&portalId=4299619>

THE SOLUTION

Rather than defaulting to the nearest equipment supplier, Harnett County’s operations team took a deliberate approach. They traveled to Centrisys/CNP headquarters in Kenosha, WI to evaluate the manufacturer directly — touring the facility, reviewing centrifuge systems in operation, and assessing the company’s ability to provide service and support across the full lifecycle of the equipment.

What they found was a manufacturer that understood their specific application: processing both lagoon sludge from a WWTP and alum sludge from a WTP, each with its own feed characteristics, required a centrifuge system with proven versatility and a service team capable of supporting both. Two Centrisys decanter centrifuges were installed in April 2020 — one at each facility — each sized for approximately 225 gpm feed capacity. The facilities typically run 8–9 hours per day, five days a week, processing sludge on a predictable, operator-controlled schedule.

THE RESULTS

- **WWTP**: Processed 73+ MG of lagoon sludge
- **Feed**: 2–3% TS in g 25–26% cake out
- **Feed**: 1–2% TS in g 24–25% cake out
- **Schedule**: 8–9 hrs/day, 5 days/week — fully operator controlled
- **Service**: Annual Centrisys inspection under service contract
- **ROI**: The facility paid for itself within 2.5 to 3 years due to the savings in disposal costs and the savings continue into the future.

[View full post](https://www.centrisys-cnp.com/case-studies/estimating-costly-sludge-hauling-at-harnett-county)

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