The industrial waste water treatment is separated into 3 main phases, each phase being more or less advanced and complex depending on the nature of the effluent to be treated and the discharge standard in force.

Phase 3: Sludge Dewatering and Removal

At the exit of the settling tank the biosolid sludges are directed to a dewatering device.

The most commonly used technology is belt filter press which removes the water content from the sludge cakes:

Source: Flush Gordon

Semi-solid sludge can be treated as a waste and incinerated or as a fertilizer if their organic content has some relevant agronomic value.