When Bristola was founded, it wasn’t just about building better technology. It was about solving a real problem, one that CEO Jared Burma knew firsthand. After decades in the wastewater treatment industry, Jared saw the risks, inefficiencies and staggering costs tied to traditional tank cleaning.

So he built something better.

Today, Bristola delivers one-of-a-kind, remotely operated solutions that allow for true online tank cleaning — meaning systems stay fully operational while being cleaned. No shutdowns. No draining. No humans in tanks. And no compromises.

Our Core Markets: Renewable Natural Gas and Beyond

Our largest market share is in renewable natural gas, especially anaerobic digesters used on dairy farms, food waste processing facilities and other waste-to-energy operations. These facilities can't afford downtime. Yet traditional tank-cleaning methods require full shutdowns and human entry — an expensive, dangerous and inefficient process.

"We started in anaerobic digesters because there simply wasn’t a safe or practical way to clean them without taking the system offline," Jared says. "That's where Bristola came in."

But Bristola’s impact goes well beyond digesters. We serve:

  • Municipal wastewater systems, including clarifiers, holding tanks, aerobic digesters and biosolid tanks
  • Clean drinking water tanks for cities and townships that require sediment removal without risking contamination or shutting down service
  • Oil and gas and chemical facilities, where process tanks, wastewater systems and lagoons require careful cleaning under stringent safety protocols
  • Food and beverage processing plants, cooling towers, lagoons, and industrial pits

In short, Bristola can serve any facility with a liquid storage apparatus that requires sediment removal, regardless of shape, size or contents.

What Makes Bristola Different

Plenty of companies claim to offer "online" cleaning, but here's the truth: If your tank is shut down or your process is interrupted, it's not truly online.

Bristola is the only solution that:

  • Keeps tanks 100% operational during cleaning
  • Requires zero human entry
  • Uses explosion-proof, submersible and remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) deployed from a safe zone (Zone 2 or 3)
  • Maintains tank pressure and integrity with no roof removal or structural modifications

"Our clients should barely know we were ever there," Jared explains. "The tank stays online. The product keeps flowing. And the solids come out. It’s that simple."

The Safer, Smarter Alternative

Traditional tank cleaning exposes teams to confined-space entry risks, explosion hazards (especially on rooftops) and often weeks of costly downtime. Many companies underestimate the true cost of cleaning — from lost production to equipment wear, worker exposure and emergency repairs.

Bristola helps eliminate all of that. By operating externally and deploying ROVs through a sealed entry, we reduce safety exposure, maintain uptime and deliver long-term cost savings. On average, clients see a 50% cost reduction over traditional cleaning methods when factoring in downtime, labor, risk and operational losses.

"Say there’s a six-month-old tank with 12 feet of sediment in it, and the client is planning a roof removal and total shutdown,” Jared says. “That approach could turn into a $900,000 project with six to eight weeks offline. Our system could keep them running the whole time.”

Beyond Anaerobic Digesters

One of the biggest misconceptions about Bristola is that we only serve anaerobic digesters. The truth? We can help anyone with a tank.

"If it holds liquid and gets sediment buildup, we can clean it — without taking it offline or sending people inside," Jared says. That includes covered and uncovered lagoons, municipal tanks, process tanks, wastewater systems, and more.

We encourage operators and engineers across all sectors to think beyond traditional methods and explore a safer, more efficient path forward.

The Bristola Standard

We know every facility is different. That’s why we tailor each solution to your site, your tank and your operational needs. We meet strict industry safety protocols, work within tight footprints and deliver results with minimal disruption.

"The biggest value we bring is peace of mind," Jared says. "You’re not risking your people, you're not losing production and you're not throwing money away. We bring a smarter solution."

Have a tank that needs attention? Contact us to learn more about our industry-specific solutions.