WETTRINGEN, GERMANY -- Almost every second person in India suffers from water shortage. The sustainable use of water and wastewater is therefore absolutely essential. But many Indian wastewater treatment plants do not purify waste water or only insufficiently so; sewage sludge is often disposed of in an uncontrolled manner. The consequences are mud accumulation, fish death and more - and considerable effects on the health of the humans affected. The Show Case Plant India (SCPI) project is designed to help eliminate these poor conditions.
The SCPI project, which is supported by the Environmental Technologies Export Initiative of the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU), makes German know-how in wastewater treatment plants available to India. It shows how wastewater treatment can be adapted to local conditions so that the water can be reused, is suitable for groundwater recharge and the quality of surface water improves.
The first step is a feasibility study. During the study, the concept of a show-case wastewater treatment plant for existing plants with a population equivalent of approx. 50,000 will be developed. Coordinated by aqua & water International GmbH (Hanover), the project partner KUHN GmbH Technische Anlagen as well as the German Water Partnership eV, the Fraunhofer Institute for Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology (IGB) and ENEXIO Water Technologies GmbH are collaborating in the project.
The aim of the feasibility study is a system concept that combines high impact with maximum energy efficiency. The showcase plant should therefore include the main components:
- mechanical pre-cleaning,
- a primary treatment system,
- biological wastewater treatment,
- side stream treatment by means of biofilm treatment processes for agricultural water supply,
- sludge treatment
- and a combined heat and power plant for the use of sewage gas.
ENEXIO Water Technologies is responsible for the design of the primary treatment stage and the side stream treatment. The experience gained in the Atotonilco project - the largest wastewater treatment plant in Mexico - will be integrated into the design of the primary treatment plant. Based on the findings of the feasibility study funded by the BMU, the equipment of an industrial-scale existing wastewater treatment plant will be implemented at a later date.
Managing Director Peter Althaus is pleased that ENEXIO Water Technologies is participating in SCPI. "In this way, we can create better living conditions for a large section of the Indian population." The showcase plant will have model character, says Althaus, and this is why a training center on site is also projected. "After all, we want to win over not only local decision-makers with this project. We also want to make our knowledge available to operating companies of waste water treatment plants, planners and students, so that this technology can have an impact elsewhere as quickly as possible. "
