Dockwater, operating in the Port of Antwerp, Belgium, has recently entered inter a Memorandum of Understanding with Aquafin, a Belgium-based wastewater treatment company, to explore using treated wastewater in its desalination plant.
The Memorandum expresses a shared desired to explore using wastewater and carries no contractual requirements.
The plant’s construction had been announced last year with plans to convert dock water into process water. Operation for the plant was slated to begin in 2024.
Industrial facilities at the Port of Antwerp currently use drinking water for industrial purposes, as it is the only source of water currently available. Unlike other water projects which will continue to use fresh water for industrial purposes, Dockwater's facility is designed to use both wastewater and salty water from the docks, reducing industrial consumption of fresh water by more than 95 percent at industrial sites at the Port and easing pressure on drinking water supplies in the Antwerp region.
Aquafin's Antwerpen Noord Wastewater Treatment Plant is located nearby Dockwater's location at the Port of Antwerp. The ability to make use of wastewater could allow Dockwater and its customers to achieve full circularity in their water use and would give Dockwater a second, redundant source of water supply.
The conversion of dock water to process water not only reduces the pressure on the drinking water supply but also offers quality and environmental benefits. For example, the salt load, or concentration of minerals, of process water is 5 times lower than of drinking water. Because the water contains less salt, it is better suited for chemical installations. This means less water use, less wastewater and fewer chemicals for water treatment.
Jan Goossens, Aquafin's Chief Executive Officer said, "Aquafin is committed to work with private and public entities that are interested in exploring reuse opportunities where it makes ecological, social and economic sense. Our MOU with Dockwater demonstrates our commitment to advance the Blue Deal agenda and circular economy initiatives in Flanders. Treated wastewater is a valuable resource which is otherwise released into local waterways and eventually mixed with sea water."
Mark McComiskey, a representative of Dockwater said, "From inception, the Dockwater project has been conceived as a fully sustainable, green new source of water for the Flemish region, one that will help reduce industrial consumption of limited freshwater resources. While the plant will initially use salty water from the docks, our vision is to achieve full circularity and source all of our water from wastewater. This undertaking with Aquafin marks an important step in that direction. In parallel we are in discussions with industrial companies at the Port about also using their wastewater at our plant. Our Dockwater plant is uniquely placed to take advantage of these reuse opportunities as it is the only facility situated at the Port near the customers."
