The Tidy Times

An independent US publication covering household cleaning and trash disposal news, buying guidance, and everyday know-how.

Urban Wastewater Treatment Innovations for Reuse Plants

Urban wastewater treatment innovations from R3Water cut UV power use by up to 50% and recover water, nutrients and energy from sludge.

The Tidy Times Newsroom

Urban wastewater treatment innovations tested under R3Water turned treatment plants into recovery units for water, nutrients and energy. The effort produced a dozen technologies demonstrated by 12 partners from seven European countries between 1 January 2014 and 30 June 2017, according to CORDIS archived in June 2024. Readers following Industry News can use the results as of November 2017 to compare reuse, recovery and resource efficiency options for municipal plants.

How do urban wastewater treatment innovations cut energy use?

Urban wastewater treatment innovations cut ultraviolet disinfection power consumption by up to 50 percent as of November 2017. CORDIS reported in November 2017 that doscontrol automated disinfection control reduced chlorine and ultraviolet dosing in Sweden and Spain demonstrations. Software for contracted power optimisation matched supply to real demand patterns. Results presented at the R3Water Final Conference showed lower operating costs with stable treatment performance.

What do urban wastewater treatment innovations recover from sludge?

Urban wastewater treatment innovations recover phosphates, energy and reusable water from 9637000 tons of annual EU sludge as of November 2017. CORDIS reported in November 2017 that EU countries produce that sludge volume per year as of November 2017. Hydrothermal carbonisation improved dewatering and allowed phosphate extraction as phosphoric acid. Digestion and drying steps lowered thermal energy demand while producing biocarbon for soil improvement and cement industry fuel.

Where were urban wastewater treatment innovations demonstrated?

Urban wastewater treatment innovations were demonstrated at 3 sites in Belgium, Spain and Sweden as of June 2017. CORDIS archived in June 2024 lists the 3-country demonstration covering reuse, recovery and resource efficiency. SusChem reported in May 2017 that the final conference took place on 30 May 2017 in Brussels. The project ran 42 months from 1 January 2014 to 30 June 2017, with site visits tied to the R3Water Workshop.

Area Change in plant Outcome as of November 2017
Water reuse Automated disinfection control Power use down by up to 50 percent in ultraviolet stage, reported by CORDIS in November 2017
Valuables recovery Hydrothermal carbonisation plus digestion Phosphates recovered, dewatering improved, reported by CORDIS in November 2017
Resource efficiency Monitoring and power optimisation Lower contracted power cost, reported by CORDIS in November 2017

Urban Wastewater Treatment Innovations FAQ

What are urban wastewater treatment innovations for reuse plants?

Urban wastewater treatment innovations for reuse plants are R3Water systems that turn treatment works into recovery units. They cover reuse, recovery and resource efficiency, with a dozen technologies demonstrated by 12 partners from seven European countries between 1 January 2014 and 30 June 2017, according to CORDIS archived in June 2024. Buyers can track results as of November 2017 through treatment performance data.

How much energy do urban wastewater treatment innovations save in disinfection?

Urban wastewater treatment innovations save up to 50 percent of power during ultraviolet treatment as of November 2017. CORDIS reported in November 2017 that doscontrol automated disinfection control lowered dosing and costs in Sweden and Spain demonstrations. Software for contracted power optimisation also reduced operating expense without changing treatment capacity.

What resources do urban wastewater treatment innovations recover from sludge?

Urban wastewater treatment innovations recover water for reuse, phosphates as phosphoric acid, energy and biocarbon from sludge. CORDIS reported in November 2017 that EU countries produce 9637000 tons of municipal wastewater sludge per year as of November 2017. Hydrothermal carbonisation improved dewatering and enabled phosphate recovery for use.

Where were urban wastewater treatment innovations tested?

Urban wastewater treatment innovations were tested at 3 sites in Belgium, Spain and Sweden as of June 2017. CORDIS archived in June 2024 lists the 3-country demonstration, and SusChem reported in May 2017 that the final conference took place on 30 May 2017 in Brussels. The project ran 42 months from 1 January 2014 to 30 June 2017.