Low Energy Density Wastewater Treatment Systems

Wastewater treatment can be an energy intensive undertaking, and energy is getting more expensive every day. For some municipalities, the energy demand for wastewater treatment can account for a significant portion of the municipal budget. In certain industrial sectors, such as pulp and paper, chemical manufacturing, and petroleum refining, the cost of electrical energy for wastewater treatment can run into the millions of dollars annually.

Energy is no longer cheap. New processes are needed to improve effluent quality and lower treatment cost. New low energy density designs are coming forward, like the Hybrid® ASB, which uses about 20% of the energy required by conventional treatment processes.

As environmental professionals, we need to change the way we think about wastewater plant design: we need to design for the environment and for energy savings. Environmental engineers and scientists need to think outside the box to achieve significant energy savings while improving effluent quality. This takes a new way of thinking about old and new technologies, and using the skills and resources we already have to pioneer and pave the way to the future.

The wastewater plant of the future will be part of a sustainable economy, a place where energy is generated, beneficial byproducts are manufactured and reusable water is produced.