Zenon converts WWTP to membrane bioreactor

Traverse City and five neighbouring townships in the US state of Michigan awarded a US$ 10 million contract to the Canadian company Zenon Environmental Inc. to supply its membrane technology to treat their wastewater. City Manager Richard Lewis explained that the Council approved the switch to membrane because the plant can then be retrofitted to increase capacity without incurring additional major facility expansion. In addition, local residents want to improve the environment. Currently, treated sewage is discharged into nearby Boardman Lake, which then flows into Lake Michigan.

Zenon will convert the existing conventional activated sludge plant to a membrane bioreactor using its proprietary ZenoGemRegistered technology. Ordinarily, raw sewage contains some 250 mg to 400 mg per litre of suspended solids. Zenon's membrane bioreactor filters this, reducing solid content down to virtually 0 milligrams per litre.

This plant will be the largest municipal membrane sewage treatment plant in North America. Only two larger plants are currently being installed in Europe, both by Zenon.