The on-site survey that grounds every design — measuring flows, sampling effluent, and capturing space, services and access constraints.
Process Consultation — in depth
Good design starts with good data. Our site survey captures the real picture — actual and peak flows, representative effluent samples, available footprint, power, drainage and access — so the proposed solution fits the site, not a generic template.
What matters in practice
Average, peak and diurnal flow patterns.
Representative grab/composite samples for analysis.
Footprint, head, power, water and drainage.
Delivery, craneage and installation constraints.
| Item | Why | Method |
|---|---|---|
| Flow data | Sizing | Meter/estimate |
| Samples | Characterisation | Lab analysis |
| Footprint | Layout | Measured |
| Services | Connections | Site walk |
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Read MoreReynolds & Bauhm designs and delivers process consultation solutions backed by process engineering and performance guarantees.
Fundamentals, design drivers and practical guidance
The on-site survey that grounds every design — measuring flows, sampling effluent, and capturing space, services and access constraints.
Sound process consultation de-risks a project before capital is committed, working through site survey, effluent characterisation, feasibility study and budget estimating. The sequence exists to replace assumptions with data: what the site can physically accommodate, what the effluent actually contains, which process routes can meet consent, and what each will realistically cost to build and run.
Effluent characterisation is the foundation — a representative sampling and analysis campaign capturing not just averages but the variability, peaks and shock loads a real plant must tolerate. Designing to an average alone produces a works that fails on the bad days; characterising the distribution is what lets the design carry genuine margin where it matters.
The feasibility study then screens candidate process routes against consent, footprint, operability and cost, narrowing to a preferred option with a defensible basis. Budget estimating attaches a realistic capital and operating cost to that option at the appropriate class of accuracy, so investment decisions rest on engineering rather than optimism, and the site survey confirms access, services, levels and constraints that shape what is buildable.
What our engineers assess on every scope of this type
| Parameter | Typical basis | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Operability | Whole-life view | Avoids a plant nobody can run |
| Risk | Assumption register | Carried forward into design |
| Characterisation | Representative sampling | Captures variability, not just mean |
| Site survey | Access/services/levels | Defines what is buildable |
| Feasibility | Route screening | Narrows to preferred option |
| Estimate | Defined accuracy class | Sound investment basis |
Common questions on process consultation
Because designing to an average misses the peaks and shock loads that actually break a plant. Site Survey & Data Gathering relies on a representative campaign capturing the distribution and variability, so the design carries margin where it is needed.
A screened comparison of candidate process routes against consent, footprint, operability and cost, narrowed to a preferred option with a documented, defensible basis for the decision to invest.
Early estimates are produced to a defined accuracy class appropriate to the information available, and the basis and assumptions are stated, so decision-makers understand the confidence behind the figure rather than treating it as fixed.
Access, services, ground levels and physical constraints determine what can actually be built and how it connects. Confirming them early in Site Survey & Data Gathering prevents designs that are elegant on paper but impossible on site.
Our expertise spans multiple industries with sector-specific water treatment solutions.
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Send your influent analysis and our engineers assess your process and recommend a tailored treatment solution — free, confidential and no obligation.
Select the regulatory standard for your country — it sets which parameters we need for a compliance-aware process assessment.
Required parameters for the chosen standard are flagged on the sample form. You can still submit a partial set and we will advise what else to test.
Your sample is stored against your company so we can track the project. Provide a company name or email as a minimum.