Responding to water challenges in Greece through desalination: energy considerations

Abstract

Desalination technology, and reverse osmosis in particular, is used by several island authorities in Greece to address water scarcity. However, this is a highly energy-intensive technique, requiring the consumption of significant quantities of fossil fuels. The case of Syros Island is presented, to demonstrate the strong water–energy link in the operation of desalination plants. The article also discusses the use of renewable energy sources as a means for reducing the energy intensity of desalination.     

Water recovery from sewage using forward osmosis

This research is part of the Sewer Mining project aimed at developing a new technological concept by extracting water from sewage by means of forward osmosis (FO). FO, in combination with a reconcentration system, e.g. reverse osmosis (RO) is used to recover high-quality water. Furthermore, the subsequent concentrated sewage (containing an inherent energy content) can be converted into a renewable energy (RE) source (i.e. biogas). The effectiveness of FO membranes in the recovery of water from sewage has been evaluated. Stable FO water flux values (>4.3 LMH) were obtained with primary effluent (screened, not treated) used as the feed solution. Fouling of the membrane was also induced and further investigated. Accumulated fouling was found to be apparent, but not irreversible. Sewer Mining could lead to a more economical and sustainable treatment of wastewater, facilitating the extraction of water and energy from sewage and changing the way it is perceived: not as waste, but as a resource.     

Salt reduction in municipal sewage allocated for reuse: the outcome of a new policy in Israel.

Israel is presently reusing about 70% of its sewage and the buildup of salts in soils has been detected in some areas of the country. Prevention of sewage salt enrichment is one of the most immediately available solutions. The discharge of brines to municipal sewers is now prohibited and they are discharged to the sea. Discharge of brines to the sea has increased from 580,000 m3 in 1999 to more than 700,000 m3 in 2002. These salts are thus definitively taken out of the reuse cycle, year after year. The concentration of salts in industrial effluents is presently limited by the national water law and a unique regulation limiting the Boron and Sodium content in detergents has been implemented. Israeli industry has undergone a radical change in recent years. Many factories and all the hospitals have adopted K or Ca for softening and neutralization, while others have shifted to reverse osmosis. The concentration of Cl and Na in the sewage reaching treatment plants is declining. The addition of Cl to sewage has dropped from 120 mg/l to 70 mg/l. The average Boron concentration in sewage has dropped from 0.6 mg/l to 0.3 mg/l and should reach 0.2 mg/l by 2008.     

Geomorphology of the Argentine Northeast

ABSTRACT

The physico-chemical analysis of the Mokuro dam (in Ile-Ife, Nigeria) and its piped water distribution system was carried out at monthly intervals from December, 1982 to November, 1983, a n d the quality of water was assessed to establish its pollution level.

Nitrate, phosphate, chloride and dissolved solid levels were generally low in the Mokuro water samples. These compounds ranged from zero to 2.3 mg/l; from zero to 0.038 mg/l; from 3.4 to 54 mg/l; and from 0.1 mg/l00 ml to 58 mg/100 ml, respectively. Their concentrations were within safe limits. For instance, nitrate levels did not exceed a limit of 45 mg/l above which is likely to cause methaemo-globinemia in infants. The BOD varied, with a range of 1.0 to 12.6 mg/l in the Mokuro dam and Mokuro stream.     

A review of the current status of small-scale seawater reverse osmosis desalination

The current status of small-scale desalination (produced water capacity 100 m³/day or less) is reviewed to provide an overview of the market segment. The use of energy-recovery devices in this market segment is also reviewed. We find that the Middle East accounts for the largest market share worldwide at present, and reverse osmosis is overwhelmingly dominant among the desalination technologies adopted. Implementation of energy-recovery devices at small scale is rare, which leads to relatively high energy consumption for small-scale seawater reverse osmosis desalination systems.     

基于EFDC模型的尾水回用于城市景观水体优化计算

以昆山市内蓬朗污水处理厂深度处理后的尾水回用于城市景观水体夏驾河为例,以环境流体动力学模型(environmental fluid dynamic code,EFDC)构建的夏驾河三维非稳态水量模型为基础,考虑经济、社会、环境等多方面的效益,构建目标函数,研究6种设计情景下尾水回用的综合效益,确定污水处理厂尾水回用的最佳运行方案。结果表明,从经济、社会、环境效益最大化的角度出发,昆山市夏架河尾水回用最优方案为:出水口选为距太仓塘4.5 km处,排水方向为吴淞江,回用流量为3.4万m3/d。尾水回用于景观水体可以有效改善水体交换,蓬朗污水处理厂尾水入河位置及回用量流量直接影响夏驾河换水周期以及夏驾河水质的好坏。     

Removal of hormones and pharmaceuticals in the Advanced Water Recycling Demonstration Plant in Queensland, Australia.

An advanced water recycling demonstration plant was employed to investigate the effectiveness of a number of treatment technologies in the removal of some residuals of commonly prescribed pharmaceuticals as well as natural and synthetic hormones found in sewage. Analysis of targeted compounds was carried out by solid-phase extraction (SPE) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Initial tests were undertaken to determine the background concentrations of the analytes during various stages of treatment. Subsequent tests, undertaken by spiking with standard solutions of the target compounds provided further information on the removal efficiencies of some selected treatment modules. The results of the study indicate that while ozonation, microfiltration and nanofiltration were partially effective, treatment by reverse osmosis was the most universally successful in the removal of the target residuals. While significantly more data is required for a full evaluation, this initial investigation suggests that reverse osmosis may be an effective means of removing a wider range of pharmaceutically active residuals and hormones from treated sewage.     

Energy for water utilization in China and policy implications for integrated planning

Abstract

Significant energy resources are needed for traditional and nontraditional water utilization in China. Yet the interlinkages between water and energy have not received adequate attention in the country. To address this gap, this article disaggregates and quantifies the magnitude and direction of energy and water flows in China at the national level through Sankey diagrams. Spatial distributions of energy use by different components of the water supply were further mapped at the provincial level to discern regional differences. The results of this study show that the total energy consumption by water abstraction, treatment and distribution, as well as waste treatment and reuse, amounts to 193.5 TWh of electricity, or about 4% of the total national electricity usage. The outcome of this study offers important policy implications for integrated water and energy planning and management and will contribute to achieving the goal of low-energy water utilization in the future.     

Comparative MCDM Analysis for AMD Treatment Method Selection

Robule Lake, located in Eastern Serbia, near the city of Bor, is being influenced by waste materials from mining activities. For the purification of water from Robule Lake, contaminated with various metal ions (Fe, Cu, Zn, Mn, Cd, Ni, etc.), acid mine drainage (AMD) treatment methods such as: passive treatment method, sequential neutralization, ion exchange, adsorption process based on low cost adsorbents, adsorption process based on natural zeolits, electrodialysis, filtration with nanofiltration membranes, and reverse osmosis, were evaluated by the following MCDM methods: TOPSIS, VIKOR, MOOSRA, WASPAS, and CoCoSo. Criteria used for the evaluation were: efficiency in the metal ions removal and the quality of the purified water, necessity of pre-treatment and / or post-treatment of treated water, possibility of using the generated waste, capital costs, operating and maintenance costs, needed area, and sensitivity of the method. The results of the MCDM analysis showed that sequential neutralization was the most appropriate method for this wastewater, while passive treatment system and ion exchange were ranked as second and third, respectively.

After the selection of AMD treatment method, neutralization tests with lime were carried out with the water sample from Robule Lake. The results of sequential neutralization testing showed that concentration of Fe ions could be lowered to 1 mg/L at pH 4. The values of Cu, Zn, and Ni ions concentration obtained at pH 7 were 0.04, 0.65, and 0.21 mg/L, respectively, while the values of Mn and Cd ions concentration of 0.01 and 0.0001 mg/L, were obtained at pH 10.

     

Response to Late developers and the inequity of “equitable utilization” and the harm of “do no harm” by Kai Wegerich and Oliver Olsson,Water International, 35 (6), 707–717 (November 2010)

Abstract

A strategy is presented for predicting impacts of future climate change on water supply capabilities, which is based on using output from a general circulation model (GCM) developed by the Canadian Center for Climate Modeling and Analysis (CCCma) with a watershed hydrology model and a river/reservoir system management model. The GCM output was used to adjust input to a watershed hydrology model in order to predict the corresponding impacts on streamflows. Output from the watershed model was used to adjust naturalized streamflows in a river/reservoir system management model in order to determine the corresponding impacts on water supply reliabilities. The methodology was applied in an investigation of capabilities for supplying water to the City of Houston and other users in the San Jacinto River Basin of Texas. Historical versus 2040 to 2059 climate scenarios were compared. Study results indicate that long-term mean streamflows under 2040 to 2059 climate conditions were higher than under historical climate due to significant increases in floods and other high flows. However, flows were lower for the future climate scenario during periods of normal and low flows. Seasonal variations in flows were greater with the future climate scenario than the historical climate. Reservoir storage fluctuations increase under future climate. Due to relatively large storage capacities, reliabilities for water supply diversions were improved somewhat under future climate conditions.     

Managing the risks from the water-related impacts of extreme weather and uncertain climate change on inland aquaculture in Northern Thailand

ABSTRACT

Climate change will have significant impacts on inland aquaculture. This article assesses the robustness of a set of potential adaptation strategies for Northern Thailand using a rule-based assessment model to synthesize information from secondary sources, fish farmers, officials and experts. The net benefits of different strategy types vary substantially with water demand and fish demand, as well as future climate. No-regret and low-regret strategies are worthwhile under a broad range of conditions, but may not be sufficient to maintain profitability as the negative impacts of climate change unfold. The main implication is that adaptation pathways must be flexible.     

Combined membrane bioreactor (MBR) and reverse osmosis (RO) system for thin-film transistor-liquid crystal display TFT-LCD, industrial wastewater recycling.

In TFT-LCD industry, water plays a variety of roles as a cleaning agent and reaction solvent. As good quality water is increasingly a scarce resource and wastewater treatment costs rises, the once-through use of industrial water is becoming uneconomical and environmentally unacceptable. Instead, recycling of TFT-LCD industrial wastewater is become more attractive from both an economic and environmental perspective. This research is mainly to explore the capacity of TFT-LCD industrial wastewater recycling by the process combined with membrane bioreactor and reverse osmosis processes. Over the whole experimental period, the MBR process achieved a satisfactory organic removal. The COD could be removed with an average of over 97.3%. For TOC and BOD5 items, the average removal efficiencies were 97.8 and 99.4% respectively. The stable effluent quality and satisfactory removal performance were ensured by the efficient interception performance of the UF membrane device incorporated with biological reactor. Moreover, the MBR effluent did not contain any suspended solids and the SDI value was under 3. After treatment of RO, excellent water quality of permeate were under 5 mg/l, 2.5 mg/l and 150 micros/cm for COD, TOC and conductivity respectively. The treated water can be recycled for the cooling tower make-up water or other purposes.     

改良型人工快渗系统脱氮除磷效果研究

人工快渗(CRI)系统是一种广为人知的无动力生态处理技术措施,但传统CRI系统存在对氮、磷去除率普遍较低的问题。本研究采用海绵铁、沸石、火山岩、红壤土和杂沙作为填料,构建了一个改良型CRI系统,在水力负荷为1 m~3/(m~3·d)的条件下,以实际生活污水为试验进水,进行为期20天的试验。实验结果表明,该系统在运行16天后出水TP、TN和NH_3-N浓度均趋于稳定,稳定后出水平均浓度分别为0.21 mg/L、8.38 mg/L和2.34 mg/L,能分别满足《城镇污水处理厂污染物排放标准》(GB18918-2002)一级A排放标准的0.5 mg/L、15 mg/L和5 mg/L的限值。TP、TN和NH3-N三项指标的总平均去除率为84.44%,远高于传统CRI系统的44.06%总平均去除率。该研究成果为治理农村生活污水提供了一项行之有效的生态治理技术措施。     

Membrane bioreactors in industrial wastewater treatment--European experiences, examples and trends.

In wastewater treatment, micro- and ultra-filtration membranes are used for the separation of the activated sludge (biomass) from the treated water. This offers the advantages of a complete removal of solids and bacteria, as well as most of the viruses, namely those attached to the suspended solids. Compared to the conventional activated sludge process (CAS) this technology allows a much higher biomass concentration (MLSS) whereby the reactor volume and the footprint decreases. With increasing MLSS, the viscosity of the sludge increases, which leads to reduced oxygen transfer rates. Depending on the type of membrane and membrane module, the pre-treatment has to be more sophisticated to prevent clogging and sludging of the modules. Due to fouling and scaling, the flux through the membranes will decrease with time. The decrease depends on the water quality as well as on the measurements taken to minimize fouling. Mainly, three strategies are available: lowering the flux, increasing the "crossflow" and cleaning of the membranes. Different strategies including backwash and chemical cleaning "in situ", "on air" and "ex situ" can be applied. It has been proven more effective to apply preventive regular cleaning. Besides the energy demand for oxygen supply--which is typically in the range of 0.3 kWh/m3 for municipal wastewater--the energy for fouling prevention is substantial. Immersed membranes need approximately 0.4 to 1 kWh/m3 for the coarse bubble aeration, whereas tubular modules require 1 to 4 kWh/m3 pump energy. For proper design of industrial wastewater treatment, the verification of applicability and the development of adequate cleaning strategies, it is a precondition to run pilot tests for a sufficient period of time with the wastewater to be treated. More than 100 industrial wastewater treatment membrane bioreactors (MBR) are in operation in Europe. Data of three case studies for a sewage sludge dewatering plant in UK (12,000 m3/d), a plant for the treatment of pharmaceutical wastewater in Germany (3600 m3/d), as well for revamping of an chemical WWTP >2000 m3/d in Italy, are given. MBRs will be used in future wherever high quality effluent is required, because of a sensitive receiving water body or due to the fact of water reuse as process water. MBRs are a perfect pre-treatment in industrial applications when further treatment with nanofiltration or reverse osmosis is considered. The technique is advanced and can be applied both in municipal and industrial wastewater treatment. Higher operational costs must be balanced by superior effluent quality.     

Sewage reuse for aquaculture after treatment in oxidation and duckweed pond.

The benefits of treating sewage by pond systems offer, through a simple and low-cost technology, social and commercial benefits, from the waste raw materials. The objective of this work was to demonstrate an effective treatment of the sewage by using natural treatment systems, and use of treated wastewater for aquaculture. The study was conducted for the sewage generated from the IIT Kharagpur campus. After characterization of the sewage, laboratory scale experiments were conducted for treatment using oxidation pond and duckweed pond. Survival and growth of fishes were observed in the experimental ponds using treated sewage. Based on the experimental results, full-scale treatment plant was designed to meet the aquaculture water quality. From the economics of the proposed full-scale plant, and utilization of the treated sewage for aquaculture, it is estimated that, the amount of Rs. 20,0000 can be generated every year. This amount recovered from the aquaculture will be more than the operating cost of the treatment plant, hence, making the operation of sewage treatment plant self sufficient. Use of a UASB reactor as the first stage treatment before sewage passes to the oxidation pond, can be a more attractive alternative because of less land requirement as compared to the oxidation pond alone, and additional land can be made available for aquaculture to increase revenue.     

Water transfer from irrigation tanks for urban use: can payment for ecosystem services produce efficient outcomes?

Abstract

Many Indian states have begun to transfer water meant for irrigation to non-agricultural purposes, but the economic and environmental consequences are not adequately understood. Transfer of water out of water bodies from rural areas not only reduces the economic welfare of the traditional water users but also reduces their incentives to manage these water bodies on a sustainable basis. The study explores the possibility of introducing the mechanism of ‘payment for ecosystem services’ at the grass-roots level in the Indian context as a return for reallocation of water from irrigation to urban uses so that it can produce a non-zero-sum outcome for villagers, farmers, urban consumers and governments.     

Public-Private Partnerships: Water and Wastewater Services in France

ABSTRACT

In France, responsibility for potable water supply and wastewater services has been allocated to the municipal level of government. Water supply and wastewater services can be managed and operated under the authority of municipal governments (la régie) or can be delegated to the private sector through turnkey or full service contracts (concession), leasing arrangements (affermage), or management contracts (prestations de service). About 80 per cent of French people receive their water supply under public-private contracts, and about half the sewage treatment plants in France are operated by private firms.

Relatively few private companies dominate the water supply and wastewater industry. Three are examined here. The Compagnie Générale des Eaux, founded in 1853, is the largest. By the late 1980.7, it employed 138,000 people and supplied water to 22 million people in France and another eight million people through its operations in Europe, North America, Africa, Latin America, and Asia. It also has diversified its activities, and is involved in waste management, energy management, construction, transportation, real estate development. health clinics, and leisure facilities. The Société Lyonnaise des Eaux-DUMEZ, established in 1880, provides water to 10 million people in France and to another 11 million people worldwide. It also is a diversified company and is the largest mortuary company in France. The Société de Distributions d'Eau Intercommunales, created in 1928, is much smaller, distributing water to about 2.4 million people in the South of France. These companies illustrate some alternative ways in which public-private contracts for water supply and wastewater services have been developed in France.     

The future sustainability of water supply in Kuwait

Abstract

The main natural source of water available in Kuwait is the brackish groundwater located in the Kuwait Group and the Dammam aquifers, where the salinity ranges from 4300 to 10200 mg/l and from 2500 to 10000 mg/l, respectively. Limited fresh groundwater resources in Al‐Rawdhatain and Umm Al‐Aish fields, which have a salinity of 359 ‐1737 mg/l, are also available. Most of the groundwater in Kuwait is used for irrigation, domestic purposes, small‐scale industries and for blending with distilled water. Because rainfall is seasonal and less than annual evaporation, the recharge of the groundwater from rainfall is negligible. The objective of this paper is to assess the different water resources in Kuwait in order to make an integrated management plan and to focus on future sustainability. Generally, in the State of Kuwait, there is increasing pressure on the natural water resources because of the exploitation of the aquifers at a rate exceeding that of both the groundwater recharge and population growth (from 1.4 million in 1980 to 2.55 million in 2003). This has lead to the observed decline in groundwater level and to the deterioration of water quality. In the early 1950s, a plan was endorsed in Kuwait to establish seawater desalination plants. By 2005, six desalination plants have been established, with a total capacity of distillation units of 1434.72 ×103 m³/d (315.6 MIGD). However, the gross maximum consumption for the year 2003 reached a value of 1440.17 ×103 m³/d (316.8 MIGD), which is higher than the total capacity of the available distillation units. Given the limitation of conventional water and the shortages of non‐conventional water, along with the increasing population, Kuwait must consider the recycling of wastewater for irrigation, industrial or any other unrestricted non‐potable purpose.     

Preliminary Assessment of Water Quality along the Red Sea Coast near Jeddah,Saudi Arabia

Abstract

This paper presents the results of preliminary assessment of water quality along Red Sea coast adjoining Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Jeddah is a major city with a population of over 2.6 million and an area 1,200 km^2.. To study the impacts, samples of the Red Sea were collected from 24 important locations near Jeddah and analyzed in the laboratory for various water quality parameters. These parameters included: biological oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), phosphorus, dissolved oxygen, ammonia nitrogen, nitrates, sulfates, total alkalinity, chlorides, and pH. The results of the study show considerable variations in water quality depending upon the location along the Red Sea coast. The BOD values in the sea water are negligible except in the Balad downtown lake near treatment plant where the values are quite high ranging from 51 to 812 mg/l. Here, the total phosphorus is also high with value of 3.81 mg/l. Dissolved oxygen values along the coast vary from 2.5 to 6.4 mg/l. The variations in nitrate concentration in the Red Sea water along the coast are observed to range from 6.90 to 26.61 mg/l. This study provides a preliminary assessment of the coastal pollution and will act as a data base for future investigations and monitoring of the Red Sea coastal waters.     

Energy for freshwater supply,use and disposal in the Netherlands: a case study of Dutch households

Abstract

This study presents energy requirements for Dutch household water: 10.2 GJ per capita per year, which includes 9.3 GJ (92%) for heating water, 0.6 GJ (6%) for water supply, and 0.2 GJ for wastewater treatment (2%). The top three energy consumers include shower water (58%), dishwasher water (9%) and washing machine water (8%). The Netherlands, a water-abundant country, expends far more energy to heat water for households than to supply municipal water, or to treat and dispose of wastewater. Policies to make water chains more sustainable should focus on use, rather than supply and disposal.