The quest for ecological transformation has emerged as a crucial imperative for public utilities and municipal wastewater treatment plant operators.
Ecological transformation, underscored by its importance in the face of climate change, represents a fundamental shift in how we produce, consume, and interact with the natural world. This transformation entails moving from a linear economy to a circular one, placing a heightened emphasis on the efficient use of resources and the minimisation of waste. Furthermore, it involves the restoration and protection of ecosystems, aspiring to construct a world that not only mitigates the impacts of climate change but one that is also inherently more resilient and sustainable.
Amidst the challenges faced by public utilities and municipal wastewater treatment plant operators, the quest for ecological transformation has emerged as a crucial imperative. Regulatory standards, coupled with the pressing need for environmental, social, and governance (ESG) advancements, underscore the pivotal role that these entities play in shaping sustainable futures.
However, public utilities and municipal wastewater treatment plant operators face a multitude of challenges in today's complex and ever-changing environmental landscape. Stringent regulations, burgeoning populations, and escalating environmental concerns demand innovative and sustainable solutions. Yet at the same time, these organisations grapple with constraints such as limited land availability, ageing infrastructure, and the burden of rising operational costs.
Veolia Water Technologies, a leading solutions provider for water and wastewater treatment, stands poised to assist public utilities and municipal wastewater treatment plant operators in overcoming these challenges, facilitating the realisation of their sustainability goals. With a rich tapestry of expertise in municipal wastewater treatment, Veolia empowers its customers to not only meet regulatory standards but also address ESG objectives, contributing substantially to the creation of a cleaner, greener future.
Case Study 1: Improving Water Quality & Reducing River Pollution
In Chengdu, Sichuan province, Southwest China, Veolia was tasked with upgrading a wastewater treatment plant to meet stricter local discharge standards. The Minjiang and Tuojiang River basin, which receives the treated discharge, is an ecologically sensitive area, and reducing pollutants, like chemical oxygen demand (COD), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), total nitrogen (TN), ammonia nitrogen (NH3-H), and total phosphorus (TP), was of paramount importance.
Veolia responded with a solution featuring 12 units of Multiflo™ settlers, a highly efficient and compact clarification technology that combines the coagulation, flocculation, and counter-current lamella settling stages in a single unit. The inclined lamella plates are designed to be located side-by-side to create modular sedimentation units, providing a larger settling surface area within a similar footprint. The solution brought the total treatment capacity to 1,000,000 m3/d and can handle a peak flow rate of 54,167 m3/h.
The Multiflo settler, acting as a tertiary treatment, not only addressed the challenge but surpassed expectations. Pollutant levels were significantly reduced — TSS was reduced from ≤20 mg/L to ≤10 mg/L, and TP from ≤1.5 mg/L to ≤0.3 mg/L. Additionally, its lamella washing system minimised manual maintenance, reducing operational costs for the plant operator.
The Chengdu plant operator achieved optimised operational expenses through maximising solutions that worked well within the space constraints. Additionally, the completed wastewater treatment plant now contributes significantly to ecological transformation by enhancing water quality and reducing pollution in the Jinjiang River. This positive impact also extended to the improvement of water quality within the region, which are connected to multiple downstream rivers.
Case Study 2: Sustainable Underground Wastewater Treatment Plant for Ecological Transformation
Elsewhere, in one of Zhejiang province’s most important cities in East China, Veolia was assigned to design and build a high-efficiency underground wastewater treatment plant. It was a strict requirement for the wastewater treatment plant to meet China National Standards Class III discharge standards — the highest in the Zhejiang Province — while also optimising land use.
Veolia's solution comprised a combination of innovative technologies, including Multiflo systems for primary treatment; Biostyr® Duo for secondary biological treatment; Actiflo® Carb settlers and Hydrotech™ Discfilters for tertiary treatment; and sodium hypochlorite for final disinfection. This comprehensive approach ensured compliance with discharge standards while minimising the plant's footprint.
The plant achieved remarkable results in reducing key water quality parameters at the outlet. COD, BOD, and TSS were reduced by over 90%, and TN by more than 75%. These reductions exceeded the discharge standards set by the Chinese government, demonstrating Veolia's expertise in municipal wastewater treatment and its commitment to helping customers achieve their sustainability goals.
In addition to enhancing Zhijiang's ecological wetland and water reuse project, the underground wastewater treatment plant not only surpasses the stringent regulatory discharge standards, but also serves as an exemplary model of achieving sustainable development and land optimisation.
Case Study 3: Safeguarding the Yangtze River
In Shanghai, Veolia's challenge was to upgrade a wastewater treatment plant which serves over 30 million residents to meet China's National Standards GB18918-2002 Class IA as part of the city’s 'Yangtze River Coordinated Protection Strategy'. The Yangtze River covering a third of the country is the lifeline of China, and protecting its water quality is of national importance.
Veolia's answer involved the Multiflo settler, offering two treatment lines with six Multiflo cells each, and a total treatment capacity of 500 MLD. The Multiflo settler effectively reduced COD, BOD, SS, and TP levels in the wastewater by at least 50%.
In addition, Veolia’s solution also enabled the plant operator to reduce combined sewer overflows during the rainy season, safeguarding the water quality of the Yangtze River Estuary, and contributing to the Yangtze River Economic Belt Environment Protection and the green transformation of the area.
Championing Ecological Transformation
Public utilities and municipal wastewater treatment plants, positioned at the intersection of regulatory demands and ecological imperatives, find themselves uniquely positioned to drive impactful change. These projects illustrate how Veolia's solutions, coupled with the proactive engagement of municipal bodies, can usher in a new era of ecological transformation. With over 200 municipal projects completed in China over the last 30 years, Veolia's technologies are not merely reactive; they are instrumental in shaping a proactive and sustainable approach towards municipal wastewater management.
