VOL. 1 NO.

22 PAGES 48
SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2021, Rs. 100

rd
3 ANNIVERSARY
ISSUE

WASTEWATER 360˚
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Rethink

www.smartwww.in | SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2021 1

CONTENTS SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2021 VOL 01 | ISSUE 22

08 12 15 16 19

20 23 24 26 28

30 33 34 36 38

40 42 44 46

C O V E R S T O R Y> >

WASTEWATER 360°:
REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE, RETHINK

INSIDE

04 EDITOR’S NOTE
06 IN THE NEWS
08 ADVERTORIAL: TOSHIBA SUPPORTS INDIA IN FIGHTING WATER CRISIS
11 COVER STORY: WASTEWATER 360° - Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Rethink
47 SUBSCRIPTION FORM

www.smartwww.in | SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2021 3

EDITOR’S NOTE

MAYUR SHARMA | EDITOR

mayur@smartwww.in 3rd ANNIVERSARY FOCUS: WASTEWATER
@SmartWWW_IN And we are back! After a long gap, we are now sharing our comeback magazine issue with
all of you. And without any hesitation, we opted for “Wastewater” as the central theme of
this 3rd Anniversary Issue.
“We forget
that the water
We have carefully selected, curated and presented some of our most widely read and
liked content shared by our panel of expert authors and wastewater consultants on this
subject matter.
cycle and the The wastewater treatment services market size, as per the latest reports by Markets and
life cycle are Markets, is estimated to be USD 53.0 billion in 2021 and is projected to reach USD 71.6
one
”
billion by 2026, at a CAGR of 6.2% between 2021 and 2026. The growing population,
- Jacques Cousteau expanding manufacturing industry, urbanization, and regulatory requirements are the
major drivers of the wastewater treatment services market. Initiatives by manufacturing
industries and state bodies for low waste generation and growing awareness about new
water treatment technologies are some of the factors which are likely to boost the wastewater
treatment services market. The Development Bank of Latin America (CAF) estimated that
over the period of 2010-2030, USD 80 billion will be spent on sewerage infrastructure
and USD 33 billion on wastewater treatment, they indicate. The APAC comprises major
emerging nations such as China and India. Hence, the scope for the development of most
industries is high in this region. The wastewater treatment services market is growing
significantly and offers opportunities for various industries. The APAC region constitutes
approximately 61.0% of the world’s population, and the manufacturing and processing
sectors are growing rapidly in the region. The APAC is the largest wastewater
treatment services market with China being the major market which is expected
to grow significantly, in their opinion. These rising disposable incomes and
rising standards of living in emerging economies in the APAC are the major
drivers for this market.
Some other experts suggest that while the market is being driven by
rapid industrialization leading to an increased demand for wastewater
treatment services, the Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) initiatives, and
stringent environmental regulations; the high cost of wastewater treatment
technologies may hamper the market at some point of time in the future.
This is where the latest cutting-edge technologies and their careful
implementation come into the picture.
In our current issue, we have tried to take the holistic view of the wastewater
market and the available wastewater treatment and management options
for the Municipal as well as the Industrial organizations. As always, your
suggestions and inputs are welcome.
Our next issue (November-December 2021) will be focused on the
“Innovations In Municipal Water Market and Utilities”. Do share your
contributions and opinions with me.

Beyond Expectations PRINT PRODUCTION Vol. 01, No. 22, September - October
Smart Water and Waste WorldTM Printcom 2021
Copyright © 2018
PRINTER AND PUBLISHER Printed and Published by Shailesh Ramaswamy
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FOUNDER & CEO Beyond Expectations, Printed at M/s. Supriya Print Art, world. Reproduction in any manner,
Kailash Shirodkar 143, Pragati Industrial Estate, 316 N.M. Joshi Marg, electronic or otherwise, in whole or in
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4 SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2021 | SMART WATER & WASTE WORLD

SMART WATER & WASTE WORLD

OXYMEM™ AMONG WINNERS OF £36M WATER

BREAKTHROUGH CHALLENGE
In the News
SWWW Staff, USA
Limited OxyMem™ MABR technology will be used in the Anglian Water Triple Carbon Reduction project, named as one of
the nine winners of Ofwat’s Water Breakthrough Challenge, sharing in £36 million to deliver wide scale, transformational
change to benefit customers, society, and environment. Run by Ofwat and Nesta Challenges, in partnership with Arup,
this is the second competition delivered under Ofwat’s £200 million Innovation Fund.
OxyMem™ Commercial Director John McConomy commented, “OxyMem™ MABR technology is reshaping how
wastewater treatment plants may be designed going forward. Water treatment professionals will gain valuable insight into
how wastewater can be effectively and safely treated and returned to the environment using significantly less energy and
lower greenhouse gas emissions than traditional treatment systems. As N2O emissions are ~300 times more harmful than
CO2, reducing this emission using MABR technology could have a profound impact on the environment and help tackle
climate change.
The 9 winning initiatives will receive up to £10 million each to tackle the biggest challenges facing the water sector -
from reaching net zero, to protecting our natural ecosystems, to using open data to deliver value to customers, society,
and the environment.

GRUNDFOS UNVEILS AN
EKKI CELEBRATES 40 YEARS OF
INNOVATIVE DRINKING WATER
PUMP MAKING WITH LAUNCH OF
& DISPENSING SOLUTION
A NEW CAMPAIGN SWWW Staff, India
Mayur Sharma, India Grundfos
has
EKKI has launched unveiled an
a global campaign innovative
called “40+Into drinking
the Golden Era” water and
celebrating the dispensing
company’s 40- solution in
year anniversary, Delhi. This
showcasing affordable
key moments solution
of pioneering consists of
progress intelligent
throughout the past 4 decades starting from Deccan to EKKI pumps that controls a membrane treatment system and a dispenser
since 1981. The campaign begins marking 40 years since the that provides clean and safe drinking water.
company’s founder P. Arumugam along with his uncle KK Grundfos also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)
Veluchamy and friend MS Sundaram started making pumps in with TATA Projects to cooperate and explore projects jointly in the
1981 under the Deccan Brand. area of environment, sustainability and water. This will be done
Group Founder Arumugam P, CEO of Deccan Pumps and through cooperation and joint ventures in the areas of technology,
EKKI said, “EKKI has evolved in 40 years from making pumps identification of market and joint business development. This MoU is
for Indian Agriculture to Cutting edge water technologies aligned to the ongoing Green Strategic Partnership between Denmark
for Germany. Company owes all its progress to its founding and India. This partnership is highly important in times like these -
members, employees, suppliers, JV partners and dealers.” where both countries are focusing on expanding economic ties, green
In 1981, the group began making pumps under the DECCAN growth, and cooperation on global challenges such as climate change.
brand, followed by creation of EKKI which acquired Deccan The Hon’ble Prime Minister of Denmark, Mette Frederiksen and
Pumps Pvt Ltd in 2013 and rebranding itself as one “EKKI Danish Ambassador to India, H. E. Freddy Svane were present during
Water Technology Group. The 40+ campaign looks to the the signing of the MoU. They were joined by senior delegates from the
future, exploring how EKKI continues to shape the water Danish and senior leaders from both TATA Projects and Grundfos.
industry with pioneering innovations that address some of The Grundfos solution is currently housed within a 20-feet
society’s most critical issue of access to clean water to all. container, to provide drinking water to 2,000+ constructions workers
and staff in Delhi.

6 SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2021 | SMART WATER & WASTE WORLD

 IN THE NEWS

WABAG DECLARES Q1 STORMHARVESTER JOINS WESSEX

FY 21–22 RESULTS WATER IN BIGGEST EVER AI
Mayur Sharma India WASTEWATER NETWORK ROLLOUT
VA Tech WABAG Ltd has announced its financial results for the SWWW Staff, UK
quarter ended 30th June 2021. The sales and profitability numbers
are: Q1 Order Intake of Rs. 1,448 Crore, consolidated Revenue of
Rs. 658 Crore; up by 52% from Q1 FY 21, consolidated EBITDA of
Rs. 40Crore; up by 39% from Q1 FY 21, consolidated PAT of Rs.
15Crore; up by 200% from Q1 FY 21, standalone Revenue of Rs.
469 Crore, standalone EBITDA of Rs. 26 Crore, and standalone PAT
of Rs. 10 Crore. The order book has over Rs. 10,400 Crore including
framework contracts with >3x revenue visibility.
Commenting on the results, Rajiv Mittal, Managing Director, VA
Tech WABAG Ltd said, “We have been witnessing continuous
improvement in the pace of business activities over the last few
quarters as the COVID-19 situation eases and this is the case in
Q1 FY 22 as well. The projects have picked up good pace and we
are confident of another year of profitable growth in FY 22. Our
order intake has started showing traction. Going forward, our order
pipeline looks strong.”

BOOMING HYDROGEN MARKET

HERALDS WATER TECHNOLOGY
OPPORTUNITIES
SWWW Staff, World
The hydrogen
economy is
at the start
of a period of
growth, with
the size of the
global market
predicted to
UK water company Wessex Water is joining forces
be as much as
with award-winning artificial intelligence company
US$12 trillion by
StormHarvester in a world first to expand the use of AI to
2050, according
detect blockages across its entire wastewater network. The
to the latest research. As part of global decarbonization efforts,
deployment follows a successful trial in May 2020 and will
hydrogen is expected to emerge as an alternative fuel. Given
be the most extensive to be rolled out in any wastewater
water is main feedstock for hydrogen production, the boom in
network in the world.
hydrogen market presents a range of opportunities for water and
Following this successful trial, Wessex Water has confirmed
wastewater businesses, a report from BlueTech Research has
it will deploy StormHarvester’s AI technology across its entire
found.
network over the next three years, as part of its commitment
The EU anticipates investment of up to €470 billion (US$557B)
to continue providing high standards of sewerage services to
into hydrogen production and infrastructure by 2050, with annual
its customers and the environment. The expansion will cover
capital expenditure of US$200 billion. However, the report notes
nearly 35,000 km of sewers and wastewater generated from
that while there is a global agenda to push for green hydrogen,
2.8 million people.
there are concerns about the amount of water and renewable
“This is the biggest commitment ever to deploy AI in
energy needed.
wastewater networks, not just in the UK, but globally”, said
BlueTech Research chief executive and founder Paul
Brian Moloney, StormHarvester’s Managing Director.
O’Callaghan summed up the findings of report, “After years of
Artificial intelligence is a booming industry, with the global
research and development, anticipation and slow market growth,
smart water sector alone predicted to be worth more than
the hydrogen economy is beginning to take off, fuelled by the
US$97 billion by 2030.
pressing global agenda to decarbonize.”

www.smartwww.in | SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2021 7

ADVERTORIAL

TOSHIBA SUPPORTS INDIA IN

FIGHTING WATER CRISIS
I
n India, demand for water is projected at twice the available supply
by 2030, pointing toward severe water scarcity, made more acute by
rapid urbanization that has led to increased water pollution.
The Government of India has announced several initiatives to ad-
dress the water crisis. The Union Budget 2021 allocated an outlay of
Rs. 2,87,000 crores for the Jal Jeevan Mission, which aims at universal
water supply in all 4,378 Urban Local Bodies, as well as liquid waste
management in 500 AMRUT cities over the next five years.
Toshiba is an industry expert and India’s long-term partner in build-
ing sustainable water and wastewater infrastructure. Toshiba has an
unwavering drive to make and do things that lead to a better world. We
address water scarcity and water pollution problems, and are commit-
ted to provide solutions that support clean water supply and improve
the water environment.

Under the Indian government’s “Clean Ganga” initiative, TWS is

Mr. Tomohiko Okada, Managing Director, Toshiba India Pvt. Ltd.
states, “Clean water and sanitation facilities protect people from dis-
ease and are crucial for a sustainable economic growth. We are actively
using our technologies to ensure environment sustainability and we
will be happy to further utilize our strengths in providing water and
wastewater treatment solutions and support the Indian government’s
aims to address the water crisis.”
Toshiba has headquartered its subsidiary, Toshiba Water Solutions
(TWS), here in India as a core company for Toshiba’s water and waste-
water treatment business. Since its establishment, TWS has executed
over 450 engineering, procurement & construction (EPC) and Opera-
tion & Maintenance (O&M) projects in 35 countries.
involved in projects in three states, for the construction of ten sewage
treatment plants (STPs). In Bihar, TWS was recently awarded its sixth
STP project, raising the combined capacity to 151 million liters per
day (MLD). In Uttar Pradesh, it is engaged in construction of two STPs
with a capacity of 18MLD and laid down a 380km sewerage network.
In Jharkhand, TWS is involved in two STP with a combined capacity of
12MLD.
Earlier in June, recognizing Toshiba’s efforts in developing ‘Quality
Infrastructure’ in India, TWS’s Salori STP project in Uttar Pradesh was
bestowed with the Japan Construction International Award by Ministry
of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) of Japan.
Even during the testing times of the COVID-19 pandemic, TWS,
in partnership, received an order from Bangalore Water Supply and
Sewerage Board. The project covers the design, construction, and
commissioning of a 775MLD water treatment plant (WTP) at T.K. Halli,
Karnataka. This project is part of Phase 3 of the Bengaluru Water Sup-
ply and Sewerage Project which is funded by the Japan International
Cooperation Agency (JICA).
Toshiba is harnessing its knowledge and expertise to offer a multi-
tude of water and wastewater management solutions, and looks for-
ward to working together with more partners in India FOR A NEW DAY.
For more details:
Toshiba India Pvt. Ltd. - www.toshiba-india.com
Toshiba Water Solutions Pvt. Ltd. - www.toshiba-water.com

8 SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2021 | SMART WATER & WASTE WORLD

COVER STORY

The most authoritative bi-monthly magazine

on water & waste industry.

please contact Kailash at

kailash
10 APRIL 2020 | SMART WATER & WASTE WORLD
+91 90044 12910
COVER
COVER
STORY
STORY

WASTEWATER
360˚

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Rethink

www.smartwww.in | APRIL 2020 11

COVER STORY
INNOVATIVE FILTER MEDIA FOR THE WATER
INDUSTRY
The high-tech meshes increase ecological and economic efficiency.
W
hat started back
in 1932 with the
invention of the
5-Heddle Atlas Weave by
technical weavers GKD - Gebr.
Kufferath AG (GKD) is currently
enjoying a new highlight
with the Porometric meshes.
Unsurpassed anywhere in the
world in terms of cleaning,
flow rate, dirt holding capacity,
and service life, the three-
dimensional structure of this
filter medium is revolutionizing
municipal and industrial
water treatment operations.
Whether for filtering out
microorganisms, preparing
service and process water for
use in industrial circuits, or
producing freshwater: GKD has
been making a key contribution
to the ecological and economic
efficiency of wastewater
12 SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2021 | SMART WATER & WASTE WORLD
By GKD - Gebr. Kufferath AG
treatment plants for many
years with high-tech filter
media such as its Porometric
mesh.
It all started with the idea
of developing a filter medium
which does not actually do
the filtering itself, but rather
transfers this task to the filter
cake on the surface of the
mesh. It marks the beginning
of GKD’s success story as a
creative solution partner for
the municipal and industrial
water industry. The 5-Heddle
Atlas Weave developed back
then - also known under the
name Tela - is still in use in
the water treatment sector
to this day. As an expert in all
kinds of filtration tasks and
a development partner in
numerous research projects for
sustainable water treatment,
GKD is in demand worldwide.
The company’s broad product
range forms the basis for this
leading position in the fields of
process water, ballast water,
and wastewater filtration.
High-performance meshes,
mesh laminates, and filter
elements with filtration rates
from 6 to 1,000 μm, as well as
an unusually broad range of
weavable materials regularly
set new standards in the field
of water treatment. Whether
designs produced from high-
grade stainless steel with 24
μm pore size for micro sieving
or ballast water filtration,
weaves produced from
saltwater-proof materials such
as Monel (2.4360) or Super
Duplex (1.4410) with 35 μm
pores, or maritime material
combinations with pore sizes
WASTEWATER 360°
of 20 μm: the meshes are
designed to handle specific
processes and offer tailor-
made resistance to corrosion,
chloride ions, and heat. GKD
employs experimental and
computational simulation
methods to select the optimum
design from its diverse
portfolio of products, materials,
filtration rates, and flow rates
for the specific customer and
application. During continuous
further development of the
meshes, the filtration experts
focus in particular on pore
geometry as a way of adjusting
the flow rate, mechanical
stability, and performance
of the woven structures to
new requirements. Thanks to
the close networking of the
engineering, development, and
production departments
COVER STORY
The 5-Heddle Atlas Weave Developed in 1932 is Still in Use in the Water Treatment Sector to This Day.
under one roof, GKD regularly
creates new and innovative
weaves - special fabrics with
exceptional characteristics for
groundbreaking key applications
in the water treatment sector.
Beside municipal wastewater
treatment operations, sectors
that already rely on these
filter media also include
the automotive, chemicals,
household appliance, food,
leather, and paper industries, as
well as fish farms, golf courses,
power plants, quarries, mining
companies, and shipping
enterprises.
Design-Based Edge for
Greater Flow Rate and
Selectivity
In these challenging
environments, two mesh ranges
have been shown to deliver
particularly high-performance
thanks to their special designs:
Optimized Dutch Weaves and
Porometric Weaves. Optimized
Dutch Weaves (ODW) achieve
pore sizes in line with the
German Institute of Mechanical
Process Engineering (IMVT)
with selectivity from 6 to 100
μm. Maintaining the same
aperture, their mesh design
with slot-shaped pores on the
mesh surface and larger pores
within the mesh significantly
increase the flow rate. A low
clogging tendency, coupled with
high permeability, mechanical
strength, a high dirt holding
capacity, and good cleaning
characteristics make the
single-layer mesh the key
success factor in numerous
exacting processes. This range
of properties is, for example,
in great demand in the field of
ballast water filtration, where
Optimized Dutch Weaves with
filtration rates of 50 μm or finer
make a key contribution to
achieving the requisite process
efficiency. The mesh type has
also been in use and proven
over many years as preliminary
filtration in municipal
wastewater treatment. New
versions with filtration rates
in the micro-filtration range
combine the same high flow
rate with extreme separation
rates for large-scale water
treatment. With its woven pore
size of 5 μm, this mesh type, for
example, minimizes the entry of
microplastics into urban waters
by filtering the outlet water
from sewage plants. Compared
with the Optimized Dutch
Weaves typically used here,
which employ a pore size of 20
μm (ODW 20) and are already
considered high-performance,
ODW 6 reduces the solid
content in the outlet water by
50 percent. As such, the solid
content of two milligrams per
Optimized Dutch Weaves from GKD Achieve Pore Sizes in Line with the German
Institute of Mechanical Process Engineering (IMVT) with Selectivity from 6 to 100
μm.
www.smartwww.in | SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2021
WASTEWATER 360°
liter of dirt load when using disc
filters fitted with ODW 20 is
reduced to just one milligram
per liter of dirt load when
using ODW 6 at the same flow
rate. Despite their excellent
separation rates, the pores in
the ODW 6 boast excellent
mechanical stability. This is
thanks to the significantly
higher number of stainless steel
wires on the surface.
3D Structure for
Extreme Efficiency
With the Porometric range of
meshes - a further development
of Optimized Dutch Weaves
- GKD has added yet another
chapter in the history of
pioneering innovations for
water treatment. Boasting pore
sizes from 13 to 1,000 μm,
these high-tech weaves are
also suitable for a large number
of treatment processes in
the water industry. Its three-
dimensional slit structure
with over 80 percent porosity
increases the flow rate by up
to 40 percent over Optimized
Dutch Weaves. At the same
time, the woven 3D structure
also delivers a further improved
dirt holding capacity, meaning
that the number of cleaning
cycles can actually be reduced
despite the increased filtration
performance. The excellent
cleaning characteristics of
13
COVER STORY
Optimized Dutch Weaves
and Porometric mesh were
also scientifically certified
in independent comparative
studies performed by
the Karlsruhe Institute
of Technology (KIT).
Demonstrating complete filter
cake discharge at the lowest
backwashing rate and residue-
The Excellent Cleaning Characteristics of Optimized Dutch Weaves and Porometric Mesh were Scientifically Certified in Independent
14 SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2021 | SMART WATER & WASTE WORLD
free regeneration, Porometric
filter media delivered by far the
best results of all metal and
synthetic meshes tested at the
KIT. The benefits associated
with the 3D structure employed
by Porometric mesh deliver
excellent process efficiency,
particularly in ballast water
filtration applications. The
Comparative Studies Performed by the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT).
higher flow rate achieved in the
same size filter is ideal for all
applications where space is at
a premium. The refined particle
retention also reduces costs in
the downstream UV treatment
process. All saltwater-proof
Porometric designs - whether
material combinations or
produced from metals such
WASTEWATER 360°
as Monel and Super Duplex -
have PREN values in excess
of 40. They surpass all other
filter media available in the
market for ballast water
treatment in terms of cleaning
characteristics, flow rate,
and particle retention. This
range of properties has helped
establish Porometric meshes
as the leading filter media for
reliably complying with the
D2 Standard that is stipulated
globally by the International
Maritime Organization (IMO), as
well as gaining the significantly
stricter U.S. Coast Guard
(USCG) certification.
About the Contributor
GKD - Gebr. Kufferath AG (As
a privately owned technical
weaver) is the market leader in
metal, synthetic and spiral mesh
solutions. It’s four independent
business divisions bundle
their expertise under one roof:
Industrial Mesh (woven metal
mesh and filter solutions),
Process Belts (belts made of
mesh and spirals), Architectural
meshes (façades, safety and
interior design made of metal
fabrics) and Mediamesh®
(Transparent media façades).
Its headquarter is based in
Germany and it has five other
facilities in the US, South Africa,
China, India, and Chile - as well
as its branches in France, Spain,
Dubai alongwith worldwide
representatives.
COVER STORY WASTEWATER 360°

FILTER MEDIA OPTIMIZES TREATMENT FOR

NORWEGIAN FISH FARM
An onshore fish farm in Norway has introduced a new type of filter media to
reduce the size of the MBBR required in its water treatment process. Warden
Biomedia’s Managing Director, Mark Barrett explains the advantages.
m3, a water treatment
system, a feeding
system, an energy
system for temperature
control and a plant
for the treatment and
handling of sludge.
The water treatment
system integrates
two-step particle
separation, a Moving-
Bed Biofilm Reactor

N
(MBBR) for removal
orwegian water
of Total Ammoniacal Nitrogen
treatment company
(TAN) and a two-step carbon
Sterner AS focuses
dioxide removal process.
on recirculation aquaculture
Warden Biomedia’s Bioflo
systems (RAS) for fish farming.
filter media was selected for
Over the last year, the company
use in the MBBR because
has constructed a RAS
Sterner AS wanted to reduce oxidation of TAN into nitrate healthy biofilm.
treatment plant for an onshore
the volume of the planned nitrogen (NO3-N) could be It is ideal for use in biological
fish farm owned by fishing
reactor. By replacing the optimized. reactor technologies such as
and aquaculture specialist
standard biofilm carriers, which Nitrifying biofilms are thin MBBR, RAS and Integrated
EidesvikSettesfisk AS.
have a specific surface area and the bacteria grow slowly, Fixed-film Activated Sludge
The RAS plant comprises two
of 650 m2/m3, with a higher so the risk of the media (IFAS) systems. When
15m fish breeding tanks, each
surface area media, the rate of clogging up is low. Having a compared to conventional
with a water volume of 780
high protected surface area filter media, Bioflo reduces
is desirable to ensure high the necessary MBBR tank
biomass concentrations. It was volume and size, lowering civil
decided that Bioflo, which has a engineering costs.
10.5 mm width and a protected Sterner AS and Eidesvik-
surface area of 800 m2/m3, was Settefisk AS say they are
the most suitable filter media pleased with the results of the
from Warden’s range for this installation.
application. Sverre Amrani, Technical
Bioflo is a durable, rugged Sales Manager, Sterner AS
and highly efficient media said, “Selecting the right media
designed to provide a large is never an easy task. With
protected surface area for the Warden’s extensive knowledge
biofilm and optimal conditions of, and expertise in, filter media,
for bacteria culture growth. we were able to select the
The media’s large apertures most appropriate media for this
allow wastewater to pass freely, plant. With their help, we have
which helps maintain a thin and been able to meet our targets.”

www.smartwww.in | SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2021 15

COVER STORY
ENERGY-SAVING BLOWERS AND COMPRESSORS
FOR WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANTS
When it comes to performance and energy-efficiency, the turbo blower has all
the answers.
Introduction
Throughout the wastewater
treatment industry compressed
air blowers play a significant,
but a costly role where there is
a need for a constant supply of
high pressure clean, moisture-
free air. Typically multi-
stage centrifugal blowers
consume large quantities
of power, are of a complex
construction that leads to
high maintenance costs,
emits high levels of noise,
and in some cases is harmful
to the environment.
Fortunately, there is an
alternative technology that
16 SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2021 | SMART WATER & WASTE WORLD
By Bryan Orchard
addresses these issues, this
being the turbo blower. When
it comes to performance and
energy-efficiency, the turbo
blower has all the answers.
One of the world’s leading
exponents of this technology
is Neuros, whose
systems are
available from
AxFlow Finland.
“ Turbo blower
and compressor
technology uses tried, tested
and reliable a third-generation
bump foil air bearing which is
oil-free and non-contact, so
lubrication and maintenance
is not required,” explains Vesa
Kauramaa, Product Manager,
AxFlow Finland. “This results in
lower vibration from the rotor
during operation.”
The proven durability and
endurance of the Neuros NX
Series turbo blower has been
demonstrated through 25,000
starts; equivalent to more
than twenty years’ lifetime
in a typical operation. “The
four key components of
the NX series are:
the aerodynamic
impeller, the non-
contact air bearing,
the PMSM and
Variable Flow Drive
(VFD),” continues
Vesa Kauramaa.” All
these components
are cooled using a
patented blower
inlet, so there is
no heat emission
from the blower
to its immediate
environment.”
The combination of
the highly efficient
impeller, air bearing
and Permanent
Magnet Synchronous Motor
(PMSM) guarantees the highest
performance as well as being
eco-friendly and user-friendly
WASTEWATER 360°
(Figure 1). The PMSM has high-
efficiency and power factor
in excess of 95% for high-
speed operation. This operates
the blower with negligible
mechanical loss during
operation thanks to the rotor
of motor and impeller being
directly coupled.
Wastewater
Applications
The largest operating base for
the turbo blower lies in water
and wastewater treatment,
and this is growing. Globally,
this industry is embracing
cost-effective, reliable
and technically superior
aeration blowers which,
through their deployment,
will achieve significant long
term operational cost savings.
Activated Sludge (AS) is a
central process in wastewater
treatment with the process
involving running sewage liquor
into deep tanks containing
diffuser blocks fixed to the
floor. Air is blown through
the blocks and the bubbles
produced oxygenate and
the liquor and provide the
necessary stirring action. The
flexibility of the blower system
is crucial to the performance
of the aeration tank because
plants need to handle a wide
variation in the load. Neuros
high-speed turbo blowers fitted
with variable flow drives enable
the aeration to be adjusted as
COVER STORY
necessary.
Examples of where
Neuros blowers have
made savings in the
wastewater treatment
industry are to be
found all over the world
(Figure 2). “At one
major international
city where there was
a requirement to
treat approximately
25 million gallons
of wastewater each
day, aeration systems
were used to provide
oxygen for the
biological processes
and mixing to keep
solids suspended
for more effective
treatment,” explains
Vesa Kauramaa.
He continues:
“In the city’s water
reclamation facility
five constant-speed
multistage blowers
made up the baseline
of the plant’s
aeration system.
Several combinations
of the blowers
typically operated
simultaneously to
satisfy varying wastewater flows
because multistage blowers
themselves offered very little
turndown. A desire to achieve
a more flexible and energy-
efficient blower operation
instigated a measurement and
verification monitoring program
which led to the installation of
a Neuros high efficiency 300
HP turbo blower with a variable
frequency drive.”
Enhanced Performance
Leads to Energy-
Savings
The large size and precise shape
of the impeller and diffuser
combined with an optimum
specific speed maximizes
the efficiency of the turbo-
machinery. Manufactured from
forged aluminum alloy, the
impeller’s structural integrity
is verified by a spin test at
a rotational speed of 120%,
whilst a hard-anodized coating
improves corrosion resistance
and durability.
Non-contact air bearing
utilizes the dynamic pressure
of air-fluid. Comprising a
corrugated bump foil and high-
temperature inner foil, a thin
film of air is created when the
rotor spins and this provides a
cushion between the bearing
surface and the shaft (Figure
3). The compressed air is one
hundred percent oil-free, so
there is no requirement for
lubricating oil or maintenance.
The VFD conserves energy by
controlling the rotational speed
of PMSM in order to adjust the
discharge pressure and flow
rate in a wide operating range to
accommodate customer needs.
These components all
contribute to Lower Lifecycle
Costs (LCC) through energy
savings and low maintenance
costs. When compared with
a conventional blower, the
Neuros NX can deliver energy
costs between 30 and 50%
lower; maintenance costs that
are 70% lower; and installation
costs that are 50% lower. It is
www.smartwww.in | SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2021
WASTEWATER 360°
worth noting that
the Neuros turbo-
compressor can save
customer between
50 and 70% of
energy in applications
that require a more
flexible operation
with the air pressure
of 120-250 kPa
by replacing
conventional
compressors which
produce 700-1,000
kPa. And if that
were not enough,
the two-stage
filtration system
protects the electrical
and mechanical
components and
increases their
efficiency.
“For this
wastewater
treatment plant,
the new blower was
optimally sized to
independently satisfy
air requirements of
the plant for most
of the first year,”
says Vesa Kauramaa.
“Calculations
indicated that that
the new turbo blower would
consume 1,123,062 kWh/
year compared to the baseline
energy consumption of
1,834,548 kWh/yr. The savings
achieved a 39% reduction in
energy consumption, with an
astounding final payback of
0.8 years, when combined with
available incentives for the
customer. Based on the results,
another blower was ordered to
phase-out the remaining multi-
stage blowers that were used at
peak demand and as stand-by.”
Opportunities for All
Plants
Applications for the Neuros
17
COVER STORY
turbo blow are not restricted
to large plants. At a smaller
site, the wastewater activated
sludge aeration system was
consuming about 38% of the
total electricity. After studying
the energy consumption,
operation flexibility and
controls of the existing
blowers versus various newer
technology blowers, a decision
was made to replace the
existing system with Neuros
turbo blowers. The goal was to
reduce the annual energy costs
by upgrading the entire aeration
system, including matching
airflow to oxygen demand
which would result in overall
lower energy use.
At the time the plant had two
constant speed multi-stage
centrifugal blowers and one
positive displacement blower
with a VFD. One multistage
blower ran 24/7, delivering
18 SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2021 | SMART WATER & WASTE WORLD
a maximum of 3,800 CFM
throughout the year. The
manually controlled positive
displacement blower operated
for 1,800 hours for 12 months
and generally ran between 65
and 95 percent speed. The two
multistage centrifugal blowers
were six-stage units and had
a maximum of 3,800 ICFM at
a discharge pressure of 8.00
PSIG, consuming 167 BHP.
These blowers used an inlet
throttling valve which limited
the operator’s ability to control
the blowers and adjust the
airflow to the required DO and
influent wastewater quality
(ammonia levels).
Neuros was selected as
the equipment manufacturer
and eventually supplied two
NX150-C060 turbo blowers.
Once up and operating,
the turbo blowers provided
better load matching due to
WASTEWATER 360°
their smaller size. Their wide 400,000 kWh, leading to a
turndown range gives the plant reduction in energy bills by over
operational flexibility that was USD 30,000,” concludes Vesa
not previously possible. The Kauramaa.
ability to control the blowers’
airflow in combination with the About the Author
newly improved DO sensors is Bryan Orchard is a UK-
dependent on the DO levels in based technical journalist
the aeration tanks. In addition, who specializes in the water/
the blower control based on wastewater treatment fluid
influent wastewater quality handling technologies.
using the recently completed The KSB Group is one of the
ammonia sensor feedback loop leading producers of pumps,
results in less airflow needed valves, and related service
to satisfy system requirements offerings. Its annual sales revenue
and contribute to the overall is almost Euro 2200 million.
aeration system efficiency and
cost savings.
“At this plant Neuros
blowers’ energy-efficiency
and a more closely matched
airflow to DO demand, along
with the performance of the
new sensors and improved
process control, reduced the
energy consumption by almost
COVER STORY WASTEWATER 360°

DIGITAL TOOL HELPS UTILITIES OVERCOME

SLUDGE PUMPING CHALLENGES
A sophisticated software developed by BHR Group is already helping water
utilities analyze their sludge pumping systems and reduce costs.

measurement. sized it could significantly

Mick Dawson,
Consultancy Director,
BHR Group said,
“Water companies are
being challenged to
optimize their existing flow required. SLOT 2.0 gives
facilities in the next
asset management
period, AMP7, which
starts on 1 April 2020.
Whether users are
moving sludge within
a treatment facility or
between sites, SLOT
2.0 can help calculate
impact the purchasing and
operating cost of the process
system - increasing total
investment for no discernible
return or failing to deliver the
the user and utility multiple
benefits, but at its core is the
reduced risk of asset failure.”
Beta testing of the software
has been undertaken by a
combination of water utilities
and contractors including
NMCN, Sweco, and DPS.
Dawson concludes, “The

S
LOT 2.0, which is
underpinned by BHR’s
world-leading sludge
rheology database, can
calculate sludge flow properties
and behaviors, frictional pipe
pressure losses and system
curves. The software can also
identify the most effective
pumps to use on a given
system - selecting the optimal
size, type, quantity, and
configuration, right down to the
manufacturer.
Legislative changes and
restrictions around sludge
disposal to land has changed
the nature of the sludge being
processed by wastewater
treatment plants - with sludges
becoming ever thicker and the
volumes growing at most sites.
Novel sludge types are also
emerging from new processes,
such as thermal hydrolysis, and
their rheological profile cannot
be predicted using existing data.
To meet these multiple
challenges, SLOT 2.0 - short for
System LOsses Tool - has been
developed to help utilities know
their sludge better. Users can
predict sludge rheology based
on type, temperature and the
proportion of dry solids.
They can quickly compare
results for different rheological
properties and possible
combinations of pipework,
pumps and components;
plotting system curves against
pump curves to determine
optimum pump-operating
points.
SLOT 2.0 can be used to
make calculations for newly
designed systems and for
existing systems that require
upgrading. Investment
decisions can be made based
on analysis of whole-life
costs and combined capital
and operational expenditure,
including carbon impact
how much energy is
development of SLOT 2.0 has
required, which pipes
been a major investment of
and pumps offer the greatest
time and resource for the team
efficiency and whether a system
here at BHR Group. Feedback
has the capacity and resilience
from our beta testers has
to manage changing sludge
been very encouraging and we
properties.”
believe this technology will raise
He added, “Assets for sludge
the game on sludge processing
transport and treatment are
expensive to buy and operate, across the water industry. It’s
especially with the capital cost great to see people using it and
of pumps and the energy they starting to capture the benefit.”
consume.
In addition,
they are
often
expected
to operate
at a wide
range of flow
rates and
conditions.
“If the
system
and its
components
SLOT 2.0 Helps Utilities Correctly Size Pumping Assets Which can
are wrongly Bring Down Costs and Reduce the Risk of System Failures.

www.smartwww.in | SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2021 19

COVER STORY
COMBATING NIMBY CHALLENGES
A BIG question always remains - where should a wastewater
treatment plant be located?
Introduction
The city has decided to build a wastewa-
ter treatment plant so that they can get
rid of septic tanks throughout the city
which are overflowing or contaminating
the groundwater/ aquifer by percolation
and seepage. The current situation is so
bad it is causing potential industries and
commercial enterprises to rethink if they
should consider moving into town with
no adequate facilities for the wastewater
generated by them and consider another
location for its operations. Every day, the
city is in news that its wastewater overflows
are contaminating the environment and
polluting the once-pristine stream running
in the middle of town providing recreational
facilities to its citizens. The citizens are up
in arms for its poor record on environment.
Now comes a series of questions. What
type of plant should it be? What technolo-
gies should the plant use? What should be
the capacity of the plant? Where the mon-
ey for its design and construction would
come from? Would it require legislation for
passing user fees and how the citizens will
20 SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2021 | SMART WATER & WASTE WORLD
By Madan Arora
accept these charges? And the list goes
on and on. Perhaps, a good, experienced,
and competent consulting firm can assist
the city in addressing all these issues.
But a BIG question remains. Where
should the plant be located? Everyone will
say NIMBY i.e. NOT IN MY BACKYARD.
Everyone associates a wastewater treat-
ment plant with odors, chemicals with
possible health effects, noise caused by
machinery, traffic resulting from trucks
moving in and out, tanks sticking up and
visually obtrusive, plain concrete and/
or steel structures, and overall unaes-
thetic appearance. All these issues, if
not addressed properly, will undoubtedly
degrade the neighborhood and adverse-
ly affect property values. True or False?
All these concerns can be reasonably ad-
dressed by a competent and environmen-
tally conscious consultant team. The team
needs to have good and competent process
engineers; architects; landscape architects,
civil, structural, mechanical engineers; plan-
ners; environmentalists; public- relations
experts; and civic-minded professionals
WASTEWATER 360°
on board. A modern treatment plant can
be and should be a good neighbor to the
adjoining residences and enterprises-com-
mercial as well as industrial, if applicable.
This article contains some exam-
ples where most of these concerns
existed but were addressed to the sat-
isfaction of concerned neighbors.
Plant Name
No one wants to have his/her home near a
wastewater treatment plant, regardless of
how well the plant is designed and is aes-
thetically acceptable. But calling it by a dif-
ferent name could mitigate that concern.
Consider naming it WATER RECLAMATION
PLANT or WATER CONSERVATION PLANT
or WATER RECYCLING PLANT or WATER
FACTORY. This could mitigate, if not elim-
inate, that concern. Sometimes, it could
simply be a perception issue which can be
addressed by giving the facility a different
“catchy” name. Most plants in the U.S. to-
day are renaming their facilities with such
names. A plant in Orange County, California
named their plant as WATER FACTORY 21.
The Layout
A good layout can often be helpful in public
acceptance of the project. For example:
• Locate the plant downwind of resi-
dences and other concerned neighbors
• Keep some buffer between
residences and the nearest
plant facility (say 500 ft).
• Build odorous facilities farthest
from residences (i.e. headworks)
• Cover and/or house the odor-caus-
ing facilities, provide necessary
ventilation and air scrubbing
Selected Processes
Selection of treatment processing, among
other factors, should consider which pro-
cesses are less amenable to generation of
odors. For example, membrane bioreactors
(MBR), by virtue of their smaller footprint,
maybe a better treatment process than
conventional activated sludge. In small
size plants, with MBRs, it may be possible
to eliminate primary clarifiers which often
generate more odors than other process-
es at the plant. A similar criterion can be
used in the selection of sludge handling
processes. This may involve not using
gravity sludge thickeners, using centrifug-
es or screw processes with integral covers
instead of belt presses, as an example.
COVER STORY
The Odors
This is often a major concern. How can
a wastewater treatment plant not cause
odors? This is what the citizens have always
believed in. And they probably are right.
They have, likely, visited some old plant
designed at a time when either the odor
was not an issue (remote location perhaps)
or the technologies to confine and treat
odors were not available. Now, the waste-
water professionals understand both the
chemistry of odors as well as the means
to confine and capture odorants and treat
them. There are several technologies that
have been developed - both proprietary and
non-proprietary - that can reduce odors to
levels barely discernable by humans.
Wastewater Professionals now fully
understand the chemistry of odors - sul-
fides, mercaptans, etc - and therefore know
how to treat them by chemicals and/or
biologically. Owners and operators of some
plants still prefer chemical scrubbers due
to their past experience. These scrubbers
use sodium hydroxide and sodium hypo-
chlorite or other oxidants sprayed from the
top through nozzles into foul air moving
upwards through tall towers filled with
some inert media to provide sufficient con-
tact surfaces between the chemicals and
the foul air. The chemicals oxidize hydro-
gen sulfide and other odorous compounds
producing innocuous by-products. How-
ever, most modern plants are opting for
biological scrubbers due to the facts that
(a) no chemicals are required thus reduc-
ing the carbon footprint of their plant, (b)
these are not as tall, thus have lesser visual
and obtrusive impact, and (c) these can
scrub nearly all odor-causing compounds -
whatever their origin - if properly designed
with adequate residence time unique to the
nature of odorants to be removed. In fact,
these scrubbers can be designed to be aes-
thetically pleasing - even underground or
sticking a couple of feet aboveground and
mildly landscaped at the top. The media
can be compost, wood-chips, bark, peat,
lava rock, or any combination of the above
materials. For sensitive neighborhoods,
these scrubbers can be followed by an
adsorption scrubber using activated carbon
as the adsorption media for final polishing.
If the owners prefer chemical scrub-
bers, they usually will be tall (10 to 15
ft) but can be hidden behind an ar-
chitecturally designed wall facing the
neighbors. In exceptional cases, the
wall can have a nice mural painted on
it to enhance appearance (Figure 1).
The other issue, of course, is how to
confine, capture and transport odors to
the site of the scrubber(s). That is eas-
www.smartwww.in | SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2021
WASTEWATER 360°
FOCUS ON PUBLIC
RELATIONS AS WELL...
Today, it is as important to have
a good public relations program
for acceptance of the project by
citizens as are other elements of
the project - technical, financial,
etc. The consultant or the owner
should have an experienced and
competent PR firm on the team.
This firm should understand the
technologies that the plant will
use, the odor-causing potential of
these technologies, and ways in
which this important issue was
addressed in other plants in which
the team was involved in the past.
Concerned citizens should be given
tours of these plants by members
of the PR team so that they are
comfortable with the technologies
being proposed. Their comments
should be heard and addressed in
design and layout of the plant. In
other words, these citizens should
become a part of the “selling” team
that promotes the need, location,
design and other elements of
the plant to other citizens and
interested groups in the community
who were not able to attend these
tours and/or otherwise skeptics.
Board and agency members,
who are somewhat skeptical about
the project, should also be invited
to attend these tours so that
their concerns are also assuaged.
Everyone should be encouraged
to ask questions during these site
tours and raise concerns. Never
show by words, actions or body
language that we, the technocrats,
know it all and the concerns are
invalid and/or stupid. Remember
questions are never stupid: answer
can be and should not be.
This should not be a one time
undertaking. The visits should be
arranged as often as required with
the same or different groups of
people and could include members
of Rotary Club(s), Lion Club(s),
School Board(s) and others who
likely have an impact on the success
and outcome of the project.
All these ideas were successfully
used in the 3 plus billion dollars
Clean Water Program in the City
of San Diego, California in mid-
1990s. The program involved
construction of three green-field
water reclamation plants, several
miles of reclaimed water distribution
system to provide reclaimed water
for landscaping and other industrial
uses, and pumping stations.
21
COVER STORY
ily done by enclosing and/or covering
the odor-causing processes, withdraw-
ing the foul air by fans, and transport-
ing it to the scrubber(s) in HDPE ducts,
laid underground or aboveground.
There are several plants where these
technologies have been usedsuc-
cessfully in the U.S. and abroad.
Another remedy, which has been used
at some plants, is to use a masking agent,
often a fragrant chemical or perfume that is
pumped via a small diameter piping sys-
tem - usually half inch to 1 inch diameter
in size - often attached to the fence or the
boundary wall, around the periphery of the
entire property or only around a portion
of the property which faces the con-
cerned neighbors. The perfume is pumped
and sprayed through suitably designed
and spaced nozzles when the odors are
prominent - say on windy and hot days.
Build a Model
To promote good public relations and
improve public perception and image of
the project, it will be wise to build a ta-
ble-size three-dimensional model of the
entire plant with all the facilities shown
on it. It should be to scale so that the
inter-relationships of different compo-
nents of the plant are the same as they
would be on the full-scale project when
built. The model should be prominently
displayed in an appropriate place and used
to explain different features of the plant
to the visitors and concerned citizens.
Aesthetics and Neighbor-
hood Compatibility
The plant should not degrade the
neighborhood. This can be accom-
plished in a number of ways:
• The buildings associated with the
project should match the buildings in
the surrounding neighborhood - archi-
tecturally and in material(s) selection.
• Sometimes, the fencing can be an
eyesore. It could be made of wrought
iron or other suitable material compat-
ible with the surrounding community.
A plant designed by this author used
white picket fencing to give a barn-like
appearance to the plant to blend with
the existing and planned community
around the plant. At this plant, called
Rancho Las Virgenes Solids Handling
Facility, owned and operated by the Las
Virgenes Municipal Water District in
the Greater Los Angeles area, build-
ings were designed with clerestories,
cupolas and dormers, to blend with
the neighborhood. Roofs of the build-
ings were pitched, sloped and shaped
to give character when viewed from
homes situated above the plant. At
the above plant, tanks were buried to
the extent possible to reduce visual
impact. High-profile equipment such
as odor control towers received siding
and special treatment to give the
22 SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2021 | SMART WATER & WASTE WORLD
appearance of farm silos.
• Natural terrain should
not be scarred to the
extent possible if the
existing terrain is pleas-
ing. Structures built in the
project should blend in.
• Too often, treatment
facilities are laid out in
straight lines and pushed
together, resulting in the
appearance of an indus-
trial facility. This should
be avoided. Structures,
if possible, should be
off-set, rotated, and
separated to provide a
more open appearance.
The bottom line is to be con-
scious and appreciative of the
needs and concerns of the
neighbors and build facilities
that are compatible with
their homes and businesses.
Landscaping and Area Lighting
The importance of good landscaping
and area lighting cannot be over-em-
phasized. Lighting should be soft and
must not produce glare to the residents
at night. Use bollards with lights along
walkways - about 3 ft in height. Light
should point downward, not outward.
Neighbors want to sleep at night and not
be bothered by looking at bright lights.
Similarly, landscaping, featuring trees and
natural vegetation, should be used liberally
to soften the appearance of the treatment
facility. Another plant designed by this au-
thor used all the surplus earthwork gener-
ated by excavation to build an 8 to 10 foot
tall berm around the entire project property
and landscape it with drought-resistant na-
tive bushes, shrubs and plants (Bakersfield,
California). This satisfied the existing neigh-
bors and the planned community nearby.
A plant located in the Los Angeles area,
owned and operated by the City of Los
Angeles- Tillman Water Reclamation Plant
houses a beautiful Japanese Garden on
its property (Figure 2) which is regular-
ly visited by tourists and has become a
sought-after place for holding wedding
ceremonies and receptions. Recycled water
produced at the plant is used for irrigation.
Another advantage of the plants is that
they mask the residual odors if they still
prevail despite all the odor control facilities
incorporated in design. Additionally, they
enhance the appearance and neighborhood.
The Noise
This is another concern that the plant
design must address. Equipment with
low decibel ratings should be selected
(e.g. high-speed turbo bowers instead
of positive displacement or multi-stage
centrifugal blowers). The buildings which
house such equipment (blowers, pumps,
etc) can have acoustic treatment done
WASTEWATER 360°
to the walls. In addition, many of these
equipment come with their own acous-
tically designed enclosures which could
be used on the project if possible.
Out of all the perceived and real nui-
sances, noise probably is the easiest to
handle. Trips to the existing plants, dis-
cussed above, can mitigate this concern.
Conclusions
Public acceptance of the water reclama-
tion plants is extremely important. If not
handled properly, an otherwise good project
can be derailed by citizens protesting and/
or litigating. Thus, this issue must be given
high, if not the highest priority by the
owners of the plant, engineers, consultants,
architects, and other engineering disci-
plines involved in designing these projects.
This artilce deals with issues that often
concern the public. The article also provides
insights with examples how these issues
were successfully handled in other projects.
All communities are different. And
so would be their concerns. But this
article highlights remedies that can
be applied - perhaps with modifi-
cations unique to each project.
About the Author
Madan Arora, Ph.D., P.E., BCEE, a Technical
Director at Parsons (a global engineer-
ing and construction company with its
corporate offices in Centreville, Virginia,
USA) has over 50 years of experience in
wastewater treatment and water reuse.
Dr. Arora has M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in
Environmental Engineering from Iowa
State University in Ames, Iowa and is a
registered engineer in the State of Cali-
fornia and a life member of the Academy
of Environmental Engineers and Scien-
tists. He is also a life member of the Water
Environment Federation (WE&F). Dr. Arora
has published extensively in national and
international journals and spoken at con-
ferences on water reclamation and reuse.
COVER STORY
SIMPLER BUT SMARTER INLINE ROTARY FINE
SCREENING AVOIDS BLOCKAGES, SHORT-
CIRCUITING MAINTENANCE AND OH&S ISSUES
CST Rotary Drum
A
dvanced wastewater
fine screening
technology being
introduced to SE Asia by
CST Wastewater Solutions
is engineered to curtail
blockages, spills, maintenance,
and associated OH&S issues
in public works WWTP
applications throughout the
region.
The robustly engineered
horizontal in-channel rotary
drum screening technology
is designed to simplify fine
screening processes and save
installation and operational
costs, says CST Wastewater
Solutions’ Managing Director,
Michael Bambridge.
The low-maintenance high
quality stainless steel design
features in-channel technology
for low fluid headloss at peak
flows to increase solids removal
efficiency compared with
typical screening at the diverse
wastewater treatment plants in
the region.
“Advantages of this
technology when dealing with
a fine screening of larger flows
(5 mm or finer screening on
flows up to 2000 l/sec flow)
include mechanical simplicity,
self-cleaning and high-
efficiency screening for reduced
maintenance and cheaper
whole-of-life costs compared
with other types of screens,
such as band and inclined drum
screen designs, for example”,
said Mr. Bambridge.
“These are very important
considerations when dealing
with plants that may be remote
from immediate technical
support where ongoing
reliability and simplicity of
cleaning are important from
engineering and environmental
perspectives”, said Mr.
Bambridge, whose international
and regional experience
includes both municipal and
industrial WWTP engineering
and green energy initiatives in
partnership with local suppliers.
CST Wastewater Solutions
has a number of successful
screening applications in
service in SE Asia, including
food and beverage and paper
industry applications, for which
the in-channel rotary drum
technology is also particularly
suitable.
Functionality
Key to this functionality is the
configuration of the design,
in which the screening drum
is installed horizontally semi-
submerged in line with the
incoming wastewater. The plate
at the back of the drum directs
flow radially through the mesh
to optimize solids separation
and self-cleaning.
The rotary drum is
manufactured from either
self-cleaning wedge wire
for primary screening or
perforated plate for fine Pre-
Membrane Bioreactor (pre-
MBR) screening. It is washed
by a system of spray nozzles at
moderate pressure.
An internal hopper collects
the screenings, which are
flumed out to the integral
lifting and dewatering screw,
to efficiently dewater and
reduce screenings volume.
The lifting screw is shaft-less
to avoid any blockages, even
in the presence of fibrous
products, and includes screen
and screening washing. Lifting
and screenings handling can
also be conducted outside
the channel, which increases
options for additional washing
and dewatering, according to
individual applications, says Mr.
Bambridge.
“Screening and the solids
lifting and dewatering are
separate operations, using high-
efficiency screening technology
to convert the high-flow,
low-solids wastewater to low-
flow, high-solids dewatering.
Separate screening and lifting
equipment makes access
simpler for more cost-effective
housekeeping and maintenance
for lower whole-of-life costs,”
he says.
Advantages of
Horizontal Drum Design
• Lowers operating depth
and range to reduce the
average screen velocities
for higher removal
efficiencies, and easier
cleaning than alternative
screens.
• Increases available open
area for equivalent
operating depth, which
enhances functionality.
• Robust construction
tailored to local conditions.
The one-piece, closed
drum is fully assembled in
a frame for installation into
www.smartwww.in | SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2021
WASTEWATER 360°
Michael Bambridge, MD
CST Wastewater Solutions
a channel. It incorporates
a simple, long-life, robust
inlet seal that can be
replaced without removing
all equipment from the
channel.
• All parts subject to
routine maintenance are
located above the sewage
flow, again simplifying
maintenance and reducing
OH&S issues.
• Screening and lifting
screw equipment are
proven, simple and robust
technologies. No bearings
or other high maintenance
moving parts are located
in the wastewater.
Housekeeping and servicing
are conducted from above
the flow channel. No
mechanical devices are used
inside the screen drum.
• Open entry for clean
collection of solids - no
rag wrapping, reducing
maintenance and OH&S
issues. The screen zone
of the lifting screw
incorporates a washing
system to reduce the
contents of faecal matter in
the screenings.
23
COVER STORY WASTEWATER 360°

DIGESTER MIXING SYSTEM INCREASES MAJOR

WASTEWATER TREATMENT CENTER’S BIOGAS
BY 20 PERCENT
mixing the whole tank and not just parts of
it. The solids content and characteristics of
the sludge is set up so that it determines
the operation time of each valve for
optimum mixing performance and energy-
efficiency.
Nicholas Menninga added: “With the
Landia GasMix there are no moving parts
inside the digester, so it is very easy to
maintain. By continuously reducing the
particle size, the low-viscosity sludge helps
Digester at Downers Grove Where the Landia Mixing System is Installed. reduce surface scum. This not only makes

A
t the multi-award-winning
Downers Grove Wastewater
Treatment Center in Illinois, the
Landia’s GasMix digester mixing system
has increased biogas production by
approximately 20 percent.
The enhanced mixing of the digester by
the externally-mounted Landia system has
also increased the destruction of volatile
solids from approximately 55 to 65 percent
VS destruction.
Two years on since it became the became
the first municipality in North America
to introduce Landia’s GasMix technology,
Downers Grove no longer has to flare off
any gas, achieving optimum mixing and the
lowest possible parasitic load from a system
Landia GasMix at Downers Grove
that runs for just 12 minutes per hour.
Downers Grove’s General Manager,
Nicholas Menninga, commented: “For our
primary digester, we’d had issues for years
with a compressor, which wouldn’t really
move the gas as we wanted it to. After
looking at several options as a replacement,
the Landia GasMix was the most cost-
effective option, and was a straightforward
retrofit”.
Installed on Downers Grove’s 4,60,000
gallon primary digester, the Landia GasMix
sees an external 49 hp Landia chopper
pump draw sludge from the digester,
reducing particle size before pumping
through an aspirating venturi nozzle.
The resulting vacuum sucks biogas down
from the headspace
of the digester as gas
is injected into the
liquid, mixing the sludge
vertically and preventing
a layer of scum or crust
forming on the surface.
A high-pressure
mixing nozzle then
injects liquid into
the lower half of the
digester, creating a
horizontal, rotational
mixing pattern that
prevents heavier solids
from settling, thus
the whole system run more efficiently but
significantly increases the volume of active
digestion and, therefore, the gas yields.
“From sizing up the equipment for
our primary digester to installation and
optimization, we’ve also had very good
support from Landia throughout,” he said.
The energy-efficient mixing solution,
together with the on-site generation of
electricity from a Nissen CHP unit (and
other energy-efficiency improvements),
has enabled Downers Grove Wastewater
Treatment Center to become 100 percent
net energy neutral.
The anaerobic digesters at the center
process a mixture of primary sludge, waste
activated sludge, and FOG co-digestion.
In addition to Downers Grove, the
Landia GasMix system has been installed
in numerous municipal and industrial
digesters all over the world, including
biogas plants using food waste and/or
agricultural slurries and other high-solids
feedstocks.
Landia supplies pumping and mixing
solutions to many different industries, with
the most important ones being agriculture,
wastewater, biogas plants, and the fish
industry. Landia’s headquarters are located
in Lem, Denmark since 1933. Today, Landia
has subsidiaries in England, Germany,
Norway and the US, and a sales office in
China. In addition, Landia products are sold
in 45 countries worldwide.

24 SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2021 | SMART WATER & WASTE WORLD

COVER STORY WASTEWATER 360°

UTILITIES URGED TO SHARE

DATA WITH THE SUPPLIERS
By sharing data with wastewater treatment equipment providers, water companies would
not only support the design, build and operation of their own plants, they could also
reduce costs and drive innovation. WPL’s Technical Director Andrew Baird explains that by
closer collaboration, utilities could get even more from their suppliers.

By WPL Ltd.

search project is at Petersfield

wastewater treatment works’
environmental technology field
station and is being carried out
in conjunction with Portsmouth
University. We are supporting
a three-year Ph.D. research
project examining the data
around energy consumption and
process efficiency in WPL’s Hy-
brid-SAF wastewater treatment ogy. By close collaboration from
technology. the outset, WPL was able to fully
The researcher is exploring

H
uge benefits are avail-
able to those water
companies prepared to
share data with the companies
designing their wastewater
treatment plants. By having
sight of specific site data ahead
of a project’s design, as well
as operational information
post-completion, manufactur-
ers and suppliers can ensure the
best system is installed and that
it is operating optimally.
The reluctance or inability of
some water companies to share
relevant data can hold back
progress. With Ofwat calling on
closer collaboration between
the utilities and supply chain in
AMP7, now could be the time to
review processes so compara-
ble data, such as final effluent
quality and power consumption
can be shared more easily.
As a design, build and install
company, WPL supplies waste-
water treatment equipment
and in most cases, treatment
plant design is based on theo-
retical criteria; usually generic
data that can be up to 20 years
old. If water companies made it
possible for designers to base
their designs on actual data, sig-
nificant savings could be made,
particularly around sizing and
power consumption.
Once a new treatment solu-
tion is in place, having insight
into how the process is oper-
ating, including flow and load
information and treated effluent
quality, would offer a number of
benefits.
From a product improvement
perspective, it would allow the
designers to make minor alter-
ations ensuring optimum perfor-
mance. In terms of research and
development, the information
could help shape the supplier’s
ongoing design work, enabling
further refinements to the tech-
nology offered to customers,
while driving innovation.
WPL’s biggest data-led re-
how much power could be
conserved at night when flows
are low. Could smaller blowers
be used? Information like this
has real value - if a blower half
the size could be fitted, signif-
icant savings could be made,
savings that water companies
are potentially missing out on
by not sharing their own power
consumption data.
A recent project with Welsh
Water opened up new opportu-
nities for collaboration when the
onsite operations team provided
practical feedback on WPL’s
conical settlement tank. WPL
subsequently redesigned the
outflow weir resulting in an in-
stallation that is easier to clean
and maintain.
Another example of suc-
cessful data sharing between
client and supplier is at Wessex
Water’s Sherborne wastewater
treatment works where existing
infrastructure was retrofitted
with WPL’s Hybrid-SAF technol-
understand the objectives of the
client, leading to a cost-saving
of 75% in capital expenditure.
Water quality data from the
first year of operation shows
that discharge from the plant
is well within the Environment
Agency’s permit. Ammonia lev-
els in the discharge effluent are
below the level of detection on
consent of 10 mg/l. Parameters
on biological oxygen demand,
turbidity, and temperature have
also been met.
WPL is still getting valuable
performance data from the
site, which is allowing the team
to look objectively at the next
steps. This really proves the
value of openness and collab-
oration. I would encourage all
utilities to consider working with
their supply chain in this way.
Ultimately, feedback and data
help companies improve their
products, which supports clients
in delivering long-term goals
- enabling the whole sector to
move forward.

www.smartwww.in | SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2021 25

COVER STORY WASTEWATER 360°

HOW BIG DATA ENABLES SMART COLLECTION

SYSTEMS AND PROTECTS WASTEWATER
TREATMENT PLANTS
Digitizing a city’s wastewater networks through AI starts with good data.

By Anne-li Steutel Maron

W
astewater networks performing complex operations
are perhaps the most such as in-pipe wastewater
undervalued part of network activity analysis. Two
urban infrastructure. While the types of Big Data are essential
majority of a city’s residents to providing effective intel-
and industry depend on them, ligence: historical data and
many people do not realize real-time data.
the work it takes to maintain Historical data refers to data
a sewer or the pressures that stored and saved by the utility
urban growth places on essen- and water organizations. This
tial wastewater systems. These data is collected from the
Increasingly centralized waste- network over a period of several
water services, where utilities years and can detail any num-
treat wastewater in a single, ber of water condition readings,
centralized location, can help such as temperature, flow rates,
provide for growing popula- or pH. This is used as a refer-
tions’ needs. ence directory, improving the
Digitization is essential for accuracy of network condition
delivering these centralized wa- reporting as the algorithms feed
(specifically advanced comput- then transformed into action-
ter collection services and sup- on this data to learn patterns
er systems). These processes able insights, enabling opera-
porting efficient urbanization. It and detect events that differ
include ‘learning’ (the acqui- tional teams to mitigate events’
allows networks to benefit from from the norm.
sition of information and rules effects, tracing them to their
online connectivity and man- Real-time data is driven by
for using that information), source, and reducing them by
agement platforms that feed on current activities in a net-
‘reasoning’ (using rules to reach detaining contaminants and
information (Big Data) and can work, measured by connected
approximate or definite conclu- educating users polluting the
handle data far more effective- sensors that record wastewater
sions), and ‘self-correction’. AI network.
ly than can human operators. quality parameters and transmit
tools are able to analyze data AI platforms need large
Commonly known as Artificial live situational reports to the
and recognize when network volumes of high-quality data
Intelligence (AI) systems, these cloud.
systems are experiencing high (Big Data) to function opti-
revolutionary processes have These two data types are fed
pollution loads. This analysis is mally, especially if tasked with
advanced the way wastewater to an online analytics platform
networks can be managed, run by AI systems that store,
helping to protect Wastewater analyze and present this infor-
Treatment Plants from damage, mation as operational insights.
maximizing process efficiencies Data cleaning and qualifica-
and enabling expanded water tion are important steps in the
reuse projects. process, as removing unreliable
Digitizing a city’s wastewater data improves insight and out-
networks through AI starts with put quality.
good data. To understand how Within AI systems, advanced
such a system is able to provide Machine Learning (ML) tools
operational wastewater intel- allow data to be analyzed and
ligence, it is important to un- correlated, and algorithms to
derstand Big Data, AI, Machine be built. The software itself
Learning, and their applications. can then detect abnormalities
AI systems replicate human and patterns. In a smart water
intelligence using machines management model, these

26 SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2021 | SMART WATER & WASTE WORLD

COVER STORY
tools are used to detect and
predict wastewater behavior.
ML processes ordinarily begin
with controlled data input and
operator instruction, allowing
the AI to recognize patterns in
datasets and the typical sig-
natures associated with target
processes. With time, the sys-
tem then begins to self-learn,
calculating ways to improve
processes automatically.
A smart water management
system that uses big data and
AI can provide wastewater
network operators with in-
sights into network conditions
in real-time. Kando’s Clear
Upstream smart wastewater
management platform is one
such system. Kando’s big data
analysis drives more focused
wastewater source control,
continuously optimizing
processes using live network
information. Sources identified
as systematically breaching per-
mits can then be approached
and managed.
Clear Upstream is a digital
solution that detects, traces,
and samples illegal and exces-
sive waste loads in the sewer at
an early stage and in real-time.
Delivered as a Service as a Solu-
tion (SaaS) package, the solu-
tion provides utilities and cities
with the internet of things (IoT)
measuring units that sample
wastewater flows automatically,
a web-based engine and the
Kando Methodology.
Once fueled with data, Kan-
do’s engine (the smart algo-
rithm) analyzes inputs, detects
when key metrics deviate from
predetermined norms and
notifies water management
teams with actionable real-time
network insights. The system
traces the exact discharge
source and initiates sampling
automatically to collect proof
of the suspected event. The
samples are then picked up
and sent to the lab for further
analysis. Once returned, the re-
sults of the lab tests are added
to Kando’s database to inform
the later analysis of similar
situations and enable enhanced
responses to future wastewater
contamination events.
Case Study
The Greek utility EYDAP pro-
vides a prime example of how
these Big Data driven systems
can protect a wastewater treat-
ment plant.
The Athens utility worked to-
modernize its wastewater mon-
itoring and real-time pollution
detection structure, turning to
Kando’s Clear Upstream for a
solution. The smart wastewater
management solution initially
deployed four IoT connected
sensing and sampling units
across EYDAP’s network; three
downstream of network collec-
tors and one close to a factory’s
wastewater outlet. This deploy-
ment method enabled users to
have comprehensive visibility
over a large area and detect
changes in wastewater quality
that may indicate contamina-
tion.
During a pollution event, the
WASTEWATER 360°
IoT sampler activated auton- take preventative steps to
omously, taking samples for protect wastewater treatment
laboratory assessment. The lab processes. Being able to detect,
results confirmed the contam- trace, track and pinpoint the
ination, but Kando’s algorithm source of the pollution allowed
indicated the source was a them to start a conversation
different factory than originally with the polluter generate
suspected. An IoT device was awareness and resulted in low-
relocated, aiming to determine ering the polluted loads in the
the source. network by 50 percent.
Following the unit’s redeploy-
ment, Kando’s
engine immedi-
ately detected a
polluted load and
correlated it to a
specific location.
A particular facto-
ry was pinpointed
and monitored,
with further
samples taken au-
tomatically during
subsequent
events. Sending
the sample to a
lab-confirmed
Clear Upstream’s
findings. After
this verification,
the utility was able to make About the Author
informed decisions, taking Anne-li Steutel Maron is a
decisive action to deal with the Marketing and Business Devel-
source of the problem and re- opment Strategist and joined
ducing contamination incidents KANDO in 2018. Before KAN-
drastically. DO, she worked for 10 years for
This case study highlights the Israeli Ministry of Economy,
the value of adopting AI-driven where she represented the
smart wastewater manage-
Israeli water and the cleantech
ment tools to achieve enhanced
industry in the Netherlands,
network operations. EYDAP was
and the USA. She holds a BA in
able to detect abnormalities
in their network and receive Communications and a Masters
insights that allowed them to in Public Management with a
make informed decisions and focus on water and cleantech.
www.smartwww.in | SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2021 27
COVER STORY
AERATION RECORD-BREAKER IN MONTROSE,
BRITISH COLOMBIA
The original aeration technology is probably the longest-lasting engineering of its type to
still be in working order in Canada.
I
n the Trail Times,
it was recently
reported that: “...
the Village of Montrose
has been successful
in its application for
funding under the
Infrastructure Canada
Grant Program for up-
grades to the Village’s
wastewater treatment
facility - a project that
will modernize the
56-year-old plant...”
Not that one should
be critical of a lo-
cal newspaper that
covers this village in
Southeastern British
Colombia (two hours
north of Spokane) - a
publication which
understandably knows
that its readers won’t
necessarily require
all the finer details of
a sewage treatment
plant. However, it didn’t
mention the fact that
Montrose’s original
aeration technology,
installed by Lakeside
Equipment...back in
1963...is still in opera-
tion - and is very prob-
ably the longest-lasting
engineering of its type
to still be in working
order in the whole of Canada,
North America, if not the world!
It was even further back in
1942 that Leon Simmons had
the idea of developing what was
then known as Woods Flats (an
area of about 220 acres) into a
retirement village for workers
from the nearby Cominco (now
Teck) smelter. In 1956, Woods
Flats was incorporated as a
28 SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2021 | SMART WATER & WASTE WORLD
By Lakeside Equipment Corporation
village, and - consistent with
so many historic connections
between Canada and Scotland-
was named after the Scottish
coastal town of Montrose,
which was once razed to the
ground by the Danes in the year
980.
In the late 1950s and early
1960s, raw drinking water in
Montrose BC came from a well
that was drilled by the mouth of
the Columbia River (that Beaver
Valley Creek flows into) but one
determined gentleman cam-
paigned for a water treatment
facility for his fellow villagers.
At first, his concerns fell on
deaf ears, but he formed a
committee, then ran for the
council - eventually becoming
mayor - during which time he
successfully secured a grant for
Montrose to have not only its
WASTEWATER 360°
freshwater treated but
for a sewer system too.
The man behind this
people power - and
the introduction of
Lakeside’s oxidation
ditches back in 1963
was one Martin Walsh,
whose son Mike, nearly
six decades later, is
now the current Mayor
of Montrose.
Amazing for How
Old it is
“At the time”, said
Mike Walsh, “the
installation was
state-of-the-art. All
this time later we
are going ahead with
an upgrade, but the
Lakeside equipment
is amazing for how old
it is - still working fine
after all these years.
My father pushed very
hard for Montrose
to have efficient and
long-lasting treatment
systems. Together
with his colleagues,
they certainly chose
wisely.”
He added, “When
the ‘race-track’ (now
known as the Lakeside
Closed Loop Reactor
(CLR) Process) was installed,
it was small of course for our
small village, but even then, it
was designed with room for ex-
pansion, which we took advan-
tage of back in 1980. We’ve had
no major problems at all. It has
just kept on working away.”
For most wastewater treat-
ment plants, Lakeside’s race-
track design with common wall
COVER STORY
construction has proved the
most economical option, but
over time, the reactor has been
developed to take on several
shapes, including the Folded U,
Concentric Multichannel - and
for small plants, a round pack-
aged design with an internal
final clarifier that offers the
lowest construction and equip-
ment cost.
The CLR Process form Illi-
nois-based Lakeside consists
of one or more reactors with a
single feed point for raw waste-
water and return sludge. The
basic design at Montrose uses a
simple racetrack configuration
that provides a straight-line
flow pattern for wastewater be-
tween the headworks and the
final clarifiers. At the core of the
CLR Process is the horizontal
Magna Rotor, which sustains a
high population of microorgan-
isms in the reactor to provide
simple process control. The
Magna Rotor provides precise
oxygen input into the biological
process through adjustment of
rotor immersion by raising or
lowering the level control weir
and by adjusting the rotational
speed.
Warren Kersten, Vice Pres-
ident of Lakeside Equipment
Corporation commented, “It’s
hard to put into words just how
proud we are as a company with
the longevity of this equipment
at Montrose. It was our first ox-
idation ditch installation - and
remarkably, it still has the very
original rotor aerators in use!”
Installation Back in
1963
He added, “I don’t mind saying
that this installation in a beau-
tiful part of British Colombia
has actually been in operation
much longer than most aera-
tion companies have been in
business! Since this inaugural
installation back in 1963, more
than 2,000 Lakeside systems
of this type have been intro-
duced to wastewater treat-
ment plants all over Canada
and the United States; equip-
ment designed and made here
in America. None are as old as
this one from the early sixties,
but there is a huge number that
have an incredible track record
and that are still going strong.
Our products are also very low
maintenance, but it is still a
massive credit to the operators
at Montrose that they clearly
take very good care of their
treatment plant equipment.”
With back up in this part of
Canada from Lakeside’s rep-
resentative, Promag Enviro of
Burnaby, the CLR Process is
not surprisingly known for its
very stable operation over a
wide range of influent flows and
organic loadings - designed to
minimize the time and effort
required to control or adjust the
system. Even in cold weather
conditions when micro-organ-
ism activity is decreased, the
www.smartwww.in | SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2021
WASTEWATER 360°
process operates efficiently
without special attention.
The primary component of
the CLR Process is its horizon-
tal rotor aerator. The Lakeside
Magna Rotor provides oxygen
to the biological mass, mixes
microorganisms uniformly, and
adds mixing velocity to the
channel to prevent solids from
settling. With the Lakeside
blades die-formed of 10-gauge
AISI Type 304 stainless steel to
produce greater stiffness and
rigidity, it is perhaps no won-
der that the original rotors at
Montrose - capable of taking
a 250 lb impact load (without
deformation) are still in working
order!
The Mayor of Montrose, Mike
Walsh, continued, “Winning a
joint federal and provincial grant
through the Investing in Canada
infrastructure plan and the
New Building Canada Fund to
upgrade our water and waste-
water treatment is great news
for our village. It’s also welcome
news for our operators, because
much of the treatment plant
operation has been a hands-on
job, including the manual clean-
ing of screens, which isn’t the
most pleasant.”
“Since 1963 when my father
helped introduce our treatment
plant, the number of homes in
Montrose has almost doubled
from 250 to 430, so we’ve had
to reinvest - and can’t expect
the wastewater equipment to
last forever. Upgrades to our
plant should be completed by
the fall of 2021. We know for
sure that we have had great
service from Lakeside and are
pleased to be the owners of
the longest-serving oxidation
ditches.”
About the Contributor
Lakeside Equipment Corpo-
ration is an engineering and
manufacturing company con-
centrating on helping to improve
the quality of water resources.
Lakeside started in the Spring
of 1928 to engineer, develop,
and provide water purification
systems to municipalities and
companies throughout North
America.
29
COVER STORY WASTEWATER 360°

5 THINGS YOU CAN DO TO PREVENT

SEWER OVERFLOWS
Sewer overflows are a growing problem for cities around the world, leading to
increased pollution and illnesses. With an increase in severe rain events expected
due to climate change, solving this critical water challenge is more important than
ever. The good news is that sewer overflows can be prevented through smarter
engineering and digital “Decision Intelligence” tools, without the expense of
major infrastructure overhauls, saving communities millions in capital costs while
protecting their local eco-systems.

By Veronica Jergelind, Luis Montestruque and Cameron White

W
hilst the availability of
sewer overflow data
varies widely, the chal-
lenge is one face by water oper-
ators around the world. The U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency
estimates that as many as 75,000
sanitary sewer overflows happen
every year in the U.S., releasing
890 billion gallons of sewage
into lakes, rivers, and streams.
In Canada, overflows have led to
900 billion liters of raw sew-
age entering waterways since
2013, according to Environment
Canada. The situation is similar in
major cities across Europe. These
overflows can lead to heavy fines
and put human health and local
waterways at risk.
There are a number of issues
causing sewer overflows, includ-
ing pipe blockages, weather infil-
tration and inflow, and mechani-

30 SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2021 | SMART WATER & WASTE WORLD

COVER STORY
cal or electrical failures.
Two important underlying fac-
tors are aging infrastructure and
increased rainfall and snowmelt
caused by climate change.
Advances in equipment and
digital technologies, however, are
giving cities and water utilities
smarter tools to prevent sewer
overflows. This article looks at
five ways these new technologies
can solve sewer overflows today.
1. Prevent Failures
Through Smarter Waste-
water Pumps
Regular maintenance of lift
station pumps can help reduce
overflows, but pump clogging can
still be a major problem.
Xylem has solved this with its
groundbreaking FlygtConcer-
tor® technology, the world’s first
wastewater pumping system with
integrated intelligence.
This smart pump provides
real-time visibility into current
conditions, enables proactive
maintenance programs that
ensure uptime, and dramatically
reduces the risk of clogging and
backups at the pump station.
When a pumping station in
Rotterdam was repeatedly clog-
ging due to wet wipes, the city
installed the intelligent system.
The new pump not only elimi-
WASTEWATER 360°
pared to large-scale replacement
or renewal projects.
3. Leverage Digital Intel-
ligence to Better Manage
Sewer Capacity
The City of South Bend, Indi-
ana, USA, has a combined sewer
system designed only to carry
maximum dry water flow.
Before 2008, the sewers over-
flowed nearly every time it rained,
with an additional 25 to 30 dry
overflows a year. In 2008, the city
partnered with Xylem to deploy-
BLU-X™, a globally coordinated
Real-Time Decision Support Sys-
tem (RT-DSS). BLU-X utilizes a
combination of sensors, weather
forecast data and artificial intel-
ligence to help utilities achieve
nated clogging but paid for itself main failures. By identifying and their sewer overflow (CSO and
in just a few months. repairing targeted areas, utilities SSO) objectives in half the time
can realize major savings com- and at a fraction of the cost of
2. Pinpoint Areas of Pipe-
line That Require Reha-
bilitation
Force main failures, which can
lead to sewer overflows, are usu-
ally related to localized problems
due to design, manufacturing,
installation, environmental, op-
erational or maintenance factors,
or a combination of these factors
- not deterioration along the
main’s full length. While the high
consequence of failure for most
force mains can equate to a high
cost financially, operationally, en-
vironmentally, and socially, many
utilities have still traditionally
opted for a reactive approach to
managing their wastewater infra-
structure due to the difficulty of
the inspection process.
While there is no “one-size-
fits-all” way of assessing force
mains, Xylem offers a proactive
force main assessment program
that is tailored to the specific
risk tolerance, pipe material and
diameter, and past failure history
of each specific utility.
This approach focuses on gath-
ering actionable data on assets
through condition assessment
and helping operators target the
most common causes of force
www.smartwww.in | SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2021 31
COVER STORY
traditional overflow mitigation
methods by optimizing the per-
formance of existing assets.
South Bend’s system currently
includes 152 sensor monitoring
sites and 13 automated gates
and valves which monitor flows
and shifts water to where there
is available capacity completely
eliminating dry weather over-
flows and reducing wet weather
overflows by over 70 percent.
The city has also saved $1.5
million per year in operations
and maintenance, reduced E. coli
concentrations in the local river
by 50 percent and is expected to
save up to $500 million in avoid-
ed capital expenditures.
4. Have a Contingency
Plan Ready for an Emer-
gency Bypass Solution
As the severity of storms grows,
it’s important to have a contin-
gency plan in place to quickly
set up an emergency bypass to
32 SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2021 | SMART WATER & WASTE WORLD
prevent sewer overflows.
A contingency plan can turn
a potential catastrophe into a
manageable problem.
In the spring of 2016, an un-
precedented 16 inches of rain fell
on the city of Memphis, Tennes-
see, USA.
This extraordinary event eroded
the soil beneath a critical 96-
inch sewer main. When the poor
conditions caused the line to fail,
the city activated its emergency
response plan from Xylem. Xylem
installed an emergency bypass
for Memphis in record time.
5. Deploy Smart Technol-
ogy to Detect Blockages
and Infiltration
Routine sewer inspection and
cleaning can help reduce infiltra-
tion and blockages, but current
methods are labor-intensive and
result in crews spending most
of their time cleaning sewers
that do not require attention
WASTEWATER 360°
while neglecting hotspots - both
known and unknown.
Xylem’s new Decision Intelli-
gence approach uses advanced
technology to detect problem
areas and prioritize resources.
For example, Baltimore County,
Maryland, USA, recently worked
with Xylem to conduct a com-
prehensive force main assess-
ment using Xylem’s SmartBall®,
PipeDiver®, and PureRobotics
inspection technologies.
These assessments determined
that 3.5 percent of pipes showed
signs of deterioration, with only
0.5 percent requiring repair.
The program enabled the coun-
ty to safely and cost-effectively
manage its system while avoiding
unnecessary replacements.
Digital twin technology can also
be utilized to monitor “real-time”
performance of sewer lines.
For example, in 2013, the City
of Grand Rapids partnered with
Xylem to deploy the BLU-X
platform with a network of sen-
sors to continuously monitor its
sewers for infiltration and inflow
monitoring as well as blockage
detection. BLU-X produces
regular infiltration and inflow
reporting with detail from every
sensor in the network. The BLU-X
digital twin, also known as CHRS
(Cognitive Hydraulic Response
System), is used to determine if
the system is running properly
so that any anomalies can be
addressed by the utility. This re-
al-time analytics system allowed
Grand Rapids to reduce about
$1B from its capital budget.
About the Author
Veronica Jergelind is the Vice
President of Product Manage-
ment for Xylem’s Transport urban water systems.
business, and a member of the Cameron White is the Director
Water Infrastructure leadership of Product Management for
team. the Assessment Services group
Dr. Luis Montestruque is the at Xylem, leveraging the power
Vice President of Digital Solu- of precise data and analytics,
tions at Xylem, leading a team cutting edge technology and
that integrates Internet of predictive software to strength-
Things, Big Data, and Artificial en and optimize water system
Intelligence to build intelligent operations.
COVER STORY
REAL-TIME MICROBIAL PERFORMANCE
MONITORING IN BIOLOGICAL
WASTEWATER TREATMENT SYSTEMS
Monitoring microbial bio-activity, optimizing performance and providing early warning of
system imbalance with SENSOTRAQ®.
By PAQUES Environmental Technology India Pvt Ltd
The Technology
SENSOTRAQ leverages
® The generated bioelectric
bio-electrochemical sensor
technology to relay bio-activity
(metabolic activity) of the micro-
biology to the wastewater system
operator.
This data allows operators to
continually monitor the microbial
stability (health) of their waste-
water treatment process.
Furthermore, this data can
be leveraged with other water
quality and operational data to
improve/optimize system perfor-
mance.
Bio Electrochemical Systems
(BES) are a novel technology that
rely on bacteria that use insoluble
metal deposits as electron sinks
during the anaerobic consump-
tion of organic substrates.
By substituting an electrode for
the metal deposits, electrical cur-
rent can be recorded as it passes
through an external resistor.
current is the product of the
microbial metabolic activity of
exoelectrogenic bacteria involved
in the wastewater treatment
process.
The obtained biological data is
instrumental in understanding
the impact of water quality (pH,
nutrient content) and operational
parameters (temperature, flow
rate, organic load) on the bio-
logical process’s efficiency, and
resulting system performance.
SENSOTRAQ® includes an on-
line dashboard for remote visual-
ization and storage of real-time
microbial performance data.
Data is presented with user
options to view on hourly, daily,
weekly, monthly, or customized
intervals.
vData can be selected and down-
loaded in CSV format for off-line
data analysis.
Multiple installed electrodes
can be visualized with the same
login and dashboard allowing
for a single location to visualize
a network of installed probes or
systems.
Thus, it is a tool for system op-
erators to help stabilize/ optimize
system performance and avoid
costly system failures by provid-
ing early warning of biological
instability.
The sensors are installed and
connected through a 1.5” NPT
fitting into a pipe with at least 2”
in diameter.
Typical installation for a single
probe is in the recirculation line
of the anaerobic tank, but if
sequential tanks are present - for
hydrolysis, acidogenesis, etc - a
probe installation in each tank is
recommended.
Data produced from the sensor
can be used to:
• Predict process upset via
instability in microbial me-
tabolism
• Correlate fluctuating
bio-electrode output to sys-
tem input/ process/ opera-
tional events
• Aggregate data to determine
daily, weekly, and monthly
performance patterns
• Correlated with COD/ VFA/
BOD values
The Benefits
SENSOTRAQ® aids the industries
to:
www.smartwww.in | SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2021
WASTEWATER 360°
• To help stabilize/ optimize
system performance and
avoid costly system failures
by providing early warning of
biological instability.
• The output data from the
system is instrumental in
understanding the impact of
water quality (pH, nutrient
content) and operational pa-
rameters (temperature, flow
rate, and organic load) on the
biological process’s effi-
ciency and resulting system
performance.
• To maintain a healthy
biomass population in the
system, avoid loss of bio-
mass, avoid downtime due
to system upsets because
of Shock loads and biomass
loss.
SENSOTRAQ® is not only
employed to monitor microbial
health, the output values can
also be well correlated with COD/
VFA/ BOD values, hence it can
replace the Online COD/ VFA/
BOD Analyzers.
About the Contributor
PAQUES Environmental Technol-
ogy India Pvt Ltd is a subsidiary
of Paques Holding BV of The
Netherlands - a leader in the an-
aerobic water and gas treatment.
Paques had established their
100% owned subsidiary in India
in 2013 with its headquarters in
Chennai and its sales offices in
Noida, Pune, and Bangalore cities
in India.
33
COVER STORY
SMARTER TREATMENT OF MUNICIPAL
WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT,
EFFLUENT AND BRACKISH WATER
The Background
Limited water resources com-
bined with the growing demand
for freshwater, changing weath-
er patterns and wastewater
discharge concerns have made
wastewater reuse a growing
focus for industries and munic-
ipalities in recent years, calling
for the development of better,
more sustainable water supply.
Stemming from these challenges,
reusing effluent from municipal
wastewater plants is becoming
more pervasive as an alternative
renewable source, that offers op-
erational and financial benefits.
It’s a well-known fact that con-
ventional water process in gen-
eral, and Reverse Osmosis (RO) in
specific, didn’t change much over
the years. A standard RO process
normally includes 2-3 stages
operating at continuous and fixed
hydraulic conditions, accompa-
nied by continuous chloramine
dosing in order to protect the
membranes from biofouling.
But what are the implications
of chloramine dosage in conven-
tional RO and reuse processes?
Chloramine is associated with
the production of disinfection
byproducts such as N-Nitrosodi-
methylamine (NDMA), Tri-Halo
Methane (THM) and Halo-Acetic
Acids (HAA), which pose serious
potential health hazards. On
the operational side, chloramine
usage also has a negative impact
on the UV Transparency (UVT)
value in the RO permeate, which
causes higher energy and chem-
ical demand in the subsequent
Ultraviolet/ Advanced Oxidation
Process (UV/ AOP) stage. Lastly,
chloramine dosage involves high
capital expenditure as it entails
constant and costly dosing.
34 SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2021 | SMART WATER & WASTE WORLD
By IDE Technologies
In an effort to address these
challenges and offer a more
efficient, environment-friendly
and cost-effective alternative
to conventional water reuse, IDE
has developed Pulse Flow RO
(PFRO™). Installing and operating
a demonstration facility in the
Pismo Beach WWTP in Califor-
nia (part of the Central Coast
Blue) in the beginning of 2018,
this installation was an indirect
potable reuse project that aimed
to showcase the Pulse Flow RO
(PFRO™) technology.
The Technology
The PFRO™ technology was
developed to enable operation at
higher recovery and flux, without
chloramine dosage, which elimi-
nates the formation of disinfec-
tion byproducts and the reduc-
tion of permeate UVT value.
The past decade has seen the
development of new technolo-
gies in which flow, pressure and
Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) vary
over time, such as Closed-Circuit
RO (CCRO, trademarked as CCD)
and Rotec’s flow reversal tech-
nology, both are semi-batch RO
processes. The main idea behind
these technologies is that the
varying conditions and operation
in short intervals at constant
conditions do not allow enough
time for crystals to form (the
minimal time required for a crys-
tal to grow by diffusion is termed
“induction time”).
PFRO™ works differently. It
allows operation with very high
recoveries and avoids scaling by
taking advantage of the ability
to operate in short production
cycles. A shorter production cycle
enables higher recovery: produc-
tion is shorter than induction
time for a given concentration of
selected sparingly soluble salts
in brine stream, making this tech-
nology 10 to 50 times shorter
than batch or semi-batch RO
processes. The feed flow is con-
centrated from under-saturated
to supersaturated concentration
during production cycle, which
is shorter than induction time of
these sparingly soluble salts, and
the supersaturated brine is dis-
charged from the RO membranes
before nuclei begin to form.
This technology operates
in two cycles: (1) production
cycle and (2) flushing cycle, as
demonstrated in Figure 2, where
permeate and brine flow regime
in conventional RO are shown
on the left and PFRO™ is shown
on the right. During the produc-
tion cycle, a brine valve installed
in the residual brine stream is
closed, which means no brine is
discharged. Then, 100% of the
feed flow passes to the permeate
side, forcing salt concentration to
build up on the feed side of the
membrane.
WASTEWATER 360°
During flush cycle, brine valve
is open for a short period of time,
and brine is discharged at high
velocity or high shear forces. This
allows several processes:
• Brine is discharged in an
intensive, short pulse.
• The most concentrated brine
is discharged.
• The Drop Pressure (dP) in
the specific vessel increases
during the flushing cycle.
• The high brine flow creates
a shear force that is several
times higher than that in
conventional RO.
• The fast opening and clos-
ing of brine valve provides
pressure strokes and related
micro shaking of free mem-
brane portions. Pressure
micro shaking was measured
by a digital 100 MHz oscillo-
scope (refer to Figure 3).
• Forward Osmosis (FO) per-
meate back flush takes place
in the last membranes of the
pressure vessel, at the begin-
ning of each flush cycle.
COVER STORY
• The synergetic membrane
cleaning effect is the result
of a combination of shearing
velocity; membrane shaking;
FO backwash, changing os-
motic, and gauge pressures.
Conventional RO design includes
multiple stages to maintain the
required minimal brine flow in the
last membrane in the pressure
vessel. This multi-stage design
poses a number of drawbacks:
• The pressure-drop in each
stage is usually 1 to 1.5 bars,
resulting in a total pressure
drop of about 3-4.5 bar,
which means increased pow-
er consumption.
• Flux decreases in the second
and third stages, requiring
additional pressure vessels
and membranes, or installa-
tion of booster pumps, which
entails higherCapEX.
• Complicated inter-stage pip-
ing entails increased CapEX.
Unlike the conventional sev-
eral-stage RO train approach,
PFRO™ is a single-stage RO train.
The Chloramine-Free
Operation
PFRO™ does not use chloramine
to prevent biofouling, which is
controlled by frequent applica-
tion of high shearing velocity and
rapid changes in the gauge and
osmotic pressure. The constant-
ly changing conditions force
bacteria to continuously adapt by
investing energy in transporting
ions in and out of the cell in order
to produce certain osmo-protec-
tive metabolites that help them
maintain their osmolarity. This
constant need to adapt creates
an unfavorable environment for
bacterial proliferation.
Aside from forming potentially
harmful by-products, chloramine
dosage is also associated with
higher chemicals and energy
demand in the final UV/AOP
stage, as chloramine reduces the
Ultraviolet Transparency (UVT)
value. Lower UVT value means
that more energy is required to
achieve the same UV dose (2%
decrease in UVT translates to 30-
40% higher energy demand).
Pismo Beach Case Study
The demo facility in Pismo Beach
consisted of one 8” pressure
vessel containing seven Dow
FILMTEC™ ECO PRO-400 mem-
brane elements, in a single-stage
operation, and installed in a 40-
foot container. Acid was dosed
to reach the feed pH of 6.5, and
2 ppm of antiscalant (Avista
VITEC-1400) was dosed. During
the last 42 days of operation,
antiscalant was not used.
The PFRO™ system was fed
with secondary effluent from the
Pismo Beach WWTP which was
activated sludge with nitrifica-
tion, without denitrification, or
phosphorus removal. The effluent
was pretreated by a Pall Microfil-
tration System which was chlo-
ramine-free as well, and operated
at flux of 33 GFD. The permeate
was fed to an Evoqua UV/AOP
system, in which UVT was mea-
sured. The pilot operated for 330
days, from October 25th 2018
until October 18th 2019, with
the same set of membranes (two
membranes were removed for
autopsy in August 14th 2019 and
replaced by new ones). During
the entire length of the pilot, the
facility operated without chlori-
nation or Cleaning in Place (CIP).
Demo Results
Specific flux is a measure of the
system’s energetic efficiency, and
its stability indicates the fouling
status. On the flip side, deteri-
orating specific flux indicates
organic fouling, biological fouling
and/or scaling. Figure 5 shows
that specific flux was stable at
around 0.12±0.1 GFD/PSI. On day
www.smartwww.in | SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2021
WASTEWATER 360°
26, operating flux was increased
from 13.5 to 16.5 GFD, which is
approximately 50% higher than
normal design flux. Increase in
operating flux reduced specific
flux to 11.5 GFD/PSI, and recov-
ery during that time was 86±1%.
Fluctuation in recovery, flux, and
specific flux can be explained by
variation in wastewater qualities.
As a basis for comparison, in
many well-functioning conven-
tional wastewater RO plants,
specific flux starts at 0.12 GFD/
PSI and constantly deterio-
rates to a level of 0.08 GFD/PSI,
during which time CIP is usually
performed. This means that on
average, specific flux at the Pismo
Beach pilot was about 20% high-
er than conventional wastewater
RO, while operating without CIP
and at 50% higher flux.
Conclusion
The PFRO™ technology is an
innovative, proven technology
that can be implemented in ex-
isting or new water reuse plants.
Results coming in from installa-
tions such as the Pismo Beach
facility, demonstrate a stable,
chloramine-free, highly-efficient
operation which includes no for-
mation of dangerous disinfection
by-products; 50% higher flux
while maintaining higher specific
flux than conventional RO, and
an overall water cost savings of
14-28%, reached by improved
utilization of installed equipment
and more efficient use of chemi-
cals and energy.
About the Contributor
IDE Technologies specializes
in development, engineering,
construction and operation of
desalination and industrial water
treatment plants.
35
COVER STORY WASTEWATER 360°

BUILDING A GREENER TOMORROW:

FUTURE-PROOF ENVIRONMENTAL
SOLUTIONS
Insights on two implementation stories in the space of wastewater management and
solid waste recycling.

By Manoj Kumar Soda and Sai Praneeth B

T
hough technology
and the environment
may be viewed as be-
ing on opposite ends of the
spectrum, today’s technol-
ogies have the capacity to
build a sustainable future.
As much as rapid urbaniza-
tion and industrialization
have contributed to several
ecological threats, there are
substantial solutions avail-
able by way of today’ tech-
nologies. In fact, the use of
the right tech solution in
combination with efficient
policies and regulations can
go a long way in restoring
and protecting our natural
resources.
In this article, we will discuss
how we can arrive at future-proof
environmental solutions, pow-
ered by the technologies available
to us today. We will also provide
insights on two of our imple-
mentation stories in the space
of wastewater management and
solid waste recycling.
Knowledge Lens is a product
technology company focusing on
Big Data, AI, and IoT solutions to
solve real-world problems. We are
guided by the principles of ‘Made
in India, Made for the World’,
in order to attain a sustainable
future.
What are We Trying to
Solve?
Our environmental data acqui-
sition, monitoring, and analysis
platform GLens has powered
several initiatives in the environ-
mental space including:
• Working in tandem with
central, regional, and local
governments/ authorities to
track and monitor industry
compliance with pollu-
tion control measures, and
facilitating deep analysis of
environmental data for new
sustainable initiatives- emis-
sion restrictions, emission
levels and emission volumes.
• Working with companies
and industries to aid envi-
ronmental data acquisition,
monitoring and analysis,
enabling them to take
necessary action immedi-
ately. Using modeling and
predictive analytics tools,
we are equipped to predict
the behaviour of multiple
contaminants.
• Our effluent quality moni-
toring solution is capable of
testing pH, BOD, COD, TSS,
TDS, DO, antibiotics, pes-
ticides, heavy metals, etc.
It provides capabilities for
monitoring effluent quality in
real-time and at scale (using
camera and GPS feeds),
attain live site status, param-
eter monitoring and online
collaboration with industries.
For regulators, our AI and An-
alytics powered effluent
treatment solution is an ef-
ficient monitoring system
to ensure that industries
are compliant with effluent
treatment policies and
regulations. For industries,
this solution benefits every
stage of effluent treatment
- including monitoring
of influent wastewater &
optimization, trend analysis
based on weather impact,
chemical treatment pro-
cesses, active monitoring
of sludge accumulation,
SCADA monitoring, and
other parameters that can
activate corrective action
and improved health and
efficiency of the Effluent Treat-
ment Plant (ETP). This has trans-
lated to cost savings in chemical
dosing, electricity and raw water
for our clients.
Good water quality is a
pre-requisite for human health
and social and economic de-
velopment across the globe.
However, with rapid urbaniza-
tion and industrialization, more
water is being depleted than it
is restored, posing a challenge
to our very sustenance. While
curbing pollution is one half of
the solution, wastewater man-
agement holds the potential to
protect our ecosystem and meet
the rising demand for water, in
the long-term.

36 SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2021 | SMART WATER & WASTE WORLD

COVER STORY
Ganga Tarang is a portal
developed and maintained by
Knowledge Lens for the Ganga
Rejuvenation Project, which is
a part of the NamamiGange - a
Government of India initiative to
make the river Ganga clean again.
Officials from various govern-
ment departments and agencies
having responsibilities under the
State Programme Management
Group (SPMG) of NamamiGange
can access the portal.
• Wastewater treatment and
monitoring sites can be lo-
cated on geographical maps.
From these maps, particular
sites can be accessed to view
all relevant data points.
• The portal can also generate
various customized reports
such as real-time report,
dynamic report, matrix report
and so on.
• The portal shows the Web
SCADA of treatment and
monitoring sites, to give live
status of the functioning of
the treatment system.
• Alarms are generated for
non-compliance with the
treatment site operator, with
the capability for escalation
to higher levels, if left unre-
solved. Through workflows,
the treatment and monitor-
ing site operator can report
to authorities quickly, in case
of any concern.
Solution Benefits
• Remote visibility of each
station, thus enabling good
governance by officials.
• Improved data availability
due to increased visibility of
data.
• Proactive alerts and controls
in place.
Bio-Hazard Management
Solution Powered by
Blockchain Technology
Requirement
There was a necessity for tracking
bio-medical waste being trans-
ported from source of generation
to its destination for final treat-
ment and disposal. A real-time
online monitoring system of
bio-medical waste generation,
collection, transportation, treat-
ment and disposal in a safe and
secure manner was needed.
Solution Overview
• A hyperledger fabric Block-
chain solution has been
developed to facilitate
bio-hazard waste manage-
ment system.
• The quantification of waste
during this process involves
scanning of containers,
records being stored as im-
mutable smart contracts and
the complete waste man-
agement is tracked based on
hashed transactions on the
Blockchain ledger.
• Alert notifications are pub-
lished to regulatory author-
ities for any deviations in
defined disposal criteria.
Solution Benefits
• Complete traceability of
waste from generation to
disposal.
• Enhanced enforcements
by regulators avoiding any
malpractices.
• Unified view of waste move-
ment and auditability.
Conclusion
In this article, we have discussed
future-proof environmental
solutions for efficient wastewater
management and solid waste
recycling.
Now more than ever, technol-
ogies are making it easier to mon-
itor the environment. We have
the capability to pinpoint sources
of pollution, major pollutants and
industry regulation violations,
in real-time. With modeling and
predictive analytics, these solu-
tions will grow smarter in time,
giving us accurate information,
right when we need it. How-
ever, the bigger question here
is - Are we ready to shift from
a fundamentally unsustainable
and exploitative worldview to a
restorative clean environment
centered around practices that
can curb man made environmen-
tal threats?
It is time that we enable our
technologies to set the baseline
for tomorrow. We firmly believe
in the possibility of a greener to-
morrow - and we are constantly
improving our product technolo-
gies and capabilities to make this
a reality.
www.smartwww.in | SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2021
WASTEWATER 360°
About the Authors
Manoj Kumar is a Technology
Lead at Knowledge Lens, with
expertise in data management,
and data analysis. He is a Resi-
dent Engineer at CPCB working
on behalf of Knowledge Lens,
providing data acquisition models
of CAAQMS stations, AQI portal
enhancement, data management
and visualization solutions with
regard to ambient monitoring
stations.
Sai Praneeth is a Data Scientist
at Knowledge Lens, with deep
expertise in Air Dispersion Mod-
eling (AERMOD and CALPUFF),
Weather Research and Fore-
casting (WRF) modeling, noise
mapping, noise modeling, and
environmental engineering. He
is also a passionate blogger on cli-
mate change studies and weather
forecasting.
Knowledge Lens is a US and
India based product and ser-
vices technology company that
builds innovative solutions on
niche technology areas such as
real-time environment moni-
toring, Big Data analytics, AI, IoT,
Blockchain, and cloud. They have
a strong presence across India,
the Middle East, and America.
37
COVER STORY
PUMP THAT SLUDGE - WITH OPTIMUM
EFFICIENCY
Efficient sludge pumping has an important role to play as water companies gear up for
zero-carbon, says Mick Dawson, Consultancy Director, BHR Group who urges designers and
operators to better understand their sludge systems.
M
ore efficient pump-
ing of sludge could
help water companies
in England reach their goal of
net-zero carbon emissions by
2030, along with meeting the
38 SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2021 | SMART WATER & WASTE WORLD
By BHR Group
regulator’s requirement to reduce
capital expenditure and cut bills
for customers. However, most
utilities have not yet acted to
reduce the carbon and financial
cost of transporting sludge.
For decades the industry
standard calculation technique
for sludge pumping system
pressure losses has been WRc’s
TR 185 How to design sewage
sludge pumping systems docu-
ment, which dates back to 1983
and has served the industry well.
It suited a pre-digital era when
water companies could afford to
build in a wide safety margin be-
cause the energy was less costly,
carbon went unquantified and
budgets were bigger.
Other recent factors impacting
directly on sludge processing are
population growth, which is in-
creasing volumes, and legislation
restricting disposal to land. This
means utilities are using intensive
techniques like Thermohydroly-
sis which result in sludges with
higher dry solids content.
In summary, existing equip-
ment now has to work harder,
moving thicker, more concentrat-
ed sludges that are more difficult
to pump. As with any application,
accurate selection and sizing of
pumps used for the transport
of sewage sludge has important
cost implications, along with
operational risk management
considerations.
Under-sizing can mean failure
to achieve the required through-
put, whilst oversizing leads to
excessive capital cost and energy
WASTEWATER 360°
consumption. Utilities can no
longer squander energy and emit
unnecessary carbon and the cost
challenge means they need to get
to know their assets and process
streams much better.
Data Requirement
The need for the leaner pump
systems means more variables
need to be taken into account,
which can be challenging where
the data is not readily available.
At the heart of making sludge
transport and pumping more
efficient is the need to better un-
derstand sludge rheology - how
it flows.
Variables include pipe size,
length, roughness, fittings, and
elevation as well as the viscosity
and temperature of the sludge
and the flow rate desired by
the operator. To ensure effi-
cient pumping systems, design
engineers estimate total pres-
sure losses across the range of
variables at a given site. If these
estimates are inaccurate this can
result in oversized pumps and
higher frictional losses, adding
considerable capital and opera-
tional cost to any system.
The good news is that engi-
neers can now predict sludge
rheology and assess and inter-
pret the impact and interaction
of these variables through a
sophisticated systems losses tool
developed by BHR Group. SLOT
2.0, which was launched in Jan-
uary 2020, is a software program
developed as part of a research
COVER STORY
program originally funded by UK
water companies and suppliers.
Operating Efficiency
The software enables pump
system operators to understand
where each pump should be op-
erating on its pump and efficien-
cy curves, matching against the
particular system pressure curve
to find the operating point. This
makes it possible to determine
optimum pump-operating points
and identify the most effective
pumps to use on a given sys-
tem - selecting the optimal size,
type, quantity, and configuration,
right down to the manufactur-
er. Potential blockages can also
be identified by monitoring the
actual versus the predicted pump
performance.
The software shows what is ac-
tually happening in the network
and can be used in advance to
generate scenarios of anticipated
changes to the system or the
sludge rheology. This means it is
now possible to specify pumps
more precisely than ever before
and the capital cost and optimum
energy consumption can be cal-
culated well ahead of installation.
Digital Twinning
It is realistic to envision pump
system designers using SLOT 2.0
to digitally twin the sludge pipe
network. Being able to accurately
compare pressure and flow in the
real network with SLOT’s pre-
dictions, it is possible to see, for
example, what would happen to
pump operation in the event of
a struvite blockage; or how the
system would respond if a sludge
stream was thickened by eight
percent.
For new-build sludge process-
ing projects, SLOT 2.0 is the best
tool available for accurate sizing
of pumps and pipes. It is under-
pinned by BHR Group’s sludge
rheology database, which is the
largest in the world, and makes
it much easier to characterize
new sludge types that cannot be
predicted using existing rheology
data.
Future Systems
Ultimately, SLOT 2.0 makes it
www.smartwww.in | SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2021
WASTEWATER 360°
possible for utilities to make
investment decisions based on
the most comprehensive assess-
ment possible of both capital and
whole-life cost of assets, bring-
ing down the Total Expenditure
(Totex) required. The possibilities
do not end there though. BHR
is looking beyond the existing
assets in the expectation that
more sensors will be installed in
sludge networks with the uptake
of real-time monitoring.
Fifteenutility and contracting
companies in the UK have already
trialed sludge management
operations with SLOT 2.0 and
feedback to date has been very
positive. Indications are that the
value of being able to predict and
manage sludge network perfor-
mance at the desktop, before
going out on site, will prove mas-
sively powerful going into AMP
7 - the regulatory asset manage-
ment period 2020-2025.
Meanwhile, BHR Group is
continually improving SLOT, with
further advancements antici-
pated as users relay their expe-
riences and requirements. The
long-term outlook heralds greater
capacity sludge systems with
higher velocity throughput and
solids content which means that
the need for close attention to
the whole performance envelope
is only going to grow.
About the Contributor
BHR Group works in partnership
with water companies, consul-
tants, contractors, and specialists
to drive innovation and improve-
ment across a wide range of
projects including major water
systems, water treatment, power
generation, and infrastructure. Its
team of experts understands the
challenges facing the water in-
dustry. They work to make mea-
surable improvements to new
and existing facilities through
their core skills of physical and
computational hydraulic model-
ling, chemical dosing & mixing,
troubleshooting, design valida-
tion, and optimization.
39
COVER STORY
OPTIMIZING PHOSPHOROUS REMOVAL
AND STRUVITE RECOVERY FROM
WASTEWATER STREAMS
Latest-generation technology for total phosphorus removal in municipal and industrial
wastewater treatment plants.
M
unicipal and industrial
Wastewater Treatment
Plants (WWTP) utilize
varied treatment processes
to provide safe effluent levels
before discharging into water-
ways. These systems are selected
based on a number of important
criteria, including the makeup of
influent entering the treatment
plant, the quality of finished
water required to comply with
Federal and State requirements
for decanting, capital investment
requirements, ongoing mainte-
nance & operational costs, and
system flexibility. To assess these
requirements effectively, treat-
ment plant operators must stay
informed of improvements in
WWTP systems technology, and
methods for minimizing opera-
tional costs.
One of these treatment plant
processes is the removal of
phosphorous from wastewa-
ter streams, which is of major
interest to regulatory agencies,
and has come under progres-
sively tighter Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) and the
State Regulatory Agency water
quality regulations to lower total
phosphorus discharge limits.
Phosphorus removal is an envi-
ronmentally important process,
since nutrient pollution is one of
America’s most widespread, cost-
ly, and challenging environmental
problems. Phosphates contribute
to the phenomenon of eutrophi-
40 SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2021 | SMART WATER & WASTE WORLD
By Jim McMahon
cation, arising from the oversup-
ply of nutrients which induce an
explosive growth of algae faster
than ecosystems can handle.
Significant increases in algae
harm water quality in streams,
rivers, lakes, bays, and coastal
waters, and harms food resources
and habitats, by decreasing the
oxygen that fish and other aquat-
ic life need to survive, creating a
state of hypoxia.
Conventional Phospho-
rus Removal
Conventional treatment tech-
nology for phosphorus removal in
wastewater treatment plants in-
volves both biological and chem-
ical removal processes to achieve
the current 0.1 mg/l standard.
Biological processes remove a
large percentage of the phos-
phorus load, with the remaining
amount removed by the chemical
addition of ferric chloride or other
polymers to meet the discharge
permit Total Maximum Daily Load
(TMDL).
The mass balance of wastewa-
ter treatment plants indicate that
up to 30 percent of the phospho-
WASTEWATER 360°
rus load into the plant can come
from the dewatering pressate or
centrate stream return line. This
is visible in the phosphorus con-
centrations of liquors produced
in the dewatering of digested
biosolids, which can exceed 500
mg/l. But these phosphorus-lad-
en liquors which are returned
to the headworks of the plant,
typically contribute less than one
percent of the total wastewater
influent into the plant.
Although this process is con-
ventional, the highly-concentrat-
ed returned phosphorous puts an
unnecessarily high load back into
the plant for treatment, increas-
ing plant energy, chemical, and
maintenance requirements.
Removing Phosphorus
from Side Streams
Removing phosphorus from the
side stream before it reaches
the headworks can have signif-
icant efficiency advantages for
the operation of the treatment
plant, with tremendous economic
impact.
In Japan, a process called
Phosnix® has been successful-
ly implemented in wastewater
treatment plants (as well as in
chemical manufacturing and
agriculture applications) for
the total removal of phospho-
rus from dewatering filtrate or
digested sludge streams. It is a
highly cost-effective technolo-
gy, removing 90 percent of the
COVER STORY
phosphorus before returning the
water to the headworks. The pro-
cess was developed and patented
more than 25 years ago by Hita-
chi Zosen Inova, a global leader
in environmental technologies in
the water and waste segments.
Phosnix, having evolved into a
proven technology in Japan, has
just recently been introduced to
the North American market by
Hitachi Zosen Inova USA.
Phosnix utilizes magnesium
hydroxide, Mg(OH)2, to form a
chemical compound with phos-
phate and ammonium. The result
is struvite (magnesium ammo-
nium phosphate), a phosphate
mineral, NH4MgPO4•6H2O which
is subsequently harvested.
The process is not intended to
treat raw wastewater, but rather
nutrient-rich side streams in the
wastewater treatment plant. It is
often due to these side streams
(sludge dewatering liquors)
that it is impossible to achieve
extremely low levels of nitrogen
and phosphorus in the plant
effluent. This is particularly the
case for plants with enhanced
biological phosphorus removal
because phosphorus is released
in anaerobic digesters and then
not removed in the sludge. With
the Phosnix process, a biological
nutrient removal wastewater
treatment plant can be upgraded
to significantly improve its phos-
phorus removal performance. A
treatability study is recommend-
ed to be performed prior to verify
WASTEWATER 360°
digesters release ammonium and This makes the recovered stru-
phosphate from waste material. vite a highly marketable byprod-
Struvite forms a scale on lines uct for wastewater treatment
and belts, in centrifuges and plants, currently market-valued
pumps, and clogs system pipes at approximately $350 per ton.
and other equipment including
the anaerobic digester itself. With The Performance and
Phosnix, struvite is pulled out Flexibility
in the process. Diagnosing and For wastewater treatment plants
removing struvite from clogged using the Phosnix process,
pipes is no longer an issue, reduc- total cost savings approximate
ing maintenance labor and costs $400,000 annually. These savings
and avoids process shut-downs. come from the combined cost
reductions related to decreased
Struvite Nutrient Recov- energy usage for aeration, elimi-
ery nation of chemicals for phospho-
Unlike many other wastewater rous removal, lessened need for
the technology applications for
treatment processes, Phosnix sludge removal, reduction in plant
use with a nutrient-rich side
produces no harmful by-prod- maintenance for anti-scaling,
stream.
ucts. The technology recovers and market returns from struvite
The Phosnix process starts
struvite from both digesters sales.
with both sewage sludge liquor
and the dewatering filtrate or The Hitachi Zosen InovaPhos-
and digested sludge being fed
centrate stream for reuse as an nix system allows WWT facilities
into a draft tube type reactor as
eco-friendly fertilizer. flexibility in the design and opera-
a continuous flow. The reaction
The Phosnix process removes tion of the process - providing full
is at atmospheric temperature
nitrogen phosphorus from nutri- turnkey installations encompass-
and pressure, with pH 8.5. After
ent-rich wastewater by binding ing design, financing, construc-
a week of reaction, the struvite
these two compounds together tion & operation, or just providing
is extracted and put through a
in the form of crystallized stru- specific functions of the Phosnix
separator for further drying.
vite. The struvite’s composition system.
Phosnix plays an important role
on a weight basis is 9.9 percent This flexibility extends to the
in plant-wide efforts towards
magnesium, 5.7 percent nitrogen, disposal of struvite. Phosnix
energy efficiency, and reduced
12.6 percent phosphorus, with allows the WWTP full flexibility to
maintenance and costs for
the remainder being crystalline market or broker its struvite as it
wastewater treatment plants.
water. It satisfies a need for min- deems appropriate.
Compared to conventional pro-
eral slow-release fertilizers, which Phosnix is designed to be tech-
cesses for phosphorus removal,
have widespread uses in horticul- nically simple and robust. And the
the Phosnix process is character-
ture and nursery applications. investment costs are in the range
ized by several conditions:
of traditional and alternative
methods, yet it has a fraction of
a) Decrease of Energy Usage:
the operational costs of tradition-
Reduced aeration demand, and
al systems. It is inevitable that
power for nitrification, because
with these cost and operational
Phosnix uses ammonium,
efficiencies, North American
b) Elimination of Chemical P: No
municipal wastewater treatment
need for chemical P.No Ferric
plants, and industrial plants han-
chloride or polymers required,
dling high-phosphorous-content
which saves chemical costs,
wastewater, will gravitate towards
c) Reduction in Sludge Produc-
adopting this new-generation
tion: Sludge treatment depends
process for phosphorous removal
on the volume of solids gener-
and struvite recovery.
ated. Elimination of chemical
P reduces sludge loads and the
corresponding disposal costs are About the Author
minimized, Jim McMahon writes on industrial
d) Minimized Struvite Scaling: and manufacturing solutions.
Struvite scaling is a continual Hitachi Zosen Inova (HZI) is
problem in wastewater treat- a global leader in Energy from
ment, particularly after anaerobic Waste (EfW).
www.smartwww.in | SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2021 41
COVER STORY WASTEWATER 360°

SLUDGE HANDLING: CONVEYING

THE RIGHT MESSAGE - NOW AND
FOR THE FUTURE
For sludge handling carbon footprint would be vastly reduced if vertical designs
were permitted in WIMES, UK

By Shyam Mallen

which goes against the grain of conveyor works perfectly well

TOTEX.
If the industry does truly be-
lieve in reducing its carbon foot-
print, then maybe the time is now
for water companies, contractors
and the supply chain to discuss
reviewing this particular stipula-
tion of WIMES.
Discussing this move to vertical
conveyors isn’t a sales pitch from
a company that only produc-
es such a design - we supply
inclined, horizontal and vertical,
a combination of which was re-
cently installed for a large WWTP
in Saudi Arabia.
The design has contained
odour and mess, lowered power
consumption and prolonged the
life of the equipment - so it begs
the question that if a vertical
there, as they do at hundreds of
sites worldwide, then why not in
the UK?
The word ‘innovation’ is very
much at the forefront of indus-
try-speak, so if there is a real
desire for technological innova-
tions, then the current UK belief
about vertical conveyors must be
challenged.
Bespoke Design
That big focus on the environ-
ment also includes the large
investment being made by the
water industry in renewable ener-
gy. The increasing use of Thermal
Hydrolysis Process (THP) plants
is rightly seeing sewage sludge
utilised as a source of renewable
fuel or biogas, which in turn helps

A
t a time when concern
for the environment
has never been more in
focus, it is a great pity that in the
UK, compliance with regulations
means that vertical conveyors
aren’t specified.
For sludge handling, instead
of having so much site space
taken up with horizontal and
inclined conveyors, carbon foot-
print would be vastly reduced if
vertical designs were permitted
under Water Industry Mechani-
cal and Electrical Specifications
(WIMES).
As well as the expansive space
required across a treatment plant
for non-vertical designs - re-
sulting in capital and civils costs
for concrete slabs and much
more, there is also the need for
larger motors, larger gearboxes,
increased maintenance - all of

42 SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2021 | SMART WATER & WASTE WORLD

COVER STORY
reduce site energy
costs and reduce
greenhouse gas emis-
sions.
Conveyors are play-
ing an important part
in this sludge handling
process, not just for
water companies, but
at any waste-to-en-
ergy site, especially
for food waste. As the
water industry pushes
forward with THP, it
shouldn’t just tick that
one box for renew-
ables, but look at
every aspect of good
practice for reducing
its carbon footprint.
This includes - based
on standard designs -
bespoke conveyors in
order to bring about
optimum configura-
tion.
If you are only
being offered off-the-shelf sizes
such as 3m, 4m and 5m, you are
almost certainly going to be using
more material than is actually
necessary.
Bespoke design will also provide
a better interface with existing
equipment, saving time on instal-
lation, but in most cases provide
a neater transfer of product from
one orientation to another.
Preventative maintenance is
nothing new, but again, more
than ever, we hear about how
critical asset management is - yet
so much more could and should
be done to encourage ‘action-
able intelligence’ (or if you prefer,
‘plain common sense’!) ahead
of failure detection and notably
improved overall efficiency.
Conveyors designed without
intermediate and end bear-
ingsreduce the need for major
maintenance work.
This also allows for more ef-
ficient and direct transfer into
another conveyor - whether that
be horizontal, vertical or inclined.
Conveyors built with com-
promises on quality design and
material (including unsuitable
liners), particularly fewer solid
supports, can often result in too
much product at one end, caus-
ing failure and downtime.
Dual-Wear Indicator
As with all mechanical equip-
ment, health and safety measures
are important, which is why we
introduced a dual-wear indicator
for conveyors. A simple colour
scheme with a red sacrificial liner
provides a clear visual warning
that allows operators to stay safe
and minimise maintenance.
www.smartwww.in | SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2021
WASTEWATER 360°
This warning is seen
when the liner colour
switches to yellow, giv-
ing ample time to take
the necessary mea-
sures. Peace of mind
prevails. Other systems
provide no such warn-
ing, so everything might
appear to be working
fine, but failure could
be imminent if the liner
is about to give way to
bare metal.
The consequenc-
es are a hole blown
through the side of the
equipment, escaped
product and costly
clear-up, plant out of
commission and danger
to operators.
Working responsibly
to do the right thing for
the environment by re-
ducing carbon footprint
isn’t just a phase.
It is here to stay - as it should
be, an integral part of our outlook
- so together with preventative
maintenance, let’s work together
on conveyors to show the major
benefits that can be achieved.
About the Author
Shyam Mallen is currently work-
ing at SPIRAC.
SPIRAC is an engineering com-
pany that designs and manufac-
tures material handling solu-
tions for municipal wastewater
and industrial applications.
Municipal screening, grit, and
sludge handling are its primary
focus, but SPIRAC also offers
conveying, dewatering and
washing solutions for industrial
applications. For over 40 years,
SPIRAC has been the market
leader in shaftless conveyor
systems, grit capture and clas-
sification, as well as inlet works
solutions including screening,
washing, compaction, contain-
ment, and transport systems.
SPIRAC offers packaged solu-
tions for the smallest to largest
WWTP.
43
COVER STORY WASTEWATER 360°

WHEN IT COMES TO CLEAN WATER

COMPLIANCE, LINKO CLEANS UP
Integrated regulation updates ensure compliance, and streamlined reporting
save times while maintaining consistency across all industries.
By Rich Prinster

S The Challenge
anitation District No.
1 (SD1) has managed
Northern Kentucky’s
wastewater and stormwater
for more than 70 years and is
committed to keeping its rivers
clean. Every day, SD1 cleans 37
million gallons of water, serving a
population of 115,000 customer
accounts with a network of
over 2,000 miles of pipe below
ground.
Sarah Griffith, Laboratory
and Industrial Pre-treatment
Manager, oversees the laboratory
and manages the industrial
pretreatment and FOG programs
at SD1.
In the lab, the team performs
40,000 analyzes per year, 7 days
a week.
On the pretreatment side, the
team oversees, inspects, and
samples 55 industrial users in
the service area, and also permits
and inspects 200 Food Service
Establishments (FSEs) under
the FOG Program. SD1 has the
second-largest pretreatment
program in Kentucky.
After using Linko, a compliance
management software by
Aquatic Informatics for several
years, a newly developed
environmental compliance
module was released by the
Computerized Maintenance
Management System (CMMS)
that many departments within
SD1 used for the scheduling and
tracking of work. As an exercise
in due diligence, the industrial
pretreatment and FOG program
teams attempted to move to
this new module, as it seemed
like a practical decision for the
organization.
Although the CMMS was a
very robust and comprehensive
program for other teams within
the organization, it quickly
became apparent that the
CMMS’ compliance capabilities
were not advanced enough to
manage SD1’s pretreatment
and FOG programs. “The CMMS
worked to the extent that you
can handle industries as assets
and track utilization of time,

44 SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2021 | SMART WATER & WASTE WORLD

COVER STORY
explained Griffith. “However,
it was just not able to handle
compliance and compliance is a
big part of what we do.
In order to not lose Linko’s
purpose-built compliance
capabilities, SD1 decided not
to fully move away from it for
their pretreatment and FOG
program management so it was
not hard to switch back to full
functionality. “To be honest, it
was easy to stay with Linko, and
it wasn’t hard to justify to our
executives,” said Griffith. “Staff
members were still naturally
wanting to use the programs
and it was already much easier
to perform the functions we
needed in Linko versus in our
CMMS.”
Pre-treatment programs
involve a lot of data, compliance
is complex, and regulations
do change. In many ways,
temporarily moving to a CMMS
helped SD1 realize the value of
purpose-built software. “We
spent a lot of energy trying
to make the CMMS work for
something it wasn’t made for,
especially when we already had
a solution that worked,” said
Griffith. “In some sense, it was
good for us to become familiar
with the limitations of our
CMMS, but at the end of the day,
Linko’s compliance capabilities
aren’t to be found anywhere else.
Now that SD1 had confirmed
that their old software solution
had the best capabilities, they
moved over to cloud-hosted
environment. “From my
experience with different types
of software, I’ve found that
hosted environments generally
work better for specialty
software,” said Griffith. The
transition from on-premise to
hosted is simple with no training
required and allows for better
access to the program and an
added level of security.
SD1 also uses the LabSync
function that allows for the
automated transfer of results
from the lab. They run LabSync
nightly, so each morning new
data is ready to review from
LIMS. The program alerts SD1
to possible compliance issues,
giving them a preliminary
compliance check. “It’s
comparable to having a second
set of eyes check for compliance,
but on the front end. We then
can review those possible
issues and move forward
with enforcement as needed,
resulting in amazing time
savings” said Griffith. “I’d say that
it saves us 30 minutes per event,
per industry. This is the module
that we use the most, and with
everything so automated, it
eliminates redundancy and a lot
of manual work.”
Regulations, and how
regulations are interpreted,
change over time. By
automatically integrating
change of regulations in the
cloud environment, SD1 is able
to keep on top of regulations
without involving IT for software
updates. Compliance Assistant
and LabSync are preloaded with
nearly all weekly definitions,
making compliance easier to
determine. The Compliance
Assistant can determine
compliance against rolling
quarters and can identify
significant non-compliance
issues. “Other programs we’ve
tried cannot do this well or at all,”
said Griffith.
www.smartwww.in | SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2021
WASTEWATER 360°
SD1 does all reporting through
Linko. Having the ability to
extract all the events, site visits,
sampling events, etc. from one
location saves a lot of time. In
addition, state reports often
change slightly every year, so a
key time-saving feature is the
ability to query data to answer
questions required for reports
as opposed to having to spend
hours combing through results
manually.
Permitting is another function
that falls on Griffith’s team.
Standardized permit templates
with Permit Writer allows SD1
to establish standard permits
and easily tweak when needed.
Violations can be issued
and tracked along with an
enforcement response plan that
automates compliance. “This is
a great tool for keeping permits
standard, especially when
changes occur and we have to
reissue all 55 industry permits
at the same time. It’s really nice
to be able to pull all the pieces
together and create all of the
permits at once,” said Griffith.
“At the end of the day, if you
aren’t familiar with pretreatment,
you would think that it’s just
comparing a number against the
limit. If that were the case, Excel
would work. But, regulations
change, interpretations change
and having a software platform
that keeps up with that saves
time and improves compliance.”
About the Author
Rich Prinster has been with
Aquatic Informatics for more
than eight years where he has
helped hundreds of municipal
pre-treatment programs address
their data management issues
with Linko software. Rich
focuses on bridging data silos
within water utilities to enable
better, more timely decisions.
Aquatic Informatics provides
software solutions that address
critical water data management,
analytics & compliance challenges
for rapidly growing water.
45
COVER STORY
WPL WINS HOLIDAY PARK WASTEWATER
CONTRACT
• Underground installation will minimize visual impact on landscape
• Process designed to meet stringent environmental discharge permit
• System includes WPL HiPAF modular biological treatment units
W
astewater
treatment specialist WPL has
won a contract to provide onsite
wastewater treatment at a holiday park in
Cornwall. The underground installation at
Juliots Well in North Cornwall will replace
the existing septic tank and includes a WPL
HiPAF (High Performance Aerated Filter)
modular treatment plant.
Civil engineering specialist Aqua-Tech
Consultancy made the initial contact with
WPL, and together, the parties arranged
a client visit to see a similar installation at
Home Farm Holiday Centre in Somerset.
46 SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2021 | SMART WATER & WASTE WORLD
The new 1,230 population
equivalent system will
process up to 181 m3
wastewater per day without
impeding on the site’s
sweeping views of the
Cornish landscape.
WPL’s Technical Director,
Andrew Baird, said, “WPL
has a strong track record
in providing wastewater
treatment for sensitive
locations
where
integration with the
landscape and the
expectations of visitors are
top priorities.
“We are very pleased
with this contract win,
which will meet the needs
of this stunning site now
and into the future as
visitor numbers increase.
We are already working in
close collaboration with
the client and consultant
to understand the specific
needs of Juliots Well and
deliver the best value
whole-life cost.”
Design considerations
include ensuring that the
stringent Environment
Agency effluent discharge
permit for biological oxygen
demand, suspended
solids and ammonia is
met. The system will also
accommodate variations in
load as visitor numbers rise
in the peak season and fall
in the winter months.
Juliots Well Holiday Park is a
WASTEWATER 360°
rural retreat set in 33 acres of countryside
near Camelford and is owned by South
West Holiday Parks, part of the Worldteam
Limited group. Installation of the full
treatment system is taking place at the end
of the 2019 holiday season.
WPL will supply three biological
treatment tanks and two final settlement
tanks along with a flow measurement
chamber with monitoring equipment.
A global system for mobile
communications (GSM) will be
incorporated into a special control panel
covering blowers, sludge pumps, and a
high-level alarm. An extra-large kiosk
will house the controls and will feature a
flashing alarm beacon.
Worldteam Limited’s Managing Director
Josh Donald said, “We are passionate
about providing our visitors with a first-
class experience, while ensuring that we
minimize our impact on the landscape and
the environment.
“The opportunity to see a similar WPL
treatment system in operation has been
very helpful in visualizing the project. I look
forward to seeing the new system in place
and serving our customers as we grow.”