Sludge is drawn from the thickeners and the sludge storage tank, conditioned with a polymer (as an aid in the dewatering process), treated with an odor control chemical, and then pumped to the three belt filter presses (10) for dewatering. The dewatered sludge (approximately 20% solids) called “sludge cake” is pumped to the sludge cake storage bin where it is mixed with outside customer sludge cake.