Dairy wastewater treatment system and method

A method of treating dairy wastewater comprising:

• receiving a dairy wastewater stream at a first pH from a dairy processing facility at a first equalization tank;
• receiving a first portion of an acid feed stream into the first equalization tank;
• receiving a first portion of a caustic feed stream into the first equalization tank;
• receiving, at a second equalization tank fluidically coupled to the first equalization tank, a first equalization tank outlet stream comprising the dairy wastewater stream, the first portion of the acid feed stream, and the first portion of the caustic feed stream;
• receiving a second portion of the acid feed stream at the second equalization tank;
• receiving a second portion of the caustic feed stream at the second equalization tank;
• receiving, at a pump in fluidic communication with the second equalization tank, a second equalization tank outlet stream at a second pH, the second equalization tank outlet stream comprising the first equalization tank outlet stream, the second portion of the acid feed stream, and the second portion of the caustic feed stream;
• receiving, at a pump outlet stream comprising the second equalization tank outlet steam, a third portion of the acid feed stream therein to form a mixture with a third pH that is less than the first pH;
• receiving the pump outlet stream and the third portion of the acid feed stream at a pipe reactor;
• receiving a cationic coagulant feed stream at the pipe reactor;
• receiving a flocculation feed stream at the pipe reactor, wherein a pipe reactor outlet stream comprises the pump outlet stream, the third portion of the acid feed stream;
• the cationic coagulant feed stream, and the flocculation feed stream;
• receiving the pipe reactor outlet stream at a dissolved air flotation (DAF) unit;
• and
• outputting a liquid stream at a final pH from the DAF unit.