ReacH2Out YOUR COMPREHENSIVE SOURCE FOR ALL SECTORS OF

T H E M U N I C I PA L W AT E R / W A S T E W AT E R I N D U S T R Y

VISIT US WEEKLY DESALINATE

ONLINE NEWSCAST NEWSCAST

VIDEO GLOBAL
CASE THOUGHT
STUDIES LEADERS

SNEAK TRADE SUBSCRIBE

PEEK SHOW OR
HIGHLIGHTS RENEW
August-September 2016
Month-Month 2015

OLIVES - THE
ANSWER FOR
CHEAPER CERAMIC
MEMBRANES?
Brexit: What it Means for the Keeping Tabs on Xylems A Czech Success Story:
UKs Water Sector and Wider Spending Spree: CEO Patrick Nanoparticles Help
EU Community Decker on the Record Groundwater Clean Up
 Detecting changes of water quality at an early stage

Series DCX-22 CTD

Data Logger for Conductivity, Temperature and Depth (Pressure)

Maintenance-Free
Autonomous
22 mm
Stainless Steel, Hastelloy or Titanium
Including Logger 5 Software

Conductivity Ranges from 0,2 to 200 mS/cm

Temperature Accuracy 0,1 C
Depth 0,02 %FS, up to 200 m

keller-druck.com
For more information, enter 1 at wwi.hotims.com

1608wwi_C2 2 9/8/16 4:01 PM

 CONTENTS AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2016

24

10 32
R E G UL A R S
40
EDITORS NOTE 4
NEWS 6
PRODUCT FOCUS 42
DIARY /AD INDEX/WEB PROMO 44

UP F RO N T TE CHN OLO GY CA S E S TU DI ES

LEADER FOCUS 10 PNEUMATIC AUTOMATION UPGRADE 38

In a landmark acquisition, water treatment company Xylem
bought metering firm Sensus for $1.7 bilion. WWi catches up
with CEO Patrick Decker.
ANALYSIS: BREXIT - A WATERSHED FOR THE EU?
Since the 1970s the European Union has agreed to over 200
pieces of environmental regulation. With the UKs decision to
leave the EU, known as a Brexit, what impact will this have on
the UK market and wider Europe?
German water supply company Landeswasserversorgung
saved 10% on investment and operating costs by upgrading
to a pneumatic automation solution for a new groundwater
filtration system.
14
WASTEWATER CHALLENGES IN LATIN AMERICA 40
Latin America is one of the worlds richest regions in water
resources yet nearly 110 million people dont have sanitation
facilities. Could the lifting of sanctions in Cuba help?

TE C H N O L O GY C A S E ST UDIE S RE GIO NA L S POTLIGH T: E A S TE RN EURO PE

CRACKING THE CERAMIC CAPEX CONUNDRUM 18 A CZECH SUCCESS STORY: NANOPARTICLES 24

Higher costs have prevented widespread use of durable
ceramic technology yet a project in Spain aims to tackle this by
producing membranes from industrial waste.
AUTOMATED COAGULATION CONTROL 32
Extensive trials at utility Severn Trent show the value of using
zeta potential as a lead measure of performance for natural
organic matter removal processes.
SLUDGE IN SLOVENIA: DOSING CONTROL UPGRADE 35
Several attempts have been unsuccessful in developing a
sludge control system to improve efficiencies. A new optical
detection system has been tested in Ljublana, Slovenia.
This article examines the contribution made by the Regional
Centre of Advanced Technologies and Materials at Palack
University in the Czech Republic to nanoscale zero-valent iron
(NZVI) technology to chlorinated solvent and chromium (VI)
groundwater decontamination projects.
PRO DU CTS
ULTRAVIOLET TREATMENT (UV) & FITTINGS/CONTROLS 37
Wedeco UV tech approved in California; UK firm atg UV
supplies units for cryptosporidium inactivation; Guam to get
first UV system; pneumatically actuated process valve from
Brkert and an on-line sequential sampling analyser that is
designed to monitor Chromium VI in drinking water.

VOLUME 31, ISSUE 4 AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2016 WWINTERNATIONAL.COM 1

1608wwi_1 1 9/8/16 3:59 PM

 For more information, enter 2 at wwi.hotims.com

1608wwi_2 2 9/8/16 3:59 PM

 Water & Wastewater International For Assistance with Marketing Strategy or
PennWell International Ltd, Ad Creation, Please Contact:
The Water Tower, PennWell Marketing Solutions
Gunpowder Mill, Powdermill Lane,
Waltham Abbey, Essex EN9 1BN, UK Paul Andrews, Vice President
T: +44 1992 656 600 T: +1 240 595 2352
www.wwinternational.com F: +44 1992 656 700 pandrews@pennwell.com
E: wwi@pennwell.com

Chairman Robert F. Biolchini

Group Publisher Marla Barnes
Advertising Vice Chairman Frank T. Lauinger
Publisher Timm Dower President and
Chief Editor Tom Freyberg Kim Harrison, International/Southeast U.S. Chief Executive Officer Mark C. Wilmoth
T: +1(0) 918-260-2502 E: kimh@pennwell.com Executive Vice President,
Studio Manager Ross Tucker Corporate Development and Strategy
Design Keith Hackett Dottie LaFerney, Key Accounts. Jayne A. Gilsinger
T: +1(0) 512 750 4997 E: dottiel@pennwell.com Senior Vice President, Finance and Chief Finan-
Marketing Manager Kayla Maidlow
Craig Wiggins, East. cial Officer Brian Conway
Production Coordinator Rae Lynn Cooper
T: +1(0) 610 430 8181 E: craigw@pennwell.com
Audience Development Manager Emily Martin
Amy Bailie, North Central Region/West.
T: +1(0) 918 832 9241 E: amyb@pennwell.com
www.pennwell.com

ISSN: 1069-4994
Subscriber Service: P.O.Box 3264 Northbrook, IL USA 60065-3264, Tel: 847-559-7330. Fax: 847-763-9607. E-mail: wwi@halldata.com, Water & Wastewater
International is published six times a year. Authorization to photocopy items for internal or personal use is granted by Water & Wastewater International. No part
of Water & Wastewater International may be reproduced without the express written permission of the publisher. The statements made or opinions expressed
do not necessarily reflect the views of Water & Wastewater International or PennWell Corporation. Subscriptions: Print-$298 a year, single $67; Digital-$167, single
$44.
Postmaster: Send address changes to Subscriber Service, Water & Wastewater International, P.O. Box 3264, Northbrook, IL USA 60065-3264
Reprints: If you would like to have a recent article reprinted for an upcoming conference or for use as a marketing tool, contact Rhonda Brown,
Tel: (866) 879-9144 ext. 194 or E-mail: pennwellreprint@fosterprinting.com
Cover credit: FreeImages.com/Ayhan Yildiz

For more information, enter 3 at wwi.hotims.com

VOLUME 31, ISSUE 4 AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2016 WWINTERNATIONAL.COM 3

1608wwi_3 3 9/8/16 3:59 PM

 EDITORS NOTE Tom Freyberg, Chief editor

HOW TO WIN A GOLD MEDAL

IN WATER SUPPLY
Over 20 years ago the failing Olympic Great British nation started
investing heavily into sport, with the results showing at the recent
games in Rio.This same success can been seen in water authorities.

W
ow. What a summer its been for British sport at the Olympic Games in Rio. Picking
up 67 medals, including 27 gold, Team GB had its best medal haul for 108 years.
From Mo Farah triumphing with two golds in the 5k and 10k events, to the womens
hockey team winning the countrys first medal in the event: there were countless
moments that made British people proud.
Interestingly (I will get onto water shortly, bear with me), its no coincidence
to see a direct correlation between how much investment the country has made
compared to the results. Only 20 years ago, Great Britain was 36th in the 1996
Atlanta Olympics, securing a single gold medal. At the time, only 5 million was
invested into British sport and athletics.
Fast forward to between 2013 to 2017 and almost 350 million in public funds
will be invested in Olympic and Paralympic sports. Key to this change was former
Prime Minister John Majors decision to direct more government investment to elite
Olympic sport, together with the start of the National Lottery in 1994. The result?
Second place in the Olympic table this year ahead of the mighty China.
The lesson here is that you have to invest for the future. After Atlanta, it might
have been easy for governing bodies toahemthrow the towel in on Olympic
efforts and direct investment elsewhere. Instead, putting funding and infrastructure

THE SAME in place has meant that within two decades the country made history becoming
the only nation to go on to win more medals at the next Olympics than its previous
PRINCIPLE CAN 2012 efforts in London.
The same principle can be applied to how countries adapt to water scarcity.
BE APPLIED TO Readers and followers of WWi will have seen our coverage of nations such as Israel,

HOW COUNTRIES
Singapore and Cambodias capital city, Phnom Penh. All three addressed issues
such as water scarcity, dependence on other nations or high water loss head on.
ADAPT TO WATER In the case of Israel, authorities saw water scarcity challenges intensifying so built
out its desalination supply and wastewater reuse programme. Singapore is making
SCARCITY plans for its fifth desalination project on Jurong Island (pg 7) to create water-
independence and Phnom Penhs water loss reduction efforts from 72% to 6% over
15 years was remarkable. These are just a few of the examples.
On the topic of leadership, in this issue make sure you check out our interview
with Xylem CEO Patrick Decker (pg 10); a review of the Industrial Water Solutions
Forum in Singapore (pg 28) and a European collaboration to turn waste into ceramic
membranes (pg 18). Enjoy the issue.

Follow on

4 WWINTERNATIONAL.COM AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2016

1608wwi_4 4 9/8/16 3:59 PM

 THE

Ourr Q
Q4646 Series
Seriies monitori
monitoring systems are economical
onomical to pu
p
purchase,
urchase,
has
nomiical
all ttoo m
economical mai
intain, and provide
maintain, p curacy and re
long term accuracy eliabi
bil
bilit
ility ffor all
reliability
you
your monitoring needs!!
Free Chlorine Dissolved Oxygen pH/ORP
Combined Chlorine Suspended Solids Conductivity
Total Chlorine Residual Sulfite Dissolved Ozone
Fluoride Dissolved Sulfide Chlorine Dioxide
Turbidity Permanganate Hydrogen Peroxide
Dissolved Ammonia Peracetic Acid

Dissolved Ammonia Toxic & Combustible

Portable Gas Leak Detector Monitor Transmitter
Interchangeable Smart Sensors for Over 30 Gases New Approach to On-Line Ammonia Measurement Interchangeable Smart Sensors
Internal Sample Pump and External Sampling Wand Optional Free and Monochloramine Measurement Optional Sensor Daily Auto-Testing

800-959-0299 www.analyticaltechnology.com

For more information, enter 4 at wwi.hotims.com

1608wwi_5 5 9/8/16 3:59 PM

 NEWS

WORLD NEWS

US: CALIFORNIA
1 Poseidon Water is drafting an
agreement with state permitting
agencies in a bid to streamline the
approval process for the proposed
Huntington Beach Desalination
Project. The Coastal Commission
originally planned to consider the
Projects Coastal Development
Permit on September 9; however,
Poseidon and Commission staff
agreed to defer consideration of
the Projects CDP in order for an
interagency agreement clearly
defining the remaining permitting
2
process to be finalised. When 1
finalised, the Huntington Beach
project will produce 189,000 m3/
day, which is hoped to reduce
Orange Countys need to import
water from Northern California
and the Colorado River.

2 US: DENVER CHILE UK

3 Chilean water utility Esval-
CH2M and Parsons, as part
of a joint venture team, have
been selected by the District
of Columbia Water and Sewer
Authority (DC Water) to perform
program management services
for the development and
implementation of DC Waters
capital improvement program
(CIP). This comprises a $1.3
billion water and wastewater
infrastructure program focused
on repair and replacement
of mostly underground
infrastructure in Washington,
D.C., and neighboring
jurisdictions. The three-year
contract combines two separate
program management contracts
into one large program.
4 The cross-party Parliamentary
Aguas del Valle has selected
British company i2O to help
measure and monitor the
performance of its water supply
network in the regions of
Valparaiso and Coquimbo. i2O,
along with Glemans, its partner
in Chile, will deploy the dNet
solution in a wide extension
across the network.
The aim of the project is to
give Esval-Aguas del Valle
more visibility on network
performance to deliver an
improved level of customer
service. As part of the agreement,
service level reports will be
produced for the Chilean
regulator, SISS.
Environmental Audit Committee
has demanded that cosmetic
companies should be banned
from using plastic microbeads
in bathroom products such as
exfoliating scrubs.
Estimates suggest as much a
86 tonnes of microplastics are
released into the environment
per year in the UK from facial
exfoliants alone. Earlier this
year a report from Loyola
University Chicago found that
microplastics were passing
through wastewater treatment
plants. Following the release of a
report, the committee called for
a national ban on microbeads by
the end of 2017.

6 WWINTERNATIONAL.COM AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2016

1608wwi_6 6 9/8/16 3:59 PM

 NEWS

CHINA SINGAPORE
10 Water and energy project developer China Everbright Water has secured 9 US consultancy CH2M has
the Nanjing Pukou Industrial Wastewater Treatment Project Phase I. A joint won a contract to provide
venture company will be established, with partner Jiangsu Zhongbo taking consultancy services for
a 40% stake, to deliver the contract. To be delivered on a Build-Operate- Singapores fifth desalination
Transfer (BOT) basis, wastewater will be treated from the integrated circuit plant. The anticipated 137,000
industry zone in the Pukou Economic Development Zone, Nanjing. Total m3/day project will be co-
investment of Phase I is approximately RMB62 million (US$9.3m) with a located with an industrial plant
treatment capacity of 10,000 m3/day. Operation is set to start in June 2017. as a result of limited space on
the petrochemical hub, Jurong
Island. CH2M competed against
Parsons Brinckerhoff, AECOM,
Arup and Black & Veatch
(B&V) for the project. Singapore
has set out the target for five
desalination plants, providing
up to 85% of the nations water
needs by 2060.

4 ETHIOPIA
8
5 Israeli wastewater treatment
company Emefcy has signed
a contract for its Membrane
6 10 Aerated Biofilm Reactor (MABR)
to be used at the Ayder Hospital
7 at Mekele University in Tigray,
Ethiopia. Once installed, the
8 320 m3/day MABR system
will treat wastewater from
9 the hospital. The contract
will generate revenue of
approximately US$321,400 and
is scheduled to be commissioned
by the end of this year. The
installation represents Emefcys
first deal outside of Israel
and is double the size of the
companys wastewater treatment
installation at Ha-Yogev, Israel.

5 GERMANY 6 ISRAEL 7 DUBAI

Chemical company Lanxess will
double the capacity of its reverse
osmosis (RO) manufacturing
site in Bitterfeld, Germany to
cope with increasing demand.
The company has now been
active in the RO market for
five years, overall investing 40
million euros. Since opening
the Bitterfeld site, Lanxess
has cooperated with technical
universities and other research
facilities in the region, including
the Fraunhofer Institutes
for Factory Operation and
Automation in Magdeburg.
The expansion falls in line with
a 10% annual projected growth
rate for the RO market between
2015-2020.
IDE Technologies has responded
to reports suggesting a Chinese
company has put in an
acquisition bid. ENR reported
that China Communication
and Construction Company
had put in a $650 million
non-binding offer for the
company. Responding to the
speculation, Avshalom Felber,
CEO of IDE Technologies,
said: The shareholders are
examining strategic options,
but we cannot comment on the
rumours around these options.
In 2015 IDEs two joint owners,
Israel Chemical Ltd and the
Delek Group partnered with
investment bank UBS to help
with the sale of the company.
Utility Dubai Electricity and
Water Authority (DEWA) has
awarded an advisory services
contract to develop a seawater
reverse osmosis desalination
plant at the Jebel Ali Power
Station. The AED16.3 million
($4.4m) contract to develop the
182,000 m3/day project has been
awarded to an international
company but DEWA did not
stipulate any further details. Set
to be operational by April 2020,
the plant is expected to help the
Emirate state meet its Dubai Plan
2021 objectives. Dubais water
production capacity is 2.1 million
m3/day with the majority of the
plants using thermal, multi-stage
flash (MSF) technology.

AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2016 WWINTERNATIONAL.COM 7

1608wwi_7 7 9/8/16 3:59 PM

 NEWS

CHINA HAS MADE BIG STRIDES TO

IMPROVE WATER SECURITY, SAYS ADB
Water security in Asia and Pacific has
progressed overall in the past five years
but major challenges remain, including
overexploited groundwater, demand
from rising populations and climate
variability, according to a new report
from the Asian Development Bank
(ADB).
The new edition of the Asian Water
Development Outlook (AWDO 2016)
provides a snapshot of the water
security status of 48 of the regions
countries, using latest data sets.
According to these, the number of
countries assessed as water insecure has
dropped to 29, compared to 38 (out of
49 countries) identified in the previous
issue of the report in 2013.
The report cites that in Asia and the
Pacific, 1.7 billion people lack access
to basic sanitation. Recent estimates
suggest that by 2050, 3.4 billion people
could be living in water-stressed areas
in Asia and the Pacific while water
demand will increase by 55%.
AWDO 2016 assesses water security
in five key dimensions - namely
household access, economic viability,
urban services, restoring rivers and
ecosystems, and resilience to water-
related disasters.
Advanced economies such as
Australia, Japan and New Zealand
consistently lead the way, followed
by countries in East Asia - led by the
Peoples Republic of China (PRC),
which has taken the biggest stride to
improve water security since the AWDO
2013 edition.
On household access to piped potable
water and improved sanitation, the
water security score in Asia and the
Pacific on a 20-point scale ranges
from 4.5 for South Asia to 20.0 for the
advanced economies.
All parts of the region improved their
performance by about two points since
2013, except for the Pacific islands. But
although the rural-urban gap has been
reduced in some countries (such as
Armenia and Thailand), the report said
major disparities remain between rural
and urban areas and between rich and
poor on services and infrastructure for
piped water supply and sanitation.
The second key dimension, economic
water security, provides an assessment
of the productive use of water to sustain
economic growth in food production,
industry and energy. Most of the
change since 2013 has been positive
with advanced countries again showing
the highest scores and Pacific islands
lagging. But there remains room
for improvement across the region.
Countries that merit strengthening
current conditions are concentrated in
Central Asia, ADB added.
For urban water security, East Asia
has shown positive progress while
South and Southeast Asia still have
some way to go, particularly Myanmar,
Pakistan, and the Philippines.
Nearly half of the economies have
piped water supply levels higher than
85% but less than 50% of the urban
population have access to improved
sanitation. In many areas, the majority
of wastewater is discharged to the
environment having received little to
no treatment. The report said significant
investment and leadership is needed to
reliably meet the water needs of cities.
The fourth key dimension describes
how well a country is able to manage
its river basins and sustain ecosystem
services. This shows a wide range of
results, with the Pacific islands scoring
highly due to good river health and
advanced economies doing well due
to strong governance. Declining river
health is most evident in Bangladesh,
the lower Yangtze River Basin of the
PRC, Nepal, and Mekong Delta in Viet
Nam, the report says.
The report concludes that the
relationship between water security
and the economy can be a virtuous,
or a vicious, circle. There is a
strong relationship between water
management and the economy, and
investments in good water management
can be considered as a longer term
payback for increased growth and
poverty reduction, the report said.

Software for infrastructure

management and
water industry
Use the Network Information System
BaSYS to plan, operate and manage
supply and disposal networks with
all leading GIS and CAD systems.
Protects your investments.

www.barthauer.com

For more information, enter 5 at wwi.hotims.com

8 WWINTERNATIONAL.COM AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2016

1608wwi_8 8 9/8/16 4:00 PM

 NEWS

IN BRIEF
NATURE-INSPIRED TECH BAGS
STOCKHOLM PRIZE
Three students from Thailand have
received the 2016 Stockholm Junior
Water Prize for a device that mimics
the water retention of the Bromeliad
plant. They examined the efficacy Shown on 20" ductile iron pipe
of natural water collection by plants
especially in terms of the shape of
plants that collect and capture water.

PPP DEAL INKED OUT FOR

PLAYAS DE ROSARTIO, MEXICO

TACKLE THE TOUGH CUT

The State of Baja California,
Mexico has signed a public-private
partnership with Aguas de Rosarito,
known as AdR, to design, construct,
finance and operate the seawater
UNIVERSAL PIPE CUTTERS
With different Reed blades, UPCs cut 6" to 48" (150 to 1300 mm) steel,
desalination plant in Playas de ductile/cast iron, clay, concrete, PVC or PE pipe in one revolution.
Rosarito. Suez Environment Pneumatic-powered UPCs are fast, lightweight, easy to setup and use.
subsidiary Degremont will design
UPCs only require 12" (300 mm) clearance around the pipe, provide a
and construct the plant. The 455,000 square cut, and can be used underwater.
m3/day project is worth US$490
million.
Reed Manufacturing Company
Erie, PA USA reedsales@reedmfgco.com www.reedmfgco.com
WATER SHARING AGREEMENT
IN RED SEA-DEAD SEA PROJECT For more information, enter 6 at wwi.hotims.com
The ambitious Middle East Red
Sea Dead Project could see Israel
transferring 30 million cubic metres
of water per year to the Palestinian
Authority, under new developments.
Israeli sources have reported that an
agreement was signed at the World
Water Week in Stockholm, backed
by Jordan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and
other Gulf States.

SALT MINE SETTLEMENT

RESULTS IN $17M FOR WATER
Public drinking-water systems
in Livingston County, Mich., will
receive $17m in a settlement related
to the 1994 Retsof salt-mine collapse.
According to the Democrat and
Chronicle, the money could be used
to extend public drinking water to
properties that have been served
by wells in the area affected by the
mine collapse and to safeguard the
cleanliness of the primary source of
public water there, Conesus Lake.
Akzo Nobel, the Netherlands-based
corporation that owned the Retsof
salt mine, will now deliver the funds
to Livingston County to upgrade the
areas drinking water systems.

For more information, enter 7 at wwi.hotims.com

AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2016 WWINTERNATIONAL.COM 9

1608wwi_9 9 9/8/16 4:00 PM

 LEADER FOCUS
BREXIT, BORIS & WATER 4.0:
XYLEMS CEO ON THE RECORD
In a landmark acquisition, water treatment company Xylem bought metering company Sensus for $1.7
billion. What does the company look for when it acquires a new business? How is it diversifying to become
less of a pump-centric organisation? WWi catches up with CEO and president, Patrick Decker in Singapore.
By Tom Freyberg
T
om Freyberg, chief editor of WWi
magazine (TF): Hi Patrick I want
to talk to you about Singapore,
which is known as a hydro hub. Is
Xylem still seeing it this way?
Patrick Decker, CEO and president,
Xylem (PD): As you know Ive always
been a believer that necessity is the
mother of all invention and water
is a national security issue here in
Singapore, given their water treaty
with Malaysia. They are constantly
re-inventing themselves in terms of
how they drive down water losses and
non-revenue water. Its a big theme
for Singapore but also they are leaders
in water reclamation, water re-use,
which is a big focus for us as well. So
you absolutely continue to see a lot of
innovation here.
TF: I also think in Singapore theres still
contracts to be won. We are hearing
about the fourth and fifth desalination
plants, as well as water reclamation
facilities as part of DTSS (Deep Tunnel
Sewerage System) Phase 2, so it looks as
if there is still plenty of work to be won
here for the international companies?
PD: Absolutely. This is one of our fastest
growing regions so as I look around the
world, about 15% of our total revenue
as a company is generated from greater
Asia Pacific and Middle East. We see
that pretty consistent across the region,
whether its the ASEAN countries,
where Singapore really is a thought
leader - they really are a technology
reference across the region - but we see
booming business in India, the work
that Prime Minister Modi is doing in
terms of the Ganges river clean up and
the Smart Cities initiative. The fact
that in China this is a top policy issue
10 WWINTERNATIONAL.COM AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2016
1608wwi_10 10
in terms of environmental quality and really think thats spurring some of our
water quality. So even though you hear growth in China. Im very bullish on
all of this stuff about the doomsday, the China and we are really developing the
end of the world in China, the reality products that are fit for purpose in that
is two thirds of our revenue comes market. But its not without challenges.
from the wastewater sector and public
utilities and we continued to see double TF: You mention there that youre
digit growth there, throughout this so expecting a 15% of the business to come
called crisis in China and so I always from the Asia region?
take the long view.
PD: Asia and Middle East.
TF: I was in Shanghai a couple of weeks
ago and there is a big emphasis on the TF: So you think from the increased
Water Ten plan. So while theres been manufacturing in China you could see
years of industrialisation and you see this increase?
the media reports on pollution, now I
think the government is really taking PD: Yes. Weve got really strong local
quite a hard stance on this. manufacturing base in China. We have a
PD: Absolutely. I was there soon strong manufacturing base in India. We
after that initiative came out and met also have strong manufacturing in the
with quite a number of water utilities Middle East, now that we are actually
but also large industrial users of water building in the region. We have a
that quite frankly, historically did greenfield site there that were opening
not consider water to be core to their up later this year. And all that together
operation. They were certainly trying to
be compliant but they didnt understand
the importance of efficacy of treatment.
So you can imagine going in there
as a water company that has both
the pumping capability, the testing
capability, the treatment capability with
customers that, quite frankly, were quite
scared but didnt know exactly how to
deal with this issue. That really opened
up a series of wonderful conversations
and it is spurring a lot of investment in
the country.
I would say a second issue is the
expansion into tier two and tier three
cities. We are carrying out a lot of work
right now on doing more localisation
of our products and designs, in other
words fit for purpose in China in those
cities. Weve made some significant
expansion at our China factory in
Patrick Decker joined Xylem from Harsco
Shinyang, as well as in Nanjing and we Corporation, an industrial services firm
9/8/16 4:00 PM
 LEADER FOCUS

saw in our investor day late last year

SENSUS ACQUISITION weve got a very solid arsenal from a
In a headline acquisition, global water company Xylem will buy metering cashflow standpoint and a balance sheet
firm Sensus for $1.7 billion in cash. Xylem said it expects to achieve standpoint to be able to play where it
$50 million annually from the buy within three years of closing the deal. makes sense for us to play. And that
Sensus is owned by investment funds affiliated with the Jordan Company was always one of the primary themes
and GS Capital Partners 2000 and has more than 80 million metering of Xylem coming out of ITT, was to say
devices installed globally. The company has over 3000 employees globally there is a role for a natural integrator in
and in 2016 generated nearly 70% of revenues in the US. Decker said the certain areas of the water space to play.
advanced metering infrastructure segment is growing at nearly twice the
rate of the total metering space. TF: You mentioned the quality of data
and at the IFAT show your team showed
The acquisition demonstrates how companies involved in the traditional me your new smart pump, which can
water treatment markets, such as pumps, aeration and UV, are detect where there are potential clogs
diversifying into the smart infrastructure space. and that ties in with data. I want to ask
you about industry 4.0 - someone told
we are confident that we are going to be fragmented sector and it really serves as me theyre calling it water 4.0. Is this
able to at least triple that business over a proxy for R&D for us because theres something that is genuinely going to
the next three to five years. Theres a a lot of IP that already exists out there. stay or is it a fad?
lot of big contracts that we are bidding So rather than us trying to develop it
on right now. And Ive always said, in ourselves its often better to partner PD: I am adamant on this. Its here to
order to win big contracts you have to with someone else. So thats going to stay. I think therell be different rates of
win big contracts. continue to be an area of focus. adoption around the world. I think that
I would say we will continue to use we are going to go through a period
TF: I see you are expecting a 1% growth mergers and acquisitions as a proxy for of time here, like any industry is, as
rate from acquisitions and companies R & D on building out smart wastewater to what is quality data, what is not so
youre looking to buy in the market. So networks with our Flygt offering and quality data? What do you do with it? Is
my question is what are you looking our great customer relationships there. it owned by the customer or is it owned
for, in terms of start-ups and new Were already connecting our flight by the service or equipment provider?
companies? pumps into the SCADA systems of our So its not going to be easy. I think
customers and gathering a lot of data there will always be a challenge in terms
PD: Well the 1% is this year. So we - not always of the highest quality so of: whats the value proposition - and
already have in our pocket 1% growth building that data analytics capability is how do you monetise that? And there
coming from the two acquisitions that going to be important. will always be a temptation for it to be
we did, coming from the first quarter And then I would say also in more of a commodity and so I think
of last year, first quarter of this year. the clean water network where we thats just something we all have to
Those two both happen to be focused place somewhat today, there are work through.
on what we refer to as the outdoor, or great opportunities I think, from an At the end of the day I look at it and
surface water area so think about lakes, M&A standpoint. Were going to be say if youre creating a better value
rivers, dams, streams, ocean coastal disciplined. It would be very tempting proposition to your customer by helping
where our analytics offering, or getting to over pay. These are high multiple them better solve problems that they
into big data is very important for our kind of businesses if you dont go about either knew they had or they didnt
customers, quality, water resilience. it in the right way. even know they had, youll sort through
Thats going to continue to be an area So were going to be disciplined the economics. Youll figure out a way.
of focus for us. We think its a really around that, but as you probably That will follow.
I think that the idea of somehow the
possibility of staying in an environment
where we have dumb networks doesnt
make any sense to me when a lot of
other industries are moving in that
direction.
One of the things that we are very
focussed on right now, we brought
on board a dedicated innovation
technology officer - Jayanthi Iyengar.
I purposely brought her from outside
the water industry because we have a
lot of the water knowledge inside our
company already but what I wanted
was someone who had come in from
Decker says the company has expanded its China factories in Shinyang and Nanjing industries that had experienced

AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2016 WWINTERNATIONAL.COM 11

1608wwi_11 11 9/8/16 4:00 PM

 LEADER FOCUS
The CEO says Xylem will shift away from being seen as a pump-centric organisation
disruptive business models and really
understood where that could come
from.
One of the areas that were focussed
on now is we dont need to own all
the R&D and innovation technology
development inside the four walls of
Xylem. We can build an ecosystem -
an overused word but an ecosystem
of people around us, academia,
commercial partnerships, venture
capital funds, start ups, where it could
be more of a shared economy. It doesnt
have to be capital intensive and it
doesnt have to be asset intensive.
TF: So youre talking more collaboration
with universities, academics, not
necessarily under the Xylem umbrella
but part of a wider Xylem network?
PD: Thats correct. I came out of health
care, from years ago and we would
never have afforded all of the R&D we
wanted to do in terms of new product
development, nor did we need to,
The Flygt Concertor launched at IFAT 16
12 WWINTERNATIONAL.COM AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2016
1608wwi_12 12
because you could rely on academia,
you could rely on start ups, you could
rely on other think tanks that are out
there. But youve got to be able to bring
some substance to the table. And at the
end of the day, to me, thats the power
of Xylem. Its not unique to us. But we
certainly have as much, if not more, than
anybody does in terms of subject matter
expertise that we can bring to the table.
TF: I want to talk to you about Brexit.
What does this mean to Xylem, as part
of the wider European economy and the
EU single market? Is this going to have
an impact on your European figures?
PD: More than two thirds of our
revenue in the UK is tied to water
utilities and the wastewater side of the
market. Youre very familiar with the
AMP cycle and while there could be
some kind of movement in that, at the
end of the day Ive been impressed over
time with how deeply committed the
government is to that programme so
two thirds of our business in the UK is
not going to be affected at all.
I would say the remainder of that,
theres some uncertainty as to what
happens in our industrial client base,
commercial buildings. There could
be some slowdown there. I think its
anybodys guess as to what thats going
to look like. I think the real impact for
us across Europe would be if there was
a knock on effect in terms of currency
valuation but that would not be from
an economic impact it would be purely
currency translation, reporting.
We are a dollar denominated
company - so you deal with that.
Our business across Europe is largely
localised at a country level. Weve got
a few regional players that might have
some impact but not to a large degree.
TF: I think it will be a period of
uncertainty, especially politically, with
the new female Prime Minister coming
into office as well.
PD: It helps to have certainty as to who
your leader is and whos going to be
negotiating the exit.
TF: If were sat here two years from
now in the next Singapore International
Water Week 2018 what can we expect to
see from Xylem, what changes are you
anticipating over the next two years?
PD: I think if it all goes to plan, and
I always say theres a caveat because
the world changes and things evolve. I
think there are a few things that you will
see have evolved in a couple of different
areas. One, youll see that our presence
in various critical emerging markets,
certainly in Asia and the Middle East,
will be even stronger and larger than
what they are today because of some of
the investments were making there.
I think that you will see a Xylem team
that will be two years older of having
been a company together and youll see
even more of a unified front. And Im
so impressed by what Ive seen over the
last two years since the spin out from
ITT. These things take time to build a
brand and a company recognition. I
think were making a lot of progress
in that regard. You see that here in
Singapore and other areas around the
world.
In terms of the technologies and the
solutions we bring to our customers,
we will be much more down the line in
terms of Industry 4.0. I think you will
also see that the acquisitions that we
will have done and brought to market
will continue to be moving up the
technology curve and we will be even
less of a pump-centric company.
I love our pump businesses, they
are unassailable franchises and a great
foot in the door. But weve got so much
more to offer beyond that and we will
continue to augment our portfolio
with other value propositions for our
customers.
- Tom Freyberg is chief editor of
WWi.magazine.
9/8/16 4:00 PM
 For more information, enter 8 at wwi.hotims.com

1608wwi_13 13 9/8/16 4:00 PM

 ANALYSIS

ANALYSIS
BREXIT: A WATERSHED FOR THE EU?
Since the 1970s the European Union has agreed to over 200 pieces of environmental regulation. With the
UKs decision to leave the EU, known as a Brexit, what impact will this have on the UK market, businesses
exporting their technologies and wider Europe?
By Jeremy Josephs.

voters realised the implications of their

Since no one knows precisely what
vote?
Mark Goodger, regional technical
manager at Hydro International UKs
Stormwater Division admits to having
had mixed experiences of the European
model. Why?
Because having been involved with
EU projects, I know how drawn-out and

B
rexit - the new word on the tip
of everyones tongue - and not
a very pretty word at that. But
the prospect of the United Kingdoms
impending departure from the
European Union (EU) has created such
uncertainty and turmoil that it has been
described as the greatest political and
economic upheaval since the end of the
Second World War.
Since the British public is regularly
being told by its new and no-nonsense
Prime Minister Theresa May that Brexit
means Brexit we can rest assured that
the four fundamental freedoms of
the EU - the free movement of goods,
services, people and capital - are all
going to be radically realigned and
reassessed.
this will mean in terms of the very
biggest issues of the day - those relating
to net migration, border security and
sovereignty - it should surely come
as no surprise that there is next to no
information or clarity as to what the
likely impact is going to be on the water
sector in general or what will happen,
for example, to the extremely detailed
requirements and deadlines of the
European Water Framework Directive
(WFD) in particular.
MIXED EXPERIENCES
With the markets taking a turn for
the worse after the referendum, with
sterling promptly falling to a 31 year
low, investors pondered this not
unreasonable question: had British
bureaucratic European processes can
be.
His view, however, is that with such
a large amount of European legislation
already transposed into UK law, a
number of policies and regulations are
likely to remain unchanged.
This could well include not just
aspects of the WFD but the Drinking
Water Directive, Bathing Water
Directive, the Floods Directive, the
Urban Waste Water Directive and
the Nitrates Directive - to name but a
few. He considers that the devolved
governments might well take the
opportunity to further develop their
own distinct approaches to policy.
Even if it is indeed to be goodbye
to certain aspects of the WFD and

14 WWINTERNATIONAL.COM AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2016

1608wwi_14 14 9/8/16 4:00 PM

 ANALYSIS

reporting directly to the European Commission, the UK could

nevertheless well remain subject to scrutiny by the European
Free Trade Association (EFTA) Surveillance Authority. All
that is certain is uncertainty, he laments.
Since the 1970s the EU has agreed no less than 200 separate
pieces of legislation designed to protect the environment.
Going through each and every directive is clearly going to be
a gargantuan task, cherry picking what to keep and what to
dispense with. Such a task has be repeated in virtually each
and every very aspect of public life - from energy to telecoms,
from finance to health and safety. David Davis - Her Majestys
Principal Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union
will certainly have his work cut out.

UK RESEARCHERS WILL
HAVE MORE DIFFICULTY IN
OBTAINING EU FUNDING,
AND THAT THE ENTIRE
INDUSTRY WILL SUFFER AS
A RESULT.
Speaking to WWi magazine, Dr David Lloyd Owen,
managing director of consultancy Envisager, says that
he would be unlikely to be wringing out a tear-laden
handkerchief at the demise of the WFD.
In 2013, the Environment Agency (EA) calculated that
partial compliance over 37 years would cost 7.05 billion
(including 2.19 billion from the utilities), while compliance
where technically feasible would cost 25.18 billion, including
13.35 billion from the utilities. The EA anticipates about 75%
of inland waters meeting the WFD by 2027. This highlights the
challenge of compliance in certain waters.
He adds: Its greatest failing is the one out, all out rule,
whereby good ecological status can only be achieved if all the
chemical water quality criteria are met. There is no incentive
for making a bad waterway into a reasonable one, even when
this has a greater impact at a lower cost. The long timetable
makes compliance also more vulnerable to the combined
effects of population growth and climate change. Was it

Complicated: Since the 1970s the EU has agreed to no less than 200 separate pieces of
legislation designed to protect the environment
For more information, enter 9 at wwi.hotims.com

AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2016 WWINTERNATIONAL.COM 15

1608wwi_15 15 9/8/16 4:00 PM

 ANALYSIS

Domino effect: In Brussels there are fears

of contagion as a result of Brexit other
countries holding referendums to leave the EU

possible that the final target date of 2027
was intended to put the matter far back
enough for to ensure it was a challenge
for another generation of Eurocrats and
MEPs to meet?
SHARPENING THE LEGAL KNIVES
Riki Therivel, visiting professor and
research associate at Oxford Brookes
University agrees that Brexit is
unlikely to mean that much of the UKs
environmental and planning legislation
will be jettisoned.
But it does mean that in time this
will all be reconsidered. The Local
Plans Expert Group has already
recommended a substantial weakening
of Englands requirements for strategic
environmental assessment. The Air
Quality Directives standards are not
being met in many areas, nor are those
of the WFD in over half of water bodies
in England and Wales: so one can well
imagine the legal knives sharpening
against all of the implementing
legislation.
Vicky West from the Chartered
Institution of Water and Environmental
Management (CIWEM) endorses the
prevailing notion that it is next to
impossible to say anything specific
about the future of the WFD on the
grounds that we are at such an early
stage.
CIWEM did issue a statement,
however, in which the words
uncertainty, instability and unclear and Wedderburn issued an analysis
loomed large and which seems to sum
up the approach of most professionals
working in the water sector.
This spills over, understandably
enough, into the world of academia and
research. Herv Levite, who is based in
the southern French city of Marseille
where he works for the The World Bank
Center for Mediterranean Integration,
admits that: We are very sad at this
whole Brexit story. My biggest concern
is that UK researchers and scientists will
have more difficulty in obtaining EU
funding, and that the entire industry
will come to suffer as a result. These
are unsettling times and no one knows
precisely what the outcome is going
tobe.
A SLIPPERY SLOPE?
Its not just politicians and policy
makers, it should be noted, who have
been pronouncing and pontificating
about the likely impact of Brexit.
The leading UK law firm Shepherd
bullet on water and wastewater in
which, worryingly but perhaps not
unjustifiably, they shifted the theme
from one of uncertainty to instability.
Exiting the EU will have a profound
impact on the strategic direction of the
UK water sector, the firm concluded,
with the absence of EU Directives
meaning that the UK will come to
diverge from a path which has driven
consistency and common standards
across European Member States for over
25 years.
In respect of the WFD the firm muses
if this could be the beginning of a looser

16 WWINTERNATIONAL.COM AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2016

1608wwi_16 16 9/8/16 4:00 PM

 ANALYSIS

and more flexible slippery slope: It is National leader Marine Le Pen has We shall see if these sanguine words
entirely foreseeable that environmental pledged to hold a French referendum dont come back to bite him. After all,
quality standards could be lessened, if she emerges victorious in next years as virtually each and every expert is
particularly under the justification presidential elections - Frexit. telling us, we are living in uncertain
of economic development, growth Since Dutch voters overwhelmingly times.
and jobs. Certainly some of the more rejected a Ukraine-European Union Germanys equally troubled
contentious areas of the WFD, such as treaty there is now much talk of Nexit. Chancellor Angela Merkel put it more
the one-in-all-out principle for river The European Commissions succinctly still. There is no point
water quality, could be revised. troubled president, Jean-Claude in beating about the bush: today is
Additionally, certain principles Juncker, is adamant that this does not a watershed for Europe. Brexit a
such as full cost recovery could receive for one minute spell the end of the watershed indeed.
more flexible treatment in the future, European Union on the grounds that
depending on the political direction of a the bloc has decades of experience in Jeremy Josephs is a freelance
future UK administration. On the other overcoming crises. correspondent for WWi magazine..
hand a different regulatory framework
could potentially mean some projects,
which may have previously been in
doubt, getting the consenting green
light. The question of the environmental
Solinst Levelogger
cost versus overall benefits would of Providing worry-free, accurate water level data
course be a tough question for any
future policymakers.
Lila Thompson, international director
at British Water considers that the
WFD requirements will continue to
be implemented - unless and until
instructed by the government to do
otherwise. She then adds three key
words to WWi which seem to sum up
the prevailing atmosphere: but who
knows?
Nevertheless British Water remains Absolute Precision Technology
upbeat: The UK water sector will
continue to be regulated and world The Levelogger Series of dataloggers are
trade will continue. The English self-contained water level recorders that use a
language will continue to be the global durable, corrosion-resistant Hastelloy pressure
business language and many of the sensor and are powered by a lithium battery.
emerging and exciting markets sit Leveloggers use infrared data transfer to
outside the EU. The UK is likely to communicate optically, eliminating direct
continue to follow much of the EU electrical connection. This unique feature,
directive guidance. along with the Faraday cage design, protects
There are some areas of the Water Leveloggers against power surges and
Framework Directive, for example,
lightning strikes.
which we can possibly decouple from,
which will drive further innovation in
TOTEX thinking - fully considering both
operational and capital investments in
decision-making.
App Store is a service mark of Apple Inc.
CONTAGION, FREXIT AND BREXIT Apple and the Apple logo are tradmarks of Apple Inc., registered in the US and other countries.

Perhaps the greatest impact of Brexit is Google Play is a trademark of Google Inc.
not related to the detailed provisions
of the WFD at all. Or any other
environmental directive for that matter. www.solinst.com
For in Brussels greater fears are looming
and they are far larger than issues
High Quality Groundwater and Surface Water Monitoring Instrumentation
relating to water quality or the good
ecological status of Europes rivers and Solinst Canada Ltd., 35 Todd Road, Georgetown, ON L7G 4R8
lakes. For there are far more pressing Fax: +1 (905) 873-1992 Tel: +1 (905) 873-2255
instruments@solinst.com
concerns about what is referred to as
the risk of contagion. Frances Front
For more information, enter 10 at wwi.hotims.com

AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2016 WWINTERNATIONAL.COM 17

1608wwi_17 17 9/9/16 3:29 PM

 TECHNOLOGY MEMBRANES

Waste to value: Chamotte (from fired tile

scrap) and marble dust are being used to
help bring down manufacturing costs

CRACKING THE CERAMIC

CAPEX CONUNDRUM

While higher costs have prevented
widespread use for durable
ceramic technology, a European
funded project in Spain aims
to tackle this by producing
membranes from industrial waste
and raw materials from the tile
industry.
By William Steel
T
he Recycled Membrane Bioreactor
project (REMEB) is working
under a three-year framework
to develop, validate and commercialise
a low-cost membrane bioreactor
(MBR) featuring sustainable ceramic
membranes.
REMEB has a total budget of
2.3 million and is being supported
through the Horizon 2020 research
and innovation initiative where it has
received financing via a 1.8 million
grant from the European Commission.
The project which began last
September and is set to conclude
August 2018 is being undertaken by
a consortium of eleven partners; public
and private players spread through
seven countries.
Ceramic membranes are of course
not new, but they remain prohibitively
expensive for many settings limiting
their use to niche, largely industrial,
applications and bolstering the business
case for choosing polymeric membranes,
which dominate the membrane market.
This is an unfortunate circumstance
considering the numerous advantages
of ceramic membranes, notably their
resilience to chemicals and lifetime
robustness.
Seeking to overcome barriers
imposed by expense, what sets REMEB
apart from conventional ceramics is
the materials it intends to utilise in
production of membranes.
WASTE TO VALUE
Speaking to WWi magazine, Elena
Zuriaga, REMEB technical coordinator,
and researcher at FACSA (the Spanish
company leading REMEB and one of
the largest operators of drinking water
and wastewater facilities in Spain) says:
Conventional ceramic membranes
made from oxide materials such as
alumina, zirconia, or titania are very
expensive. Its not only that materials

18 WWINTERNATIONAL.COM AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2016

1608wwi_18 18 9/8/16 4:00 PM

 Yippee! Or as we call it:
2.23 m, 25.43 C, and 218 mbar
6LHPHQV3URFHVV,QVWUXPHQWDWLRQPHDVXULQJHYHU\WKLQJWKDWPDWWHUV

/HYHO7HPSHUDWXUH3UHVVXUHDQGPRUH

2XUUDQJHRISURFHVVLQVWUXPHQWVDUHPDNLQJDELJVSODVK
:KHWKHU\RXQHHGWRPHDVXUHSUHVVXUHWHPSHUDWXUHIORZ
ZHLJKWOHYHORUXVHHOHFWURSQHXPDWLFSRVLWLRQHUVRXU
LQVWUXPHQWVDUHHQJLQHHUHGWRJLYH\RXWKHPRVWSUHFLVH
PHDVXUHPHQWSRVVLEOH$QGEHFDXVHZHXQGHUVWDQG
DFFXUDWHPHDVXULQJLVWKHNH\WRLQFUHDVLQJSODQWHIILFLHQF\
DQGLPSURYLQJSURGXFWTXDOLW\ZHRIIHUIXOO\DXWRPDWHG
VROXWLRQVIRUHYHU\VWDJHRIWKHSURFHVV:KLFKPHDQV\RX
FDQUHO\RQRXUSDVVLRQIRUSUHFLVLRQWKURXJKRXW\RXUHQWLUH
SODQW%HFDXVHZHEHOLHYHHYHU\EXVLQHVVVXFFHVVEHJLQV
ZLWKJUHDWPHDVXULQJ

VLHPHQVFRPSURFHVVLQVWUXPHQWDWLRQ
For more information, enter 11 at wwi.hotims.com

1608wwi_19 19 9/8/16 4:00 PM

 TECHNOLOGY MEMBRANES
THE GOAL IS TO
REDUCE CAPITAL
COSTS THROUGH
A CERAMIC DESIGN
FEATURING
CHEAP,
ABUNDANT
MATERIALS
AND EASILY
REPRODUCIBLE,
LOW-COST
MANUFACTURING
METHODS.
are expensive; the manufacturing
process is also very costly.
Because of this, their use is limited
predominantly to industrial wastewater
treatments where high investment and
capital costs are not so great a problem.
But that cost barrier is a problem in
other cases where we would like to see
ceramic-based solutions implemented.
In particular, REMEB hope to foster
greater use of ceramics in municipal
facilities.
As an alternative, she says, in
order to achieve ceramic membranes
with lower cost than the commercial
ceramic ones, and [which are] more
sustainable, we are using agricultural
and industrial wastes, together with raw
materials typically used in the ceramic
tile industry, instead of metal oxides.
Describing how waste materials are
featuring in REMEBs plan, Zuriaga
says: Olive oil (orujillo) wastes are
used as pore formers. Chamotte (from
fired tile scrap) and marble dust have
been used together with the typical
raw materials employed in the ceramic
tile industry (basically clay, quartz and
feldspar).
At the moment we are working at
pilot scale to test different compositions
of wastes and raw materials in order
to achieve the most suitable plasticity,
mechanical resistance and porosity. The
advantage of these recycled materials
20 WWINTERNATIONAL.COM AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2016
1608wwi_20 20
Testing times:Validation of the REMEB MBR technology will take
place at the Aledo municipal WWTP, in the region of Murcia, Spain
is their widespread availability in the
Mediterranean region and low cost,
operating (OPEX) costs. But because
companies tend to focus on capital costs
says Zuriaga.
A low-cost ceramic membrane,
when deciding on what product or
solution to invest in or choose, polymers
optimised for MBRs, of the sort REMEB are usually favoured.
promises to deliver would be well Therefore, if were able to
received by the water treatment market significantly lower capital costs of
and MBR operators and would, as ceramic membranes we might be
Zuriaga says, enable ceramic-based able to enable greater use of ceramic
wastewater treatment solutions and membranes within the market.
their many advantages to reach a far The goal, Xin explains, is therefore to
wider range of applications. reduce capital costs through a ceramic
design featuring cheap, abundant
THE EXPANDING MBR MARKET materials and easily reproducible, low-
A core technology of the water cost manufacturing methods.
treatment and reuse industry, theres a Reduced OPEX costs would then
large and expanding market for MBRs: follow naturally, owing to attributes
with some 4.2 million m3/day of large- of ceramic membranes, as Zuriaga
scale (greater than 30,000 m3/day) MBR highlights: Ceramic membranes
capacity installed worldwide according demonstrate greater resilience in
to Bluefield Research, and typical ways that are useful in the context of
worldwide market growth rates of up
to 15%.
However, while MBR growth has
been aided through declining costs of
polymeric membranes, costs for ceramic
membranes remain high.
Gang Xin, technical manager at
BioWater Technology, a Norwegian
water treatment technology company
partnered on REMEB, tells WWi, Were
starting to see ceramic membranes
becoming more popular and taking
over a larger market share. Theres a
critical obstacle though the cost of
membranes.
Xin continues: If you look at the life-
cycle analysis of ceramic membranes,
these might be close to polymer
membranes over a twenty-year time Pressing on: Olive oil (orujillo) wastes are used as pore
formers in the process
span in both capital (CAPEX) and
9/8/16 4:00 PM
 Global water, wastewater
and processing storage solutions

Epoxy coated steel tanks Concrete tanks Cylindrical steel tanks Hot press GRP tanks

Hot press steel tanks Roof structures Tank installation Technical services

Balmoral Tanks +44 (0)1226 340370

Providing turnkey services to the anaerobic digestion, water, wastewater and processing sectors, Balmoral
Tanks offers what is potentially the widest range of accredited tanks from a single supplier in the world. industrialtanks@balmoral.co.uk
When this is supported by unrivalled engineering design experience and industry-leading customer
service, installation, maintenance and repair services, why consider going anywhere else?
Balmoral Tanks: Not just another tank company.
Stand B137, Hall 3 www.balmoraltanks.com
Member

For more information, enter 12 at wwi.hotims.com

1608wwi_21 21 9/8/16 4:00 PM

 TECHNOLOGY MEMBRANES

considering how other resources may be

Chalking up progress: Industrial wastes are being used as alternatives to achieve ceramic membranes with lower costs
membrane operation and maintenance.
The main advantage, Zuriaga
says, is that they have better chemical,
thermal and mechanical properties than
polymeric ones; making it possible to
operate them under severe conditions.
MAINTENANCE REDUCTION
This robustness is evident in their
being highly resistant to fouling,
high temperatures, acids, solvents
and bases, and their ability to
operate at high pressures. Ultimately,
these characteristics mean ceramic
membranes require less maintenance
and carry lower operational costs over
longer lifespans than polymerics.
Elaborating on a particular important
aspect of MBR operations, Xin says:
Ceramic membranes are more durable
against the types of chemicals featuring
in periodic chemical cleaning that all
membranes must undergo. Polymers
are quite resilient, but their lifetime
capability is typically three to five
years after this, membrane cassettes
must be replaced adding expense, and
increasing OPEX. In contrast, ceramic
membranes, even with more frequent
level of contact with those chemicals,
can see lifetimes of ten years or more.
The difference here is significant.
Precisely how low REMEB can
push costs for the ceramic membrane
is unclear at this time: In our initial
proposals we stated the aim to reduce
costs [compared to conventional
ceramics] by at least 30%; but the final
cost reduction will depend on combined
reductions in cost of raw materials and
cost of manufacture, says Zuriaga.
For sure we expect to produce
membranes cheaper than conventional
ceramic membranes, but we also hope
to be cost-competitive with polymeric
membranes thats key.
Altogether with these savings,
Zuriaga estimates the cost of the
REMEB MBR may be between 2.5
and 3.5 times less than MBRs with
conventional ceramic membranes.
PILOT-SCALE MANUFACTURING
Remarking on the consortiums
diversity, Zuriaga says its a real
strength for the project as it brings in
a great deal of expertise from multiple
disciplines, and knowledge of varying
market conditions, which is especially
important to a project like REMEB
where were considering global
applications.
A wide breadth of expertise is also
necessary given the scope of REMEBs
activities, which extend from market
analysis to complete product design,
manufacture, testing, and replication.
The wide geographic base of
support is also supporting the projects
Marble dust, with raw materials in the ceramic tile industry (clay, quartz and feldspar) is being used as an alternative
suitable as base-materials for a ceramic
membrane: It would be possible to
find an alternative organic material to
orujillo [which is being used as a pore
former] to this end, other organic
wastes will be tested says Zuriaga.
Presently, pilot-scale manufacturing
of ceramic membranes is taking place
at three REMEB partner ceramic-based
research centres ITC-UJI (Spain),
Centro Ceramico (Italy), and SAM
(Turkey) using waste resources
convenient in each region. Further
afield, the Antonio Nario University in
Columbia will undertake analysis of the
applicability of the REMEB MBR in view
of circumstances in South America.
ITC-UJI are also currently
collaborating with a ceramic tile
manufacturing company to re-tool and
adapt their manufacturing process
to whats required for the REMEB
membrane.
Zuriaga says: This is a new product
for them to manufacture, so theres a
lot of information to share about the
material properties we need to see in the
membrane. But Zuriaga is confident
that alongside an effective ceramic
membrane, REMEBs outcomes could
open doors to a new area of operations
for ceramic manufacturers.
TECHNOLOGY VALIDATION
The REMEB ceramic membrane will be
designed with application into existing
MBRs, featuring polymeric membranes,
in mind allowing operators to readily
switch to a ceramic solution. That
being the case, BioWater Technology
believes that facilitating access to

22 WWINTERNATIONAL.COM AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2016

1608wwi_22 22 9/8/16 4:00 PM


Teamwork: Everyone involved in delivering the REMEB project, led by Spanish water company FACSA
ceramic membranes will have positive
consequences beyond improving MBR
operation and maintenance.
Xin notes, There are certain
applications that only ceramic
membranes can fulfil. For instance, high
temperatures, extreme pH levels, high
oil or fat levels.
Moreover, ceramic membranes
represent a key enabler to the use of
some technologies. One example is
seen in how, or more specifically where,
membranes may be incorporated into
MBR systems.
Like many MBRs, BioWaters
Continuous Flow Intermittent Cleaning
(CFIC) system a next-generation
biofilm technology can take a side-
stream setup, with membranes installed
outside of the bioreactor.
In an alternative CFIC or MBR
configuration, however, membranes
may be placed within the biofilm
reactor, alongside carriers. There is a
problem here though: Understandably,
people may worry about bringing a
plastic carrier into direct contact with
a membrane as theres a risk of
damaging the membrane. This risk is
very real for polymer-based membranes,
which are quite delicate.
But with ceramic-based membranes,
the material is far more durable
this situation creates a very good
opportunity to integrate the two
processes; in other words, it makes it
more feasible to incorporate membranes
into the biological reactor.
Enabling more MBR systems to have
carriers and membranes combined in
the same tank would be an excellent
development according to Xin,
who says that as well as reducing a
systems footprint, Membrane and
1608wwi_23 23
TECHNOLOGY MEMBRANES
M I C R O F I LT R AT I O N
U LT R A F I LT R AT I O N
N A N O F I LT R AT I O N
timeless solutions!
ion !
2016
Sept. 24 - 28,
New Orleans, booth no. 563
at
Please visit us
carriers [working] together in the same
bioreactor can improve membrane
performance in water reuse installations
and significantly reduce energy inputs
compared to conventional MBR
processes.
Precisely how well REMEBs ceramic
MBR performs remains to be seen.
In this regard, REMEB look toward
preparations taking place at the Aledo
municipal WWTP, in Region of Murcia,
Spain; where the validation of the
REMEB MBR will take place. As the
Aledo WWTP already hosts a polymeric
MBR, it provides an ideal testing
ground for REMEB and its comparative
assessment against polymer membranes.
All things considered, Xin is
optimistic over the future of ceramic
membranes: Its too early to say what
proportion of the market ceramic
membranes might take over. But
considering the broader membrane
market, theres significant potential
here. We will have a better sense of this
with completion of the business plan; so 50 years of experience
around early spring 2018. own membrane production facilities
global player and manufacturer
William Steel is a freelance correspondent
for WWi magazine. quality control management system
(DIN EN ISO 9001:2008 certified)
Disclosure: The REMEB project is funded competent research and development
by the Horizon 2020 programme (reference experienced and involved staff
641998), under the framework of the call
H2020-WATER-2014-two stage and the
topic Water-1a-2014, which promotes
projects and initiatives for research,
technological development and innovation.
The project bears the focus Climate action,
environment, resource efficiency and raw
materials, and has identified societal
challenges in Europe in relation to security,
climate change and environmentally friendly
WWW.MICRODYN-NADIR.COM
production methods, among others.
For more information, enter 13 at wwi.hotims.com
AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2016 WWINTERNATIONAL.COM 23
9/8/16 4:00 PM
 REGIONAL SPOTLIGHT EASTERN EUROPE

A CZECH
SUCCESS STORY
Nanoparticle Tech Helps
Groundwater Decontamination
This article examines the
contribution made by the Regional
Centre of Advanced Technologies
and Materials at Palack
University in the Czech Republic
to nanoscale zero-valent iron
(NZVI) technolog to chlorinated
solvent and chromium (VI) ground
water decontamination projects.
By Huw Kidwell

NANOIRONs custom
built furnace in use to
produce zero valent
iron nanoparticles

24 WWINTERNATIONAL.COM AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2016

1608wwi_24 24 9/8/16 4:00 PM


N
anotechnology is rapidly
becoming the single-fastest
growing sector of the global
high-tech economy. There are already
more than 1600 reported consumer
products that use nanomaterials
for medical, personal, and military
applications and the number is growing
every day.
Nanoparticles are defined as
particulates with dimensions of less
than 100 nanometres (nm). They are
particularly useful in hazardous waste
site remediation and contaminant
reduction because of their small size and
large surface area per unit mass.
Using reductive particles (540 nm)
in the remediation of pollutants such
as chlorinated hydrocarbons and heavy
metals found in groundwater aquifers is
not new but the The Regional Centre of
Advanced Technologies and Materials
(RCATM) have been able to combine
several technologies into a practical
commercial process.
TECHNOLOGY & PARTNERS
The Czech Republic has always been
a giant in developing new technology
and the Regional Centre of Advanced
For more information, enter 14 at wwi.hotims.com
1608wwi_25 25
Technologies and Materials at Palack
University has continued this trend by
using state-of-the-art nanotechnology
to address environmental water
issues across the Czech Republic. As
part of the Czech NANOBIOWAT
program they partnered with nine
other institutions both academic (e.g.,
Technical University of Liberec) and
commercial (e.g., AquaTest, AECOM
CZ. MEGA and GEOtest) to develop a
practical solution to water remediation.
The process has been tested on a full-
scale site and has subsequently moved
into commercialisation. The patented
technology uses a simultaneous effect of
biotic and abiotic reductive species (i.e.,
zero-valent iron particles and lactate)
to treat groundwater contaminated by
chlorinated hydrocarbons and some
heavy metals. The method is based
on the combination of three, well
understood complementary processes:
A reductive process using air-stable
iron particles (i.e., nanoparticles or a
combination with micro particles)
Biotechnology utilising
lactate for chemical assistance in
biodehalogenation
An electric field enhancement of the
+49 211 417 9373 | SALES@TSURUMI.EU | WWW.TSURUMI.EU
For more information, enter 15 at wwi.hotims.com
AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2016
REGIONAL SPOTLIGHT EASTERN EUROPE
reductive process and migration of iron
nanoparticles.
This technology is particularly
good for removal (chemical
degradation) of organic solvents
chlorinated hydrocarbons
(typically dichloroethylene (DCE),
trichloroethylene (TCE) and
perchloroethylene (PCE)), and also for
inorganic contaminants such as arsenic,
hexavalent chromium, and dissolved
metals like copper.
Iron nanoparticles can be used to
eliminate unwanted eutrophication of
surface water (removal of phosphorus
and killing of cyanobacteria including
elimination of toxins). Generally,
this technology is particularly good
for reducible compounds and for
groundwater (or other types of water
where there are anoxic conditions).
HOW DID IT START?
RCATM was established in 2010 from
the Centre for Nanomaterial Research
at Palack University under the
direction of Professor Radek Zboil.
Joint research into tunable zero-valent
iron nanoparticles had been underway
since 2005. Then in 2006, driven by the
Bring wastewater
back down to size.
Dont get bogged down
with wastewater challenges.
Whatever the problem, we have
the solution to put things right.
WWINTERNATIONAL.COM 25
9/8/16 4:00 PM
 REGIONAL SPOTLIGHT EASTERN EUROPE
Introducing nanoparticle slurry into a groundwater acquirer
lack of iron nanoparticles on the market
for groundwater treatment, cooperation
was established.
Scientists from the Centre for
Nanomaterial Research at Palack
University were responsible for
nanoparticle synthesis and complex
characterization, while scientists from
TUL and AQUATEST performed
the nanoparticle testing for
reductive degradation of chlorinated
hydrocarbons in groundwater
environment. The scale-up of
nanoparticle synthesis from a few grams
to multi-kilogram was the next logical
step.
A cooperation with LAC (a
manufacturer of industrial furnaces)
led to the design of a unique furnace for
zero-valent iron nanoparticles synthesis
by thermal reduction of suitable
powder precursors. NANO IRON was
established in 2008 to focus on the
development of new environmental
applications of Fe(0) nanoparticles,
including technical support.
NANO IRON produces five products
including: three zero-valent iron
products, with and without surface
stabilisation and organic surface
stabilisation as well as a nano-micro
particle composite and also a Ferrate
oxidative/disinfecting particle.
Dr Jan Filip currently leads the
Environmental Nanotechnologies Group
of the Regional Centre of Advanced
Technologies and Materials.
Speaking to WWi magazine, he says:
The important change in research
strategies came with founding of the
RCPTM (2010) (i.e., the change from
26 WWINTERNATIONAL.COM
1608wwi_26 26
small Centre for nanomaterial research
into well-established research Centre
with state-of-the-art instruments
and computation methods for
understanding the interaction of iron
nanoparticle surfaces with pollutants
and solvents).
Dr Filip explains that the success of
their technology is due to three factors.
Our cooperation with Technical
University of Liberec and AQUATEST
due to the lack of iron nanoparticles
on the market for groundwater
treatment was an ideal start for us. The
establishment of NANO IRON in 2008
was also a big step, which propelled us
into large-scale nanoparticle production.
But the crowning vindication was the
success of the field-scale verification
of nanoparticle performance in
groundwater treatment technologies
and the positive comments about our
nanoparticle products by independent
users (Czech water-treatment
companies, foreign universities and
companies).
PROJECT CASE STUDY
Following pilot-scale projects in
2012 an industrial site in the Czech
Republic involved in producing
various metal commodities since 1903
was chosen. A leakage of chlorinated
solvents had occurred more than 20
years earlier (DCE, TCE and PCE)
and the contamination had persisted
in the groundwater up until the
decontamination project started. The
factory was built upon quaternary
clastic sediments with the groundwater
flow including the contamination
AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2016
Treatment using a diffuse permeable reactive barrier
plumes toward the river. The areas
contamination level had reached 362 mg
of chlorinated ethylenes (ClE) per liter.
Previous attempts at decontamination
used venting, airsparging and stripping
but this met with limited success and
was ineffectual below the factory
buildings.
The combined technology treatment
consisted of three processes:
Chemically assisted in-situ
biodehalogenation using sodium lactate
at a concentration of 80 g/l into the
groundwater above the contaminated
plumes and inclined to reach the
contamination below factory buildings
To prevent further contaminant
migration and to protect the river;
a diffuse permeable reactive barrier
(DPR) was installed at three selected
places. The iron particles used were
commercially available air-stable
nanoparticles NANOFER STAR (NANO
IRON) and composite particles formed
by the same type of nanoparticles
and iron microparticles. The particle
suspension was prepared on site and
pumped into the groundwater below
the factory buildings and roads
An electric field with an intensity of
about 1 V/cm was then applied across
the diffuse permeable reactive barrier to
enhance the effect of iron particles.
The sodium lactate caused a
significant decrease of ClE concentration
within the contamination plumes, and
the ZVI composite/nZVI particles
(in combination with an applied
electric field) successfully stopped the
migration of contamination flow. The
concentration of ClE dropped quickly
9/8/16 4:00 PM
 REGIONAL SPOTLIGHT EASTERN EUROPE

to 10% of the initial concentration. The DPR barrier has

proved to be effective over the long-term (up until 2016) and
the formation of additional toxic metabolites has not been
observed.

LIMITATIONS
The main imitations of zero-valent iron nanoparticles for
widespread adoption in water treatment include:
Price and nanoparticle availability (up to now, the
production is in the order of a few tons per year and the price
is relatively high for the treatment of millions of gallons of
water per day)
Society the use of nanomaterials for purification in the
environment is making people uneasy
Technological limitations, including limited migration in
groundwater conditions.
According to Dr Filip, there is little reported negative effect
of iron nanoparticles on the environment. Iron nanoparticles
are really only iron oxide particles aggregated into micron-
sized particles and are chemically identical to the iron oxides
naturally present in soils and sediments.

THE FUTURE
In 2016 RCATM began to coordinate a national project funded
by the Ministry of the Interior of the Czech Republic for
advanced nanotechnologies to minimise the impact of escaped
hazardous chemical substances endangering populations.
Several proposals have already been prepared, e.g., a
bilateral project with the Austrian Institute of Technology
(AIT) and BOKU University in Vienna.
STANDING IN PERFORMANCE
Dr Filip has a very definite vision of the future for
RCATM: I foresee the research and fast commercialisation
of new types of iron-based nanomaterials in the form of
nanocomposites (e.g., combination of reductive properties of
Electric actuators for the water
zero-valent iron part, and sorption properties of the matrix) industry
which would be a cheaper option and allow improved
performance of iron nanoparticles. The nanoparticles will be
Reliable, powerful, efficient. AUMA offer
combined with other physical fields (electric, magnetic) and/ a large portfolio of actuator and
or with microbiology.
gearbox type ranges.
This will never be a technology to treat millions of gallons
of water per day to remove contamination. The technology Automating all types of industrial
is designed to be applied in places with a special type of valves
contamination where conventional technology cannot be
applied, Dr Filip explains. Integration into all commonly used
The widespread economic application of nanomaterials control systems
for water treatment will rely on: improved migration of
nanoparticles in groundwater conditions; improved selectivity High corrosion protection
towards key/persistent contaminants; improved reduction Service worldwide
and sorption of contaminants on nanocomposites and
improved longevity.
Radek Zboil, general director of the Regional Centre of
Advanced Technologies and Materials, adds: Essentially, Discover our
there is huge potential for utilisation of nanotechnologies solutions for
in water treatment, as water pollution is fast growing the water industry
in most countries worldwide. The application of cheap
nanocomposites with multiple effects could be a future www.auma.com
technology for drinking and wastewater treatment in poor
countries where, for example, the presence of arsenic in
drinking water can cause adverse health effects.

Huw Kidwell is a freelance correspondent for WWi magazine.

For more information, enter 16 at wwi.hotims.com

AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2016 WWINTERNATIONAL.COM 27

1608wwi_27 27 9/8/16 4:00 PM

 INDUSTRIAL WATER TREATMENT
EMBRACING THE
INDUSTRIAL WATER
REVOLUTION
In July, PennWells water group
partnered with PUB, Singapore's
national water agency, to deliver
the Industrial Water Solutions
Forum (IWSF) at the Singapore
International Water Week 2016.
The Forum brought together key
industries, from food & beverage
to oil & gas, to address water
sustainability.
By WWi magazine
28 WWINTERNATIONAL.COM AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2016
1608wwi_28 28
G
lobally, demand for industrial
water equates to 20% to 25%
of the total global water
demand. In Singapore alone, industrial
water is projected to grow from 55%
of total water demand to 60% by
2030, according to Masagos Zulkifli,
Minister for the Environment and Water
Resources in Singapore.
Delivering the opening keynote
address at the IWSF, the Minister said
such growth represents 70MGD over 15
years, which is a substantial amount
for a small country like Singapore.
Valued at US$52.8 billion, the
industrial water solutions market is
now seen as one of the fastest growing
segments in the global water industry.
Setting up the agenda for the day
and the topic Securing Water in
Challenging Environments the
minister emphasised the importance of
data in water reporting.
Taking his home country of Singapore
as an example, he provides the example
of PUB introducing a measure for large
water users to submit a Water Efficiency
Management Plan (WEMP). This is
designed to encourage companies
to better understand their water
consumption through the development
of a water balance chart of their
premises.
The aim, the Minister continued, is
to identify opportunities for water
savings to reduce water-related risks at
various parts of the process, including
boilers, scrubbers and cooling towers.
PANEL DEBATE 1:
WATER SUSTAINABILITY
On the theme of Singapore, Professor
Asit Biswas, distinguished visiting
professor at the Lee Kuan School of
Public Policy, challenged audience
members to ask any Singaporean if
they are water stressed. To which he
says they will likely answer What is
water stress? as an indication of how
the island nation has overcome water
challenges.
Kicking off the discussion for the
first panel debate, Cynthia Havran,
downstream global discipline
technology leader for water
treatment & reuse at ExxonMobil,
said the organisation has set out four
commitments as part of its Water
Management Framework.
These include: Protect human
health and the environment; Consider
local water needs when addressing
operational requirements; Continuously
improve capabilities and performance
and finally Engage stakeholders in
development of sustainable water
solutions.
For oil & gas, the local environment
can be a significant user of water. We
prudently manage the water we do
use, she says. Havran added that the
organisation tries to reduce, reuse
9/8/16 4:00 PM

and recycle where appropriate and
as part of an installation in Singapore,
Membrane Bioreactor (MBR) technology
was installed to reuse wastewater for
cooling water.
Havran's comments tied in with the
key theme of water reuse, discussed
throughout the Forum. Decentralised
water recycling efforts are now helping
industrial water end users see value in
water reuse.
For consumer brand Unilever, 85%
of the water footprint associated with
its products are at the end of the water
cycle, for example in washing or
cleaning, according to the next panellist
David Kiu, VP, global sustainable
business and communications.
He said this figure is a challenge to
reduce due to consumer habits but as
part of a campaign in Singapore, they
encourage people to shower together,
much to the audiences amusement.
The organisation has achieved a 37%
water reduction in manufacturing since
2010, against a target to halve its water
footprint by 2020.
Representing the regulators, Joel
Beauvais, deputy assistant administrator
from the US Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA), said the organisation is
now working with oil operators to work
on wastewater reuse and that there has
been significant interest from private
companies.
Finally, Zita Schellekens from Dutch
beverage company Heineken outlined
the companys progress in reducing the
amount of water it uses per litre of drink
produced (see box out). By 2020 the firm
has set out the target to use 3.5 litres of
water, per litre produced of beer, cider,
soft drinks and water.
Known to be a heavy consumer of
water, the beverage industry has been
questioned over the vast quantities of
water it consumes. Addressing this,
Schellenkens says that following studies
in water scarce areas, Heineken will
attempt water balancing, which
means they cannot take more water than
what the organisation gives back.
Wastewater reuse has become a
household name in the water industry,
with both municipalities and industries
seeing the benefits but what do the big
corporations make of it?
Overall wastewater reuse is positive
and theres an opportunity to reuse and
for this to happen. How to enable it is a
big challenge, says Unilevers Kiu.
1608wwi_29 29
INDUSTRIAL WATER TREATMENT
PANEL DEBATE 1: SETTING THE SUSTAINABILITY SCENE
Chairperson: Professor Asit K. Biswas, distinguished visiting professor, Lee Kuan Yew
School of Public Policy Singapore. Panel members:
Cindy Havran, Global Discipline Tech Leader for Water Treatment & Reuse,
ExxonMobil
David Kiu,VP, Sustainable Business and Communications, Unilever
Joel Beauvais, Deputy Assistant Administrator for the Office of Water, United States
Environmental Protection Agency
Zita Schellekens, Director, Corporate Relations, Heineken.
HEINEKEN WATER walking around and operating the
CONSUMPTION plants anymore added Schellekens.
Year Litres of water used As the operation is based on data, the
per litre produced discharged water is tested regularly,
(hl/hl) while helping local people understand
2015 3.7 the lab results.
2014 3.9
2013 4.1 PANEL DEBATE 2: FINANCE
2012 4.2 Moving the discussion onto finance,
2011 4.3 Joppe Cramwinckel from the World
2010 4.5 Business Council for Sustainable
2009 4.8 Development opened the second panel
2008 5.0 debate with honest remarks. The
financial system has worked backwards
in the past, for example looking at
Facing the controversial question of annual results. The question is how can
using direct water reuse for its products, the finance world impact the sustainable
Heinekens Schellekens says that after world?
multiple focus groups the company Bringing the discussion back to
concluded consumers dont like the Singapore, Goh Chee Kiong from the
idea of it and think the finished product EDB says: Manufacturing remains
contains cleaning chemicals. a key pillar of Singapores economy,
However, she predicts that over the accounting for 20% of our GDP but
next five years consumer perceptions accounts for about half of our water
will change as they realise they can trust demand. That explains Singapores
manufacturers. strong emphasis on industrial water
Chairman Professor Biswas asked solutions."
if major corporations ensured that He discussed the various industrial
wastewater discharged met local water solutions partnerships happening
standards when operating in developing in Singapore, including a project
countries. To which Havran responded involving PUB, Meiden and SRC
that ExxonMobil sets its own discharge to demonstrate that treatment and
standards worldwide and if local reclamation of water from industrial
standards are lower, then we follow wastewater using ceramic membrane
ours. technology is possible.
Heinekens breweries are now highly So how is the finance community
automated theres not a lot of people viewing the industrial water market?
AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2016 WWINTERNATIONAL.COM 29
9/8/16 4:00 PM
 INDUSTRIAL WATER TREATMENT

PANEL DEBATE 2: MONEY TALKS: HOW INVESTORS VIEW WATER Karam quoted the 4.2 billion London
Chairperson: Joppe Cramwinckel, director of water, World Business Council for Super Sewer project, the biggest
Sustainable Development infrastructure project ever undertaken
Panel members: by the UK water industry. The Thames
Goh Chee Kiong, Executive Director (Cleantech and Cities, Infrastructure & Industrial Tideway project attracted funds with
Solutions), Economic Development Board (EDB) single digit return on investment, so it
Mel Karam, Global Head of Asset Management, KPMG International is possible [for water projects to attract
Rony Joseph Palathinkal,VP, finance].
COO Business Transformation and Execution, Credit Suisse
Wilson Ang, Executive Director, Global Compact Network Singapore PANEL 3: WATER AND THE
BOTTOM LINE
Tthe third and final panel debate
brought together a mixture of
consultants, technology companies and
academics.
Ashish Aneja, director at the
Singapore Technology Centre for GE set
out GEs sustainability aims, including
reducing freshwater consumption by 1.8
billion gallons, as well as investing $500
million in water R&D.
CH2Ms water business group
Mel Karam, global head of asset looked at sustainability, its historically president Peter Nicol said he is
management from KPMG believes there been a philanthropist move, he said, witnessing improvements in efficiency
has been a shift in the interest in water. adding that this is changing and Credit when it comes to water treatment.
Gone are the days when financial Suisse has been looked at projects Industrial clients are producing more
companies are only interested in data, involving Chinas industrial parks, yet using the same amount of water, so
he said. Sovereign funds are getting which have been tasked to clean up their efficiencies are improving.
involved in water as a new area. Water their acts. For French company Suez, out of its
is a long-term resource but also a long- Wilson Ang, executive director, Global total revenues for 2015, two thirds came
term investment. Compact Network Singapore says that from municipalities and one third from
On the broader corporate resource scarcity and climate change is industrial companies.
responsibility agenda, Credit leading people to turn to government Stephane Boyer, managing director for
Suisse has signed off 58 clean-tech solutions, with the private sector SUEZ Industrial Solutions, said they are
transactions over US$16 billion since showing interest in sustainability. focusing more on the industrial market.
2010. Furthermore, according to Rony Its all about asset risk, said Earlier in the year, Suez secured three
Palathinkal, over 17 billion Swiss Francs KPMGs Karam. When it comes to industrial service contracts in China in
have been invested in assets according investment, its the most important the oil & gas sectors, worth 19 million
to sustainability criteria. factor it has to be demonstrated that euros.
When the finance community have the asset risk is low. Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) is
another area where water technology
companies are finding an increased
PANEL DEBATE 3: WATER AND THE BOTTOM LINE
Chairperson: Dr Glen Daigger, President, One Water Solutions; Professor of Engineering appetite for their services. Chinas 12th
Practice, Department of Environmental Engineering, University of Michigan Five-Year Plan mandates the use of ZLD
in new and existing coal-fired power
Panel members:
plants and coal-to-chemical refining
Alan Chan, Asia Pacific Commercial Director, Dow Water & Process Solutions
facilities.
Ashish Aneja, Advanced Technologies Leader, GE Water & Process Technologies USA
Speaking on ZLD developments,
Peter Nicol, President, Water Business Group, CH2M Chan said: For ZLD, in an ideal world
Stephane Boyer, Managing Director, SUEZ Industrial Solutions you have nothing but solid waste left
but in reality, you are left with a little bit
of liquid to treat.
Concluding, CH2Ms Nicol said
the discussion used to be focused on
industrial pollution but now we talk
about integrated solutions, so this shows
the shift.

The Industrial Water Solutions Forum is

organised as part of SIWW. For more details
visit: www.siww.com.sg/about-forum

30 WWINTERNATIONAL.COM AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2016

1608wwi_30 30 9/8/16 4:00 PM

Pwn_WWIRMel_1610 1 9/7/16 3:08 PM
 UTILITY CASE STUDY: COAGULANT CONTROL
LAYING THE
FOUNDATIONS
FOR AUTOMATED
COAGULATION CONTROL
Extensive trials at utility Severn
Trent show the value of using zeta
potential as a lead measure of
performance for natural organic
matter (NOM) removal processes.
This article examines the
companys experience highlighting
the benefits delivered.
By Alon Vaisman, Adam Hall, Kerry Hall,
Emma Sharp and Joanne Claronino.
32 WWINTERNATIONAL.COM AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2016
1608wwi_32 32
C
ontinuous monitoring
technology can help to safeguard
drinking water quality, even in
the event of rapid changes in raw water,
while simultaneously supporting the
move towards greater automation and
improvements in cost efficiency. Zeta
potential is a measurement increasingly
popular for monitoring of charge
neutralization performance in water
treatment flocculation processes.
UK water company Severn Trent is
using measurements of zeta potential
to enhance coagulation control.
Trials at the companys Tittesworth
Water Treatment Works (WTW), a
40,000 m3/day facility located in Leek
(Staffordshire, UK), indicate that online
zeta potential measurements provide
a reliable and highly effective lead
measure of performance, for controlling
the clarification process associated with
the removal of Natural Organic Matter
(NOM) in incoming water.
FOCUSING ON NOM REMOVAL
A critical challenge in water treatment
is the timely and efficient removal
of NOM. The level of organics now
routinely flooded into the aquatic
environment during events such as
snow melt or heavy rainfall is rising,
increasing loading on the clarification
circuit and the importance of effective
control of residuals to mitigate creation
of disinfection byproducts (DBPs) later
in the process.
Sedimentation is the primary
process used to remove particulates
but these are usually quite fine (< 1000
m) making settling under gravity a
relatively slow process.
At Tittesworth WTW positively
charged ferric salts are used to
neutralize the negatively charged NOM
and promote flocculation i.e. a charge
neutralization process. Dissolved air
flotation is then deployed to separate
the flocs which must therefore be
sufficiently stable to withstand this
and subsequent physical separation
processes. Minimising chemical usage
and the risk to water quality associated
with a sudden variation in raw water
contaminant levels or chemistry are key
operational goals.
Traditionally, jar tests have been used
by Severn Trent to monitor flocculation
and provide data on which to base
coagulant dosing levels. The jar test is
a manual procedure which involves
dosing an extracted water sample and
monitoring the resulting flocculation/
settling. It can take up to 30 minutes
to complete, creating a significant time
delay between sampling and the receipt
of results, and, since the analysis is
subjective, results can exhibit significant
variability. The practicalities of
measurement mean that analysis cannot
9/8/16 4:00 PM

0.00
-5.00
-10.00
-15.00
12 12 13
/ 20 / 20 / 20
1 2 1 2
/1 /1 /0 /0
27 27 27 27
Early trials with zeta potential measurement highlighted opportunities for both chemical savings and risk reduction
be carried out sufficiently frequently to
be 100% confident of water quality at all
times and, crucially the technique does
not robustly indicate to the operator
how to change the coagulant dose in
response to a poor result.
INVESTIGATING ZETA POTENTIAL
Zeta potential is a measure of the
magnitude of electrostatic or charge
repulsion at the boundary layer
surrounding a particle, and therefore
provides a reliable indication of whether
particles in a suspension are likely to
coagulate or to remain discrete.
Suspensions with a zeta potential
close to zero are highly prone to
aggregation so maintaining a system in
this range will encourage the creation of
flocs. A highly positive or negative zeta
potential on the other hand, is indicative
of a stable system in which the particles
will remain discrete.
Zeta potential measurements are
fast, with modern systems delivering
measurement in less than five minutes,
and automated, so not susceptible to the
operator variance associated with jar
tests.
Severn Trent began evaluating zeta
potential as a metric for clarification
control in 2007 with a series of bench-
scale experiments investigating the link
between zeta potential and clarified
water quality, as quantified by turbidity
measurements.
Multiple analyses were carried out
on water derived from a number of
geographies and the results revealed
a universal relationship between zeta
potential and clarification performance
that held for all water sources. Zeta
potential values consistently associated
with good performance in the charge
neutralization process were in the
1608wwi_33 33
UTILITY CASE STUDY: COAGULANT CONTROL
circumstances increased dosing reduces
the risk of an issue with water quality, a
vital consideration.
Development of an on-line solution
and encouraging results from early trials
with Aurora Water in the US led Severn
Trent to capitalise on their success
with offline trials via an investment
in continuous monitoring technology.
An online system was installed in
Tittesworth in 2014 along with a
dedicated sampling loop to completely
13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13
/ 20 / 20 / 20 / 20 / 20 / 20 / 20 / 20 / 20 / 20 integrate measurement with process
3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1
/0 /0 /0 /0 /0 /0 /0 /1 /1
27 27 27 27 27 27 27 27 27 operation and minimise the risk of
sampling errors.
Online implementation has the
range -10 mV to + 3mV suggesting that advantage of reducing measurement
measuring zeta potential would provide variability and makes it practical to
a clear guidance for plant control. Zeta measure at far higher frequencies than
potential can be maintained in the could be accommodated with a manual
required range by manipulating either analysis. However, lab-based zeta
coagulant dosage level or pH, which potential measurements were also run
affects the charge on the coagulant and during the trial to compare the on and
consequently its impact. offline data.
The online solution delivered
USING ZETA POTENTIAL FOR continuous measurements to the same
PROCESS CONTROL precision and reliability as lab analyses
Tittesworth WTW first began to control with minimal manual input, amply
the clarification process using offline demonstrating its effectiveness. As
zeta potential measurements of the the trial progressed the operational
coagulant dosed water entering the team became more confident that the
flocculator in 2009. During ongoing plant was under close control and
trials zeta potential came close to both consequently pushed towards the
ends of the range defined as optimal for acceptable lower bound of zeta potential
operation, highlighting opportunities levels (-10mV) thereby realising a
for operational improvement in both reduction of 3mg/L Fe in coagulant
instances. dosage levels. This represents a saving
Zeta potential values approaching of approximately 20% in coagulant costs
the upper level of +3mV, showed that at and was achieved without impacting
this time too much positively charged plant performance.
coagulant was being added suggesting
that chemical usage, and costs, could REVIEWING THE BENEFITS
be reduced. Conversely drift towards A defining advantage of zeta potential
the -10mV boundary indicated that measurement, relative to alternative
coagulant levels were too low. In these monitoring techniques, is that the
CLARIFICATION
Coagulant
Sludge
Dissolved air Flocculation
flotation Coagulant
Zetasizer WT
Schematic showing installation and integration of the online zeta potential monitoring system
AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2016 WWINTERNATIONAL.COM 33
9/8/16 4:00 PM
 UTILITY CASE STUDY: COAGULANT CONTROL

values produced show unambiguously

how operation needs to be altered to
safeguard water treatment performance.
This clarity has resulted in the online
technology being enthusiastically
received by plant operators. By
producing a reliable indicator of
process performance it has enabled the
development of clear guidelines for
plant control thereby delivering highly
consistent operation. Crucially the
measurements made are not impacted
by water chemistry changes and no
recalibration is required when water
conditions change.
Informed decisions as to how to
control the plant can now be made
easily with remote support if necessary Looking ahead, however, the technology risk; decreased coagulant usage;
since it is straightforward to access to offers even further potential for plant and improved operating efficiency.
the relevant trend data through the optimisation. Furthermore, the technology supports
SCADA system. This is a major gain for The guidelines for coagulant dosing the companys long-term goal of
troubleshooting. Furthermore, alarms are now so clear and concise that they establishing a secure platform for fully
have been configured to alert operators could be relatively easily developed automated process control.
to an issue instantaneously, allowing into algorithms for continuous
problems to be resolved before they automated control, with the online Emma Sharp is water treatment and
impact downstream processes. This is analyzer providing the data to drive quality lead East and Joanne Claronino
particularly important with heightened such control. A fully automated, is technical lead at utility. Severn Trent.
and/or fluctuating NOM levels in the universally applicable system that Alon Vaisman is product development
raw water. The ability to minimise works irrespective of water source manager, Adam Hall is process product
the use of the coagulant means that for all charge neutralisation treatment manager and Kerry Hall is project
levels of wastewater and sludge are plants is the long term goal. This would engineer at Malvern Instruments.
reduced, compounding the savings from transform operating practice within the
coagulant usage alone. water industry enabling smarter, more References:
In summary, the trial has highlighted efficient operation and the more robust [1] E. Sharp et al. Using online Zeta
that online zeta potential analysis control of risk. Potential measurements for full-
offers informative, high frequency Experience indicates that the scale coagulation control in drinking
measurement to support a fast and technology is straight-forward to use, water treatment, Proc. IWA Particle
effective response to changes in water generates easy to understand data, Separation: Advances in particle scence
quality. Severn Trent has plans to install and is suitable for all water sources and separation 22-24th June 2016 Oslo,
the Zetasizer WT at more upland water or clarification systems, providing Norway
treatments works that deploy charge that NOM removal is being achieved [2] E. Sharp et al. Seasonal variations in
neutralization processes for NOM via charge neutralisation. Tangible natural organic matter and its impact on
removal, to capitalise on these gains. benefits include: reduced water quality coagulation in water treatment Science
of the Total Environment, Vol 363, Issues
1 3, June 2006 pp183 194.
-2.00 [3] E. Sharp et al. Impact of fractional
character on the coagulation of NOM
Dosed Zeta Potential - mV

-4.00 Colloids and Surfaces A Physicochem.

Eng. Aspects, 286 (2006) 104-111
Monitor [4] E. Sharp et al. A mechanistic
-6.00
Test approach to predict disinfection by-
product precursor removal during
-8.00
conventional coagulation, Proc. 12th
International Gothenburg Symposium
-10.00 on Chemical Treatment of Water and
Wastewater, 20th-23rd May, Ljubljana,
-12.00 Slovenia
13/05/2015 13/06/2015 13/07/2015 [5] B. Fulbright et al. How good is
Date online Zeta potential measurement
With online data showing close agreement with results from the lab, operation was securely pushed down towards the lower
in water treatment?, Water/Waste
zeta potential limit to minimize coagulant usage processing magazine, August 2014.

34 WWINTERNATIONAL.COM AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2016

1608wwi_34 34 9/8/16 4:00 PM


OPTICAL DETECTION
FOR SLOVENIAS SLUDGE
Polymer consumption contributes
significantly to wastewater
treatment plant operating costs.
Due to the unpredictability
of sludge treatment, several
attempts have been unsuccessful
in developing a control system to
improve efficiencies in this area.
Yet a new optical detection system
has been tested in Ljublana,
Slovenia.
By Vesna Mislej and Joseph Haintz
1608wwi_35 35
I
t is widely known that a lower
polymer dosage enhances biogas
production because the polymer
surrounding the biomass hinders the
action of the bacteria in the degradation
process.
Several attempts have been made by
various companies to develop a control
system for optimisation of polymer
dosing and simply failed because these
systems were not user-friendly, not
reliable and did not show long-term
savings. In fact, they failed due to the
unpredictable changes in the sludge
qualities, colors, reflection behavior of
sludge surfaces, or fouling of sensors in
contact with sludge or filtrate.
For the optical detection system
developed by ANDRITZ, called the
RheoScan system, the same principle
was used that an experienced operator
would apply by optimising the
operating conditions after observing
the sludge distribution and flocculation
quality and adjusting them in order to
avoid flooding the gravity section.
The RheoScans camera view of the
belt edges monitors the flow pattern
and adjusts the polymer dosage to make
sure that there is always a minimum
strip left free at the side of the belt to
prevent flooding.
The technology uses the flow
characteristics of flocculated sludge,
which changes significantly when
the polymer dosage is varied. This
behavior can be observed easily on a
AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2016
SLUDGE TREATMENT DOSING CONTROL
View of sludge thickening, dewatering,
and digestion process buildings at
VOKA Ljubljana
belt thickener or in the gravity zone of
a belt press. A camera scans the sides
of the belt continuously in the gravity
dewatering zone in the area where the
sludge surface is almost stable and not
free-flowing.
Based on a pre-set flocculation status,
the control system now always regulates
the polymer added in such a way
that this free area at the sides remains
constant. If the free area becomes
smaller, more polymer is added in order
to obtain a thicker sludge that remains
within the pre-set limits and does not
flow over the edges of the belt.
On the other hand, a large free area
indicates excessive polymer dosing,
hence the RheoScan control system
reduces the amount of polymer added
until the pre-defined free area settings
are restored.
TEST INSTALLATION, LJUBLJANA
A test installation was carried out
at public company JP Vodovod
-Kanalizacija d.o.o. (VO-KA), which is
legally responsible for the collection
and treatment of domestic wastewater
and also rainwater in the municipality
of Ljubljana, Slovenia and in the six
municipalities surrounding it.
The test goal was to show what
improvements can be achieved overall,
from thickening to digestion and on to
the subsequent dewatering process, by
reducing polymer dosage on the belt
thickener.
WWINTERNATIONAL.COM 35
9/8/16 4:00 PM
 SLUDGE TREATMENT DOSING CONTROL
Reduction in polymer dosage as a result of less polymer being added at the belt thickener
The test with the RheoScan started
in 2015 with the aim of clarifying these
aspects, and the following targets were
set, to be evaluated at the end of the
test phase:
Optimise/reduce polymer
consumption at the belt thickener by
achieving minimum thickening of
>5% dry solids
Check impact of reduced PE dosage
on digester performance mainly
with respect to biogas production
Check impact of reduced PE dosage
for thickening on PE consumption in
the centrifuge dewatering system
Demonstrate reliable operation of the
RheoScan system in the long term
In order to allow comprehensive
data evaluation right away in the test
phase, ANDRITZ used the new SMART
Service software tool, which provided
immediate evaluation of online process
data together with laboratory data. With
this tool, it was also possible to calculate
the total mass flow in dry solids and
record the exact time of RheoScan
activation and the specific values, such
36 WWINTERNATIONAL.COM AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2016
1608wwi_36 36
as the polymer consumption in kg
PE/t DS for every set of online signals
from the thickener as well as from the
centrifuges.
In addition, performance data from
operation without control by the
RheoScan system could be compared
directly with subsequent operating
periods when the RheoScan system was
used so the differences became visible
immediately.
Data transfer from VOKAs SCADA
system to the RheoScan control
switchboard was installed for the
following signals from the belt thickener
process:
RheoScan On/Off
Polymer flow actual value
Polymer flow control signal to VFD
drive of polymer pump
Dry solids content of sludge feed to
belt thickener online measurement
signals
Dry solids content of sludge
discharge from belt thickener online
measurement signals
Belt speed.
The test period evaluated for
RheoScan control was from June 1
to July 17, 2015. Data collection was
performed until the end of September
2015 in order to check and compare
operating conditions and performance
for longer periods and even after
RheoScan had been dismantled.
DIGESTION PROCESS
It is known in theory and from
practice that polymer addition is
counterproductive for the digestion
process because it hinders degradation
of the biomass in the digester. The target
for the tests now was to quantify the
increase in biogas production which
may have resulted from the reduced
polymer dosage in the thickening
process as a result of using the RheoScan
control system.
In order to compare the data from
the digesters properly, the biogas
release time had to be considered. It
is known from a study performed by
the National Institute of Chemistrys
Laboratory for Environmental Sciences
9/8/16 4:00 PM

ANDRITZ belt thickener with RheoScan camera and LED spotlight
and Engineering, performed in 2012
with sludge samples from the Ljubljana
WWTP, that more than 90% of the
biogas is released within the first seven
days in the digester, more than 95%
is released after the first 10 days, and
that biogas production (100%) is finally
complete after 18 days.
The specific gas production trend
was calculated as an alternative for
seven, 10, and 15 days delay in biogas
release in order to see whether there
is any difference in the gas production
increase. In fact, the minimum overall
increase found over the test period was
11.7%.
From these trends, it can be assumed
that using the RheoScan at the belt
thickener does result in a significant
reduction in polymer dosage at the
centrifuge as well. This can be explained
by the more efficient flocculation
achieved prior to centrifuge dewatering
because there are fewer weak binding
forces remaining after pre-flocculation at
the belt thickener.
In this respect, it is important to point
out that neither the cake dryness nor
the throughput deteriorated during this
period when less polymer was added.
LESSONS LEARNED
Test operation at the Ljubljana WWTP
as well as other sites showed that, with
some additional features, the RheoScan
can be used to achieve fully automated
belt thickener operation.
In addition to the normal control
feature for polymer dosing, the
functionality - automatic start and stop
of RheoScan control system - should be
implemented.
This is important to avoid excess
polymer dosing in cases where the
sludge is heavily diluted, which may
happen under start conditions. As
a result, the concentration must be
1608wwi_37 37
measured at the sludge feed and a signal
sent to the RheoScan in order to set a
minimum concentration limit to initiate
start and stop of the RheoScan control
system.
CONTROLLING THE THICKENED
SLUDGE DISCHARGE
CONCENTRATION.
This makes it possible to optimise the
operating range for thickening and only
requires another sludge concentration
measurement to be made at the
thickener discharge.
The minimum thickening required can
be defined so that the RheoScan reduces
PE dosing under adverse conditions to
the extent that the dry solids content
only drops to a minimum preset limit.
RheoScan then increases the polymer
dosage automatically until thickening
returns to the normal range. After
this, the RheoScan system resumes its
optimization function.
AUTOMATIC BELT CONTROL:
Test experience showed that the normal
belt speed setting on a belt thickener
is usually too high for optimum
dewatering efficiency, but is used
because it is more likely to prevent the
sludge from flowing over the edges of
the belt. The negative side is that sludge
retention time on the belt is lower and
hence, the thickening result is not as
good as that achieved with lower belt
speed.
With optical scanning of the side
sections of the belt by the RheoScan
camera, there is continuous automatic
control to adjust polymer dosing
accordingly and prevent the sludge
from flowing over at the edges. As a
result, the belt speed can be reduced
considerably compared to normal,
manual operation.
With these additional control
AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2016
SLUDGE TREATMENT DOSING CONTROL
features for the RheoScan, manual
intervention at the belt thickener is
limited to pushing the start/stop button
and adjusting the sludge flow to be
processed. It should be noted that online
concentration measurement system
in operation at the Ljubljana WWTP
for many years was found to be very
reliable and accurate.
ECONOMIC CONSIDERATIONS
The savings achieved by reducing the
polymer dosage at the belt thickener
and the centrifuge, together with
the increase in biogas production
do provide a very interesting return
on investment for installation of a
RheoScan system.
In fact, the savings calculated over
a one year period reveal that the
investment for the RheoScan system is
amortized within only a few months
as a result of the polymer saving and
increase in biogas production.
This ROI calculation does not consider
further advantages from:
Personnel cost savings due to
automatic thickener control
Higher operating availability
Less wear due to lower belt speed at
thickener
Remote viewing of thickener from
the control room with the RheoScan
camera.
As the RheoScan can be accessed
via WLAN, there is also the advantage
of ANDRITZ being able to perform
remote services via a direct connection
to the actual performance data as well
as obtaining pictures during operation,
including historical data. This provides
additional benefits for the customer,
such as:
Remote access for software upgrades
Remote process data evaluation and
troubleshooting by ANDRITZ.
Overall, the tests have demonstrated
that this new polymer optimisation
system enables significant polymer
savings as well as fully automatic
operation of a belt thickener or belt
press at a reasonable investment level.
If there is a subsequent digestion
and dewatering process in place, the
savings to be assumed there provide an
outstandingly short amortization period
in the region of just a few months.
Vesna Mislej is from Vodovod Kanalizacija
in Slovenia and Josef Haintz is from Andritz
AG, Austria.
WWINTERNATIONAL.COM 37
9/8/16 4:01 PM
 AUTOMATION

Sludge water valves control pneumatic linear

actuators DFPI with integrated displacement
encoder; integration protects the encoder from
harsh environmental influences, enhances running
performance and reduces maintenance costs

PNEUMATIC
AUTOMATION UPGRADE
German water supply company
Landeswasserversorgung saved
10% on investment and operating
costs by upgrading to a pneumatic
automation solution for a new
groundwater filtration system.
By Craig Correia
L
andeswasserversorgung Water
Supply is one of the largest water
supply and treatment companies
in Germany and provides safe drinking
water to approximately three million
customers, which includes more than
250 cities and communities in Baden-
Wrttemberg and Bavaria. The utility
manages two waterworks in Langenau
and Dischingen, as well as water mains
system with an approximate length of
490 miles (790 km). The amount of water
supplied can reach 450,000 m3/day.
Just over 50 years ago strong demand
for groundwater was beginning to
exceed capacity and the company
looked at the possibility of using water
from the Danube river to supplement
supply. The Langenau waterworks went
online in 1973. Today, the plant extracts
44.5 million cubic metres of water from
the Danube, which equates to 1% of the
rivers volume. The Langenau facility
uses a six stage treatment process and
recently the facility underwent a major
renovation focusing on pneumatics
rather than electrics.
CONTROLLING THE WATER FLOW
Water flow is controlled using
pneumatic valve actuators and process
valves for regulation and shut-off as
well as for preventing return flow. The
water supply company installed seven
open two-tier filters in the new ground
water filtration system at the Langenau
water treatment plant. Here, the water
flows first through a multi-media filter

38 WWINTERNATIONAL.COM AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2016

1608wwi_38 38 9/8/16 4:01 PM


Three-level pipe cellar: 100 pneumatically actuated shut-off valves open and close the pipelines during backwashing of the
multi-media filters in the Langenau water treatment plant
and then through an activated carbon
filter.
During backwashing of one multi-
media filter, the pipelines are opened
and closed by 10 shut-off valves. These
valves are actuated by pneumatic
quarter turn actuators DAPS. They have
an adjustable swivel angle, are compact
and have torque characteristics that are
suitable for process valves. The torque is
generated via a scotch yoke mechanism
which helps to overcome the valves
high breakaway torques.
COMPLETE PNEUMATIC CONTROL
CIRCUIT
The actuators are controlled by valve
terminals CPX-VTSA with PROFINET
In cramped installation spaces, pneumatic actuators have
demonstrated advantages compared to electric actuators
1608wwi_39 39
connection. The valve terminals pick up
all the signals from the filters, including
feedback from actuators, pressure,
temperature or fill level. The required
flow for each valve position can be
precisely set meaning the valve terminal
saves energy.
In addition, a pneumatic linear
actuator DFPI regulates the laterally
mounted sludge water valves. A
crucial feature of this is the integration
of the displacement encoder in the
actuator, which protects it from harsh
environmental influences, enhances
running performance and reduces
maintenance costs. The pneumatic
automation solution was rounded off
with ready-to-install control cabinets
and with all the accessories needed
for the pneumatic control circuits,
such as air preparation, tubing and
fittings. Overall, the solution saved
Landeswasserversorgung 10% on
their investment and operating costs
compared to electric automation.
BENEFITS OF PNEUMATICS
The water supply company benefited
from the many advantages of
pneumatics in process automation.
Pneumatic components are resistant to
continuous loads and maintenance-free
over their entire service life.
They are very easy to install
and are cheaper than comparable
electrical solutions, particularly
AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2016
AUTOMATION
when implementing complete system
solutions. Pneumatic components
also have benefits when it comes to
safety. Compressed air continues to be
available even during a power failure.
An air reservoir is always available
along with a compressor for generation
and preparation purposes.
Apart from end-position sensing and
monitoring the compressed air supply,
it doesnt need to be monitored and
checked. It follows the fit and forget
principle.
DURABLE TECHNOLOGY
Pneumatic actuators have proven to be
shock-proof and durable and are also
resistant to continuous loads and remain
maintenance-free over their entire
service life. There is no need for oil
changes or additional lubrication.
Pneumatic actuators only require
electricity for the control and generation
of compressed air; the movement
itself is triggered by the compressed
air. Whereas electric actuators require
gearboxes, which are responsible
for most of the power losses as well
as electrical heat losses, pneumatic
actuators act directly on the shut-off
device. They only require a piston
and drive shaft to convert the linear
compressed air force into a swivel
motion.
Since pneumatic actuators are
overload-proof and a higher actuation
force can be achieved very simply
by increasing the pressure, it is often
possible to use smaller sizes with a
lower weight than would be the case
for electric actuators. Provided the
tubing has zero leakage and the units
are precisely dimensioned, the resulting
solutions are energy-efficient.
Small sizes were also advantageous
for the Langenau water treatment plant.
The low costs mean that it is even
worthwhile automating manual process
valves at a later date. Specifically when
compared to electric drive technology,
the consistent use of decentralised
automation concepts with valve
terminals provides significant cost
benefits in the case of the Langenau
water treatment plant, this meant
savings of 10%. Some projects have even
seen savings of more than 50%.
Craig Correia is head of process
automation at pneumatic and electrical
automation technology company, Festo.
WWINTERNATIONAL.COM 39
9/8/16 4:01 PM
 INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENTS
WASTEWATER CHALLENGES
& OPPORTUNITIES IN LATIN AMERICA
While Latin America is one of the
worlds richest regions in water
resources, approximately 37
million people dont have access to
safe supply of drinking water and
nearly 110 million people dont
have sanitation facilities. Could the
lifting of sanctions in Cuba help
drive change in the region?
By Sofia Berger
40 WWINTERNATIONAL.COM AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2016
1608wwi_40 40
C
uba is the new it nation in
Latin America and justifiably
so. As years of sanctions end and
icy political and business relationships
thaw, the potential for a lucrative,
tourism-driven economy on the island
has caught the imagination of many
worldwide. Within the engineering
industry, there is also the buzz of
possible opportunity.
After all, Cuba will need
infrastructure upgrades in many
areas including clean water and
effective management of wastewater.
Normalisation of relations with the US
has sharpened the focus on Cuba as a
country where wastewater solutions are
essential.
DRINKING WATER FIRST,
WASTEWATER SECOND
Historically, Latin America has stalled
on wastewater infrastructure, preferring
to prioritise providing residents with
clean drinking water. And overall,
according to the World Bank, the
region has made significant strides in
improving access to drinking water,
although theres still work to be done.
In 2015, for instance, the World Bank
developed monitoring reports for its
investments in Panama, El Salvador
and Honduras. The reports highlight
water and wastewater coverage for each
country.
Latin America is one of the worlds
richest regions in water resources.
Sadly, though, approximately 37 million
people dont have access to safe supply
of drinking water, and nearly 110
million people dont have sanitation
facilities. Haiti, Dominican Republic,
Nicaragua, Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia
are all countries where drinking water
is less accessible, according to Wambui
Gichuri, World Bank manager in water
resources for Latin America.
Now experts and funders are
increasingly turning their attention to
wastewater treatment. Countries like
Panama and Peru, which have already
taken action to improve their water and
wastewater infrastructure, are models
for others in the region.
There is no one-size-fits-all water
and wastewater treatment solution. That
reality is a reflection of the age of the
infrastructure, the size of the population
using it, and the resources available to
maintain it.
Still, it may come as a surprise that
water and wastewater infrastructure
the world over often share common
challenges. In Latin America, as
9/8/16 4:01 PM

POPULATION, WATER AND WASTEWATER COVERAGE IN LATIN AMERICA
COUNTRY POPULATION DRINKING WATER
URBAN RURAL TOTAL URBAN RURAL TOTAL URBAN RURAL TOTAL
PANAMA 75% 25% 3,400,000 97%
EL SALVADOR 64% 36% 6,200,000 94%
HONDURAS 52% 48% 7,800,000 96%
elsewhere, countries are experiencing
significant water loss due to the
deteriorated condition of distribution
and transmission water mains
and services. Accelerating rates of
urbanization and, in the case of Cuba,
an impending tourism boom have made
wastewater infrastructure challenges
particularly acute, prompting some
countries to undertake ambitious efforts
to address those challenges.
In Cuba, tourism is growing
consistently with improvement of
relations with the US. Since the start of
2016, one million people have visited
the island, up nearly 15% from the same
period last year.
MONEY MATTERS
Identifying the need for wastewater
infrastructure upgrades is only
part of the story. While the case for
wastewater treatment infrastructure
is clear, financing investments and
building public support for such
outlays is less so.
In Latin America, as elsewhere,
governments have been the traditional
funding source for wastewater
infrastructure. Resource constraints
and the scale of the needed investments
have limited what governments can
do. To close that gap, funding from
development banks and multilateral
lending institutions like the World Bank
has become increasingly important
across the region, especially as global
commodities - a major income generator
for some Latin American countries -
have experienced steep price declines.
Even provider fees can be funding
sources, but on a much smaller scale,
WASTEWATER TREATMENT PER COUNTRY
LESS THAN 10% 10% - 20% 20% - 30%
COSTA RICA ARGENTINA BOLIVIA
PARAGUAY COLOMBIA
ECUADOR PANAMA
EL SALVADOR PERU
GUATEMALA VENEZUELA
HONDURAS
1608wwi_41 41
INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENTS
in David, Chiriqu and Santiago de
SEWAGE SYSTEM Veraguas areas.
86% 94% 77% 54% 71% LOOKING TOWARD THE FUTURE
76% 88% 89% 83% 87% The good news is that the improvement
of US-Cuba relations may help
81% 89% 86% 74% 81%
spur interest in further wastewater
for wastewater projects in the region. infrastructure development throughout
Each country will approach the funding the rest of the region by showcasing
question based on its own context. how long-term investments today will
In Panama, funding is provided by pay dividends in terms of economic
both the government and development development, improved public health
banks, and in Cuba, its expected and less pollution.
that the government and also To reap those dividends, several
multilateral lending institutions and Latin American countries will require
foreign development agencies will significant near-term investment.
be the funding source for water and Goal- and data-based international
wastewater projects. development initiatives, such as the
Interestingly, Peru has seen good UNs sustainable development goals
results with public-private partnership (SDGs), are also sharpening the focus
funding models. There, potable water on wastewater treatment efforts in the
and wastewater infrastructure were region. Besides the World Bank, the
both enhanced to benefit local, often Inter-American Development Bank
underserved communities, where (IADB) and the Development Bank
sanitary facilities had been lacking. of Latin America (CAF) have become
Elsewhere in Latin America, such as major investors in Latin Americas
Panama, policymakers and funders wastewater infrastructure, in alignment
are making substantive investments in with their mission and the SDGs. For
INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENTS IN WATER AND WASTEWATER SYSTEMS
SERVICE BILLIONS US$ BILLION US$ 2030 GOAL
(2010- 2030) AVERAGE PER YEAR
DRINKING WATER 45.4 2.27 100% coverage
SEWAGE 79.4 3.97 94% coverage
WASTEWATER 33.2 1.66 64% treated
TREATMENT
DRAINAGE 33.6 1.68 85% in urban areas
HOUSE-HOLD 30.5 1.53 50% reduction in
CONECTIONS households w/o
connections
WATER SUPPLY 27.1 1.36 100%
wastewater treatment and sanitation instance, IADB and CAF have mapped
services, with a particular focus on out their water and wastewater system
traditionally underserved communities investments between 2010 and 2030.
as part of initiatives like the Panama Bay These wastewater treatment
and City Sanitation Project, the Water investments will involve outlays, but an
Supply Works-Group 2 Eastern Main, ecosystem of new funders and funding
and the water and sanitation works approaches are now in place. Perhaps
most important, given the recognition of
the growing need for these investments,
30% - 40% 40% - 50% MORE theres an opportunity for greater public
THAN 50% involvement and buy-in that gives
BRASIL NICARAGUA CHILE these investments wider legitimacy and
MEXICO URUGUAY demonstrates how theyre geared to
DOMINICAN
solve, affordably and effectively, Latin
REPUBLIC Americas wastewater needs.
Sofia Berger is vice president in charge of
Latin American and Caribbean operations at
Louis Berger.
AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2016 WWINTERNATIONAL.COM 41
9/8/16 4:01 PM
 PRODUCT REVIEW ULTRAVIOLET TREATMENT (UV)
WEDECO UV
TECH APPROVED
IN CALIFORNIA
Xylems Wedeco LBX 850e and LBX
1500e ultraviolet (UV) disinfection
systems have received acceptance from
the California State Water Resources
Control Boards Division of Drinking
Water. These closed-vessel UV systems
are now validated and approved for
unrestricted reuse applications to
meet the stringent water disinfection
standards as required by Title 22 of the
California Code of Regulations.
The acceptance of the LBX 850e and
1500e UV systems adds to the existing
portfolio of Wedeco UV systems
approved for Title 22 reuse applications
including the LBX 90e, LBX 400e and
LBX 1000e along with the open-channel
SHINING A LIGHT ON CRYPTOSPORIDIUM
GUAM TO GET FIRST ULTRAVIOLET INSTALLATION
Consultancy Gresham, Smith and
Partners has designed an advanced
wastewater treatment plant which
is now under construction in Santa
Rita, Guam. The new Agat-Santa
Rita Wastewater Treatment Plant will
replace an existing facility operating
40% over capacity. The treatment plant
will use biological nutrient removal
via an oxidation ditch process and
secondary clarification in compliance
42 WWINTERNATIONAL.COM AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2016
1608wwi_42 42
TAK55 and recently approved open-
channel Duron, the first Title 22 reuse
approved disinfection system with an
inclined lamp array.
Xylems Wedeco LBX system is designed
for medium to large-scale wastewater
treatment plants, industrial and water
reuse applications and is a closed-vessel
UV system for wastewater disinfection.
It was the first closed-vessel, low
pressure, high output amalgam UV
system in the world to obtain California
Title 22 acceptance, Xylem said. The
system features Ecoray lamp technology
which consumes approximately one-
third of the energy of medium pressure
lamps, the company said.
Wedeco UV disinfection systems are
currently being operated for Title 22
water reuse applications in California
at the Silicon Valley Advanced Water
Purification Center in San Jose.
UK ultraviolet disinfection system
provider atg UV Technology has
been awarded a contract by Trant
Engineering, for Portsmouth Water. The
contract covers supply and installation
of UV units for Cryptosporidium
inactivation at two water treatment
works: Eastergate and Westergate.
Both are 20,000 m3/day borehole
works and each site will be provided
with fully automatic duty and
standby atg UV UVLW 16800 20 UV
with the National Pollutant Discharge
Elimination System, with effluent
discharged through a deep ocean outfall
pipe. Chemical addition and filtration
can be added if enhanced phosphorus
removal is needed in the future.
A repurposed pump station on the
existing Agat site and a new pump
station on the Baza Garden site will
deliver raw wastewater to the facility,
the latter via a cross-island force main/
The approval by the State means that
Xylems Wedeco brand can provide its
customers in California and beyond
with one of the broadest portfolios of
approved UV disinfection systems for
water reuse of any manufacturer, said
Richard Loeffler, Wedeco senior sales
engineer for Xylem.
www.xylemwatersolutions.com
reactors. The reactors, which are third
party validated to US EPA UVDGM,
feature atg UVs multi-lamp 800 Watt
Amalgam UV lamps. The required
4-log inactivation of Cryptosporidium
will be achieved by a validated UV
dose of 40 mJ/cm2 and this will be
maintained over the full range of
works flow by monitoring UV intensity
in each reactor and automatically
adjusting the dose.
www.atguv.com/UVLW
booster station system. Other major
process components include influent
flow equalization, fine screening, grit
removal, and Guams first municipal
ultraviolet disinfection process. As
mandated by EPA, the plants initial
wastewater treatment processes are
scheduled to be operational by the end
of 2016 to comply with the consent
decree.
www.greshamsmith.com
9/8/16 4:01 PM
 PRODUCT REVIEW FITTINGS & CONTROLS

VERSATILE MEDIA-SEPARATED VALVE

The new two-way bellows control valve from Brkert is a
pneumatically actuated process valve with a single action
membrane drive. A PTFE bellows ensures the reliable
separation of the media from the drive. The valve is constructed
in full compliance with hygienic design requirements and is
ideal for demanding control tasks with small flow rates, for
which membrane valves are not suitable. The bellows control
valve is available in diameters from DN6 to DN20 and can be
combined with seat diameters from 3 mm to 10 mm. The space-
saving drive has a low internal volume,
resulting in the compact design and
short response times of this valve type.
Type 2380 valves feature good control
action due to the low-friction design, in
addition to a linear characteristic curve.
The correction time is generally less than
one second.
www.buerkert.de

ANALYSER TO MONITOR HAZARDOUS

CHROMIUM VI IN DRINKING WATER
The Model CA6 Colorimetric Analyser from ECD is an on-line sequential sampling analyser
that is designed to monitor Chromium VI in drinking water. It can be configured to measure
Chromium VI in three separate ranges: 0 to 1.0 mg/L, 0 to 10.0 mg/L or 0 to 50.0 mg/L.
The CA6 Colorimetric Analysers sequence of sampling, analysis and results processing is
performed and repeated using colorimetric methods. The technology relies on an LED light
source and a heated colorimetric cell designed for measuring trace amounts of manganese,
iron and other analytes in water. The CA6 is available with up to 4 channels (optional) each
from a separate sample point. The CA6 uses photometric differential absorbance to analyse
chromium VI and over 20 other common parameters including: aluminium, iron, manganese,
silica, nitrogen, iron and sulfate. It operates at a wide temperature range of 5-50C.
www.ecdi.com

IWA World Water Congress

& Exhibition 2016
09 -14 OCTOBER 2016, BRISBANE, QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA

Shaping our Water Future

Registration now open

www.worldwatercongress.org

Principal Sponsor Platinum Sponsors Partner

For more information, enter 18 at wwi.hotims.com

AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2016 WWINTERNATIONAL.COM 43

1608wwi_43 43 9/8/16 4:01 PM

 ADVERTISERS INDEX
Advertiser Page Advertiser Page Advertiser Page

Analytical Technology 5 LG Water Solutions 13 Reed Manufacturing Co. 9

Andritz AG C4 Massa Products Corp. 15 Shimadzu Dtl GmbH 2
Auma Riester 27 Microdyn Nadir GmbH 23 Siemens AG 19
Balmoral Tanks 21 Myron L Company 3 Solinst Canada 17
Barthauer 8 Phoenix Process Equipment 44 Tank Connection 9
International Water Association 43 Plast-O-Matic Valves, Inc. 25 Tsurumi Europe GmbH 25
Keller C2 PWN Technologies 31 Zoeller Waste Systems Ltd. C3

CALENDAR OF EVENTS
A selection of events related to the water and wastewater industry in 2015 can be found here.
For a full list, visit: www.wwinternational.com and click on the Events tab at the top of the page.

September 4 2016 September 25-27 2016 January 16-19 2017

Wetland Systems for Water Pollution Control IDA International Conference on Water Reuse International Water Summit 2017
Gdansk, Poland and Recycling Abu Dhabi, UAE
http://icws2016.org Nice, France http://www.internationalwatersummit.com/
http://idadesal.org/water-reuse-conference/
September 4-7 2016 March 21-23 2017
Microbial ecology and water engineering 2016 October 4-6, 2016 IWA Specialist Conference on Water Efficiency
Copenhagen, Denmark WETEX 2016 Tel Aviv, Israel
www.mewe2016.org Dubai, UAE www.efficient2017.com
www.wetex.ae/about/ChairmanMessage
September 12 2016 March 28-30 2017
Plastic Pipes XVIII Conference and Exhibition October 5 2016 WSTA 12th Gulf Water Conference
Berlin, Germany Watersmart Innovations Manama, Bahrain
www.ppxviii.com Las Vegas, Nevada http://www.gulfwaterconference.com/index.php
http://watersmartinnovations.com/
September 24-28 2016 April 24-28 2017
WEFTEC 16 October 5-7, 2016 4th International Conference on Water
New Orleans, LA DESAL 2016 Economics, Statistics and Finance
http://weftec.org Santiago, Chile Manama, Bahrain
https://gecamin.com/desal/english/ http://www.gulfwaterconference.com/index.php

October 7-9 2016 June 20-22 2017

WaterSmart Innovations Leading Edge Conference for Sustainable Asset
Las Vegas, US Management
http://watersmartinnovations.com/ Trondheim, Norway
www.ntnu.edu/lesam2017
October 9-14 2016
IWA World Water Congress & Exhibition October 31-November 3, 2017
Brisbane, Australia Aquatech Amsterdam
www.iwa-network.org Amsterdam, The Netherlands
http://www.aquatechtrade.com/amsterdam/
October 26-28 2016
Aquatech Mexico May 2018
Mexico City, Mexico IFAT
CENTRIFUGES FREE LAB TESTING http://www.aquatechtrade.com/en/mexico/ Munich, Germany
BELT PRESSES POLYMERS http://www.ifat.de/index-2.html
FILTER PRESSES SPARE PARTS November 6-9 2016
PORTABLE SYSTEMS FACTORY START-UP Membranes in Drinking and Industrial Water October 2018
Production. Leeuwarden, The Netherlands World Water Congress & Exhibition 2018
http://www.edsoc.com/ Tokyo, Japan
http://www.iwa-network.org/event/world-water-
November 17-20 2016 congress-exhibition-2016/
Science Summit on Urban Water
Beijing, China
Process Equipment Company http://uwrwe.summit2016.edu.cn
www.dewater.com (502)499-6198
phoenix@dewater.com
For more information, enter 19 at wwi.hotims.com

44 WWINTERNATIONAL.COM AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2016

1608wwi_44 44 9/8/16 4:01 PM

 Q U A L I T Y . S E R V I C E . I N N O V AT I O N . I N T E G R I T Y .

Waste-Mate Sewage Pumps and Z-Rail Systems

HEAVY-LIFT TEAM
For reliable solutions in
demanding wastewater
applications.
Cast iron pumps run cool for
longer, trouble-free performance.

Our Z-Rail systems come with

everything you need to simplify
maintenance! Install them in
concrete, steel, or berglass tanks.

Make it a complete package or just

order the separate components.

YOUR PEACE OF MIND

IS OUR TOP PRIORITY.

+1-502-778-2731 | www.zoeller.com

For more information, enter 20 at wwi.hotims.com

1608wwi_C3 3 9/8/16 4:01 PM

 One of Europes largest
wastewater plants handles
2 million challenges a day.
What are yours?
In Ambarli, Turkey, more than two million
people depend on the capabilities of just
one wastewater treatment plant. But as
strict new environmental regulations came
into effect, the citys outdated facilities
became unsustainable. Our solution?
A new sludge drying plant that converts
biogas into electricity to meet the stringent
new standards. Fully automated and
highly efficient, its now capable of treating
400,000 cubic meters of sewage per day.
1608wwi_C4 4
ASK YOUR
SEPARATION
Its just one of countless challenges solved SPECIALIST
by ANDRITZ SEPARATION the worlds
leading separation specialist. With the
broadest technology portfolio and more
than 2,000 specialists in 40 countries,
ANDRITZ SEPARATION is a driving force
in the evolution of separation technologies,
services and solutions. Whats your biggest
challenge? Ask your separation specialist
at IFAT in Munich, from May 30th to June
3rd 2016, at booth 151/250 Hall 2.
www.andritz.com/separation
For more information, enter 21 at wwi.hotims.com
9/8/16 4:01 PM