• Advanced wastewater treatment system to achieve strict discharge standards and protect water quality in Taihu Lake
TREVOSE, PA, June 24, 2008 -- One of China's fastest growing industrial cities has selected GE's advanced wastewater treatment technologies to help restore water quality in Taihu Lake, the main water source for more than 30 million people in the region. The new Meicun Wastewater Treatment Plant, to be built in Wuxi, will be China's first large-scale application of GE's membrane bioreactor (MBR) technology and will demonstrate how the $10 million U.S. advanced treatment system can protect the nation's water resources while promoting a strong economy.
Taihu Lake, China's third largest, suffers from the excessive accumulation of nutrients, a condition that affects about two thirds of the nation's 50 largest lakes, and many of its smaller water bodies. The condition continues to broaden as the population and industrial base grows and wastewater discharge to lakes and rivers increases. Taihu Lake is the nation's first water body to come under powerful new regulations designed to remedy declining water quality.
The Meicun Wastewater Treatment Plant will play a key role in a province-wide effort to reduce the amount of chemical and organic wastes discharged to Taihu Lake. The first phase of the plant, capable of treating up to 30,000 cubic meters (7.9 million gallons) of water per day, will be rapidly completed and is scheduled to be operational by the end of 2008. The modular system will be expanded in stages to a treatment capacity of 100,000 cubic meters (26.4 million gallons) of water per day, making it one of the largest MBR treatment facilities in the world.
"GE's advanced membrane system will ensure that this plant will consistently meet the strict new wastewater treatment standards established by the government and will help protect the water quality in Taihu Lake, an important source for millions of people," said Xue Yuanshui, General Manager of Wuxi Gaoxin Water Co., Ltd. "We are very proud to be among the first in China to show the important role that membrane technology will play in the responsible and sustainable management of our water resources."
"GE's success in Wuxi further demonstrates the capabilities of our broad portfolio to help China overcome its water and wastewater treatment challenges," said Weifang Zhou, President of Greater China, GE Water & Process Technologies. "We will continue to invest in our nation-wide project delivery and support networks to fully support China's industries and municipalities in balancing their economic and social goals with environmental objectives."
GE's ecomagination-certified MBR system combines selected microorganisms and ZeeWeed ultrafiltration membranes to breakdown organic nutrients and filter solids from wastewater. The systems produce high quality effluent that can be safely discharged to Taihu Lake or reused for industrial applications, irrigation, or aquifer recharge. This proven technology has been used throughout the world for nearly two decades to meet or exceed stringent discharge standards and to transform wastewater into a valuable and sustainable new water source that can help mitigate water scarcity.
GE Water & Process Technologies is a world leader in membrane and filtration, diagnostic tools, specialty chemicals, mobile water, service, and financing
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