The Netherlands: The Dutch inventors' organisation ID-NL nominated the Aquafin sludge conditioning product DESHYDROplus for an award as the "Best Invention of 2003" in the Energy & Environment category. The conditioner increases dry matter content to at least 30%, and can be integrated into existing dewatering processes.
Dewatering sludge following wastewater treatment is a crucial step in the process of reducing transport and processing costs by reducing weight.
Aquafin developed DESHYDROplus in collaboration with the University of Leuven for the treatment of sludge that is difficult to dewater. The conditioner has saved Aquafin 20% on sludge disposal costs.
Scotland: Franklin + Andrews, part of the Mott MacDonald Group, won a framework contract to provide cost consultancy services for Scottish Water to assist in implementing its £ 1.8 billion capital investment programme. The commission will run for the three-year period of the programme with an option to extend indefinitely. Scottish Water is the only publicly-owned water utility company in the UK.
Seychelles: Biwater (Pty) Ltd. of South Africa completed the US$ 15.7-million Beau Vallon Bay wastewater treatment works.
The project marks the second facility constructed by Biwater for the Public Utilities Corporation of Seychelles. The plant treats sewage from the northwestern districts of Mahe, the most populated island in the archipelago of the Seychelles and home to the country's famous beaches and hotels. Biwater helped secure funding for the turnkey project, which consists of a three million litre per day biological sewage treatment plant, a reticulation network and sub-marine sea outfall pipeline.
The facility process design is based on a modified University of Cape Town process, which includes biological nitrogen and phosphorous removal.
UK: The UK government plans for four million new homes but water supply in the UK is already stretched. The water and new development (WaND) project led by Professor Adrian McDonald and David Butler at Imperial College are working on ways to meet increasing water demands.
Lead researcher Professor McDonald said: "It's the first time research has linked water supply with waste and drainage water management on a large scale. For example, toilets could be flushed using water already used for showers or washing. We are looking at how using these innovations interact in engineering, economic, health and legislative terms." Finished models will be part of a toolkit accessible online for planners, water companies and academics.
UK: Ecolochem International of Peterborough, England, achieved the ISO 9001:2000 quality assurance standard accreditation for the design, manufacture, operation and supply of its water treatment equipment and services worldwide. The company provides outsourced water treatment services for use in industrial applications. Its technology portfolio includes reverse osmosis, deionisation, softening, filtration, gas transfer membranes, electrodeionisation and deoxygenation.
