Decentralized+Wastewater+Treatment+Highlights+Brochure

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Decentralized Wastewater Treatment

Project part-financed by the European Union (European Regional Development Fund)

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Photo credits: Cover: Uwe Merkel

Herausgeber: Umweltbundesamt Wörlitzer Platz 1 06844 Dessau-Roßlau Redaktion: Umweltbundesamt Wörlitzer Platz 1 06844 Dessau-Roßlau Gestaltung: design_idee_erfurt GbR, Erfurt Druck: BMU

This broschure has been produced with the assistance of the European Union (http://europa.eu). The content of this publication is the sole responsibility of the author and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the European Union.

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Content

Preface Decentralized Wastewater Treatment

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SPIN Decentralized Wastewater Treatment Highlights Batch operated wastewater treatment filter system

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Act Natural

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Baga Easy

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Eco Vee®

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BUSSE GmbH: Membrane filtration (MF) for waste water treatment

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utp umwelttechnik pöhnl GmbH: kläropro® waste water treatment

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Bergmann Abwassertechnik GmbH

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ENKOSYSTEM - New concept of decentralised wastewater treatment

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Biomimetic Water Purification / Extraction

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Supervision and control systems for harvesting of environmental resources through wireless Internet technology, WEB and smartphones.

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The SPIN Project

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Decentralized Wastewater Treatment Semi- and decentralised concepts of water supply and sewage disposal infrastructure are of crucial importance with regard to forthcoming climate and demographic changes in the Baltic Sea Region (BSR). Decentralised treatment systems for domestic waste water are also of great importance in terms of lowering the loads of nutrients introduced into the Baltic Sea, decreasing the eutrophication potential. In rural areas and small settlements they are more able to adapt to yet uncertain challenges than the established centrally structured infrastructure. The latter is in addition much more expensive to install and maintain. Capital lockup of big centralised water treatment plants lasts for several decades. Pivotal elements of a more decentralised infrastructure are not only the installation of such wastewater treatment systems for small settlements as well as remote private homes, hotels and SMEs, but also the conditioning and re-use of rain and grey water. In this context, rainwater management is of special relevance as it reduces the impact of extreme precipitation on the environment and, at the same time, enables the replenishment of groundwater reservoirs. Another key technology for up-grading of all sorts of raw and wastewater is membrane filtration, which shows its superior potential whenever the conventional technology reaches its limits.

Decentralized waste water treatment in the BSR and the EU The European Water Framework Directive (2000/60EC) and subordinate regulations support the introduction of techniques, which ensure a sustainable use of water. Decentralised wastewater- and rainwater-management concepts are especially suitable to make a considerable contribution to that goal. All small scale waste water treatment plants offered on the European market need to fulfil requirements of the European standard EN 12566-31. In Germany, which represents the biggest market for such systems in the BSR, 1.8 million plants (up to 50 PE2) are installed, despite the fact that 96% of households being connected to public sewer systems and slightly less than 4% of the population treat their waste water in small scale sewage facilities. Other BSR countries are below that rate, e.g. Estonia, where 1520% of the population is not supplied with sewer systems. In Sweden, about 1.25 million people (13% of the population) are not connected to municipal waste water treatment.

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European standard EN 12566-3: Small wastewater treatment systems for up to 50 PT - Part 3: Packaged and/or site assembled domestic wastewater treatment plants (http://www.cen.eu/cen/Pages/default.aspx) Population Equivalent: unit per capita loading, (PE), in waste-water treatment is the number expressing the ratio of the sum of the pollution load produced during 24 hours by industrial facilities and services to the individual pollution load in household sewage produced by one person in the same time.

Water treatment techniques Today, a considerable number of companies in the BSR provide systems for decentralised water and wastewater treatment. For the latter, three major concepts are commercially available for SMEs: ■ Sequencing batch reactor (SBR): The system comprises three chambers. Wastewater is collected in the first chamber, where coarse solids are sedimented. It also serves as a wastewater and sedimented sludge storage. A certain volume of wastewater is transferred to a second chamber where it undergoes biological treatment (nitrification and denitrification) by aeration. The cleared water fraction fulfils national and EU requirements and allows its run-off back into the environment. ■ Fixed film technology: The difference to the SBR technology is the biofilm responsible for the degradation of pollutants. It forms in the biological treatment chamber on a carrier material, comparable to biofilm-covered stones in a creek. At this stage, pre-cleared wastewater is also treated by aeration for full biological treatment. Subsequently solids coming

out of the biological treatment are sedimented in the chamber where the water is transferred to and reintroduced into the primary clarification. Run-off water nearly has bath water quality. ■ Membrane Technology (membrane bioreactor): Such systems operate with microfiltration integrated in the biological treatment step. Membranes applied typically exhibit pore sizes from 0.1 to 0.01 µm, holding back bacteria and even viruses. Thus, membrane bioreactor systems allow for sterile water conditions and reuse of wastewater as service water. In principle, the examples given on the following pages function according to the concepts described above. Certain variations and improvements of the basic concept constitute their innovative nature. They can be also found in the SPIN Database on www.spin-project.eu by choosing the sector “wastewater”. The SPIN database brings together innovations from the whole BSR covering several sectors. As such it is a ready-to-use instrument for SMEs wanting to push their innovative products and for enterprises (or in the case of wastewater also for small municipalities or remote houses) seeking an innovative solution for their specific situation.

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SPIN

SPIN Decentralized WASTEWATER TREATMENT

Batch operated wastewater treatment filter system Abstract: The technology has been developed in Estonia by the University of Tartu, Institute of Technology. Batch operated wastewater treatment filter system can be used for different wastewater treatment plants for domestic and industry wastewater. Effluent results are meeting the requirements of Estonian and EU standards and legislations for discharge to water bodies. The research group is looking for a partner for system design and sales, investing in technology and industrialisation of the technology. Description: The system consists of a septic tank, inflow/distribution well, filter cells and an outflow/recirculation well. The cells are filled with soil media. In a batch operated constructed wetlands (CW), the filter is rapidly filled to capacity, remains filled for a long enough period of time and in a repeating process, is drained and refilled. The advantage of batch-operation over continuous-flow operation in wetland systems is supported by the fact that even at very low drain-fill frequencies, the batch operation of subsurface flow (SSF) CWs ensures that the microbial population at any given point will be exposed to decreasing organic carbon concentration, which allows the variation between aerobic and anoxic conditions in the wetland environment and therefore enhance organic matter and nitrogen removal. Studies have shown that the quantity of additional oxygen introduced to the filter matrix during the drain process increases as the drain-fill frequency increases. While operating in batch mode, it is possible to re-circulate the treated water. The batch cycle consists of filling time, incubation time (variable), draining time and recuperation time. The usage of timer-controlled pumps narrows the distinctions between natural treatment systems and conventional systems, but for the achieving of smaller filter systems areas with at least the same or better purification efficiency (PE, %), it is appropriate. Re-circulation is also used in the activated sludge processes, for instance to remove nitrogen. The technology has been tested in real conditions.

Economic Aspects: The construction costs of such systems filled with LWA (light weight aggregates) would, in Estonia, range from 1279 to 1051 g PE-1 (for 50 to 100 PE). Compared to AWP with equivalent loading rates and treatment performance, consisting of concrete basins for nitrification, secondary sedimentation and sludge thickening, with construction costs of 1432 to 1112 g PE-1. If we also consider operating costs, such as electrical power, chemical, labour, sludge treatment costs and depreciable cost, which total 84 to 72 g y-1 for batch operated filter systems and 129 to 96 g y-1 for AWPs, the batch operated filter system could be economically sound alternative for wastewater treatment in small communities (up to 200 inhabitants). This conclusion is based on a lifetime assessment of different treatment systems. In the evaluation of depreciable cost, the lifetime of facilities is considered to be 40 years, although in the case of batch operated systems a lifetime of 20 years is assumed for the filter material.

Innovative aspects – environmental, economic, social:

Environmental Aspects: Wastewater treatment plant effluent results are meeting the requirements of Estonian and European Union standards and legislations (for example BOD, COD, TSS, Ntot and Ptot) for discharge to water bodies. Those systems suit well to the landscape and they help to increase the biodiversity. Social Aspects: Batch operated systems are easy to maintain (safe).

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Provider: University of Tartu, Institute of Technology Contact Nooruse 1, 50411 Tartu, Estonia Tel.: + 372 737 4800, + 372 737 4900 [email protected], http://www.tuit.ut.ee Erik Puura, Director Tel.: + 372 737 4802, + 372 506 9882 [email protected]

Act Natural Abstract: Alnarp Cleanwater Technology, a small Swedish company, has developed a waste water treatment system based on nature’s own way of treating waste water - The ACT Natural system. This means, among other things, that the system does not require any chemical additives, instead it uses natural microorganisms and plants. Conventional sewage systems are working with so called septic tanks which mean that these systems require regular sludge withdrawal. ACT Natural has no septic tanks, but instead works with a sludge digestion process, i.e. the sludge is degraded into a form where it can be disposed of by microorganisms and plants in the system. Description: The ACT Natural system is designed to treat domestic waste water in two main steps. No chemicals have to be added to the process and no sludge withdrawal is necessary as the sludge is digested in the system. The first main step, ProACT, is a tank consisting of two chambers in which organic matter is treated in two sub-processes. The waste water is led into the first chamber in which the water is treated through an anaerobic process that can be compared to a natural digestion process. In this first step organic matter is degraded and nutrients released. As more waste water is added to the first chamber, water already in the system with high amount of sludge will be transferred to the second chamber where it is exposed to a bio bed. Here, drain field microorganisms degrade the remaining organic sludge to a level where it can safely be passed on to the next step in the process. The water passes yet another bio bed in the ProACT before it is pumped to the second main treatment step of the ACT Natural system, the InterACT. Here the waste water is exposed to a third type of microorganisms but also for a set of aquatic plants that feed on new trends in the water.

Innovative aspects – environmental, economic, social: Act Natural is designed to mimic nature’s own way of purifying sewage water. The system does not require any chemical additives. There is no need for sludge withdrawal as the sludge is degraded by micro-organisms and digested by plants in the system. Implementation of an Act Natural plant lowers the nutrient load to the surrounding environment and thereby prohibits eutrophying the Baltic Sea.

Provider: Alnarp Cleanwater Technology Contact Visiting address: Pomonavägen 4, Alnarp (SLU area) Mailing address: PO Box 206 SE-230 53 Alnarp, Sweden Tel.: +46 40 462690 [email protected]

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SPIN

SPIN Decentralized WASTEWATER TREATMENT

Baga Easy Abstract: BAGA Water Technology, founded in 1992 and based in Karlskrona, Sweden, specialises in equipment and solutions for water and sewage water treatment. BAGA Easy is a series of uncomplicated and efficient plants for domestic waste water treatment. BAGA Easy offers a number of advantages; simplicity, reliability, low investment costs and considerably lower power consumption. The plants come in standard sizes from 1 - 6 households. These systems meet the highest standards “high level” NFS2006:7 set by Naturvårdsverket (Swedish EPA). Description: The high levels of purification are achieved using a patented method of adding flocculants proportionally to the water flow, directly into the septic tank. The system is completed with a drain field or reinforced infiltration. The septic tank is also equipped with a filter to prevent flocculants from entering the drain field. BAGA Easy is ideal for both permanent and recreational living as it can be shut down for long periods and automatically starts up to full effect, without delay in the purification process, as soon as water enters the system. In order to make it as easy as possible to maintain the system a support agreement equipping the system with a remote PLC control system (F-SMS) is offered. The control system supervises the plant day and night using text messages to inform about the status and possible measures. Water is pumped from the septic tank out to the bio bed. Simultaneously, flocculants are added into the septic tank. The flocculant reacts with nutrients (phosphorus and nitrogen) and easily degradable substances measured as BOD (Biological Oxygen Demand) and precipitates to the bottom of the septic tank. The condition for an efficient flocculation is that the flocculant is added proportionally to the inlet, and an efficient mixing of the liquids. BAGA Easy contains a filter through which all waste water must pass before reaching the drain field. The filter guarantees that the outlet is completely free from sludge or particles. The filter is an important part of the process as sludge or particles will affect the biological process. The integrated pump of the septic tank feeds the water through a sprinkler tube, evenly distributing it into the drainfield. Thus, the drainfield does not necessarily have to be downstream of the tank. It also gives the opportunity of placing the drainfield at some distance from the tank.

Innovative aspects – environmental, economic, social: The simplicity of the construction and design of Baga Easy reduces the power consumption to a few kWh per month. Normally, conventional water treatment plants utilize components such as pumps and fans, constantly consuming electrical power. BAGA Easy only uses one pump, consuming power only when the plant is in use.

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The uncomplicated design of BAGA Easy, containing only one pump, results in a high grade of reliability. Signing a support agreement equips the plant with a remote PLC control system (F-SMS) enhancing the reliability further as the plant becomes constantly monitored. Every waste water plant uses oxygen in the biological purification process. Many conventional plants use energy consuming fans constantly running. BAGA Easy needs no fan as oxygen is supplied through the bio modules, making it completely silent and reducing power consumption to a minimum.

Provider: BAGA Water Technology Contact Reimer Rexmyr Fiskhamnen 3 371 37 Karlskrona Tel.: +46 (0)455 616 150 [email protected] www.baga.se

Eco Vee® Abstract: Aquateq is a medium sized Swedish company that has developed a patented system, EcoVee®, which dewaters sludge directly by septic tanks. Water and microorganisms are returned to the tank. At the same time the water gets oxygenised, improving the natural purifying process. The transported volume gets reduced by 95%. The sludge has a dryness of approx. 25-30% and is ready to be composted or used for energy production. Description: A combination of a septic tank (with one or more compartments) and a drainage system is the most common treatment method for individual septic systems. In brief, it works like this: The liquid from the septic system filters into the ground whilst the sludge stays put in the septic tank. Microorganisms in the ground and tank purify the water. Subsequent composting turns the sludge into an effective soil improvement material. Ordinary sludge suction empties the tank. The microorganisms disappear at the same time and it takes a long time before the biological process starts again. The discharge increases, as does the amount of suspended substances which can obstruct the infiltration process, with impaired functioning as a result. Aquateqs patented system, EcoVee®, dewater the sludge directly by the septic tank. Water and microorganisms are returned to the tank. At the same time the water gets oxygenised, improving the natural purifying process. The transported volume gets reduced with 95%. The sludge has a dryness of approx. 25-30% ready to be composted or used for energy production. EcoVee® is a mechanical separation system using no chemicals. Transportation to sewage-treatment plants is no longer necessary. The EcoVee® system promotes a long service life time of the septic tank and the infiltration system by using nature’s own treatment plant. Also the operators get a working environment saving the body and thrilling the head. A lot less transportation needs lower the costs and the greenhouse effects.

Innovative aspects – environmental, economic, social: The main advantage of this system compared to other similar systems is that the sludge is withdrawn from the septic tank but the water and microorganisms are returned. Thus, the biological treatment system is maintained in the septic tank and unwanted transportation of water is avoided.

Provider: AquaTeq Sweden AB Contact Kalmar Tech Park, SE-393 56 KALMAR Tel.: +46 (0)480 270 10 Fax: +46 (0)480 125 80 [email protected]

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SPIN

SPIN Decentralized WASTEWATER TREATMENT

BUSSE GmbH: Membrane filtration (MF) for waste water treatment Abstract: Busse GmbH is an independent engineering company from Leipzig (Germany). Its extensive know-how resulted in the development of the membrane bioreactor (MBR) technology for local waste water treatment. It is designed for domestic small size wastewater treatment and available in two sizes suitable for 4 and 8 population equivalents (PE). Due to its modular characteristic, also bigger buildings such as office buildings or hotels up to 500 PE can be equipped with the system. It applies microfiltration (MF) technique eradicating bacteria and other germs from the wastewater which after filtration can be reused as raw water for e.g. irrigation or toilet flushing. By means of this innovative wastewater recycling technology it is also possible to grow fish for every-day-consumption on any location of the world without the production of waste water. The first waste water free treatment system for aquaculture worldwide has been put into operation by Busse GmbH in November 2006 in Thierbach near Leipzig.

Description: The Busse MF Small Size Sewage Treatment System is designed on the basis of DIN 4261 part 2 and comprises two treatment steps, namely pre-treatment (1) and aeration (2). At the pretreatment step, which also serves as waste water store, biologically degradable coarse material such as, e.g. faeces and toilet paper, is dissolved and the non-dissolving components separated from the waste water by an aerated sieve. A pump pumps the water, from which the coarse material has been separated, to the aeration section. At this step the organic matter in the waste water is degraded biologically by microorganisms and oxygen. In addition to this, the waste water is treated physically by microfiltration membranes (ultrafine filter with 0.4 µm pore size). These membrane filters eliminate suspended material, even bacteria and germs, ensuring that only absolutely clear, odourless, hygienically harmless water (filtrate) leaves the system. The Busse MF system was tested successfully by the University of Hanover and the Technical University in Berlin. Wastewater cleared by the system is significantly better in its quality than required by DIBt (German institute for structural engineering) Berlin (design qualification approval Z-55.3-60) and the applicable law. Due to the immersed microfiltration membranes, in combination with a technologically required high concentration of biomass, the COD level in the discharged water can be reduced to less than 30 mg/l and the BOD5 value to less than 5 mg/l. In 2008, the BusseMF system has successfully surpassed the certification by PIA Institute in Aachen according to the EU standard for decentralized waste water treatment. The BusseMF fulfills all degradation classes for water treatment set by European law, such as carbon removal, nitrification, de-nitrification, phosphorous removal and water hygienisation. Recently, the

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system was tested successfully by NSF International according to standards 20 and 245 and is the first system using membrane bioreactor technology that has been certified by the NSF.

The innovative wastewater recycling technique also allows fish to be raised for everyday consumption in fish farms anywhere in the world without waste water. The technology was pioneered at the first waste water free fish farm in Germany. It is now possible to raise fish without using large amounts of drinking water and without the need for any kind of waste disposal. In addition, the use of MBR technology ensures a high water quality in the fish-farming basins and therefore allows much better living conditions compared to a conventional system. The use of antibiotics for fish health reasons is no longer necessary when fish farms use a waste water recycling system with MBR.

Innovative aspects – environmental, economic, social: In addition to the high quality of treated wastewater, significant advantage of the BUSSE system is its compact, spacesaving design which allows installation in cellars. Hence, costly excavations works are not necessary.

Besides wastewater treatment for households, offices or hotels, the technique allows to run fish farms at any place even if there is no connection to a river or lake available. System sizes can be adapted to the water volumes the customer needs to treat. It drastically reduces drinking water consumption due to the efficient purifying process. No waste water spoils rivers, lakes, the soil or the sea.

Provider: BUSSE Innovative Systeme GmbH Contact BUSSE GmbH Ms. Anja Busse Zaucheweg 6 04316 Leipzig, Germany Tel.: 0341/65984-0 Fax: 0341/65984-10 [email protected] www.busse-is.de

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SPIN

SPIN Decentralized WASTEWATER TREATMENT

utp umwelttechnik pöhnl GmbH: kläropro® waste water treatment Abstract: Small scale waste water treatment plants are mostly designed for and offered to households with waste water volumes of up to 50 PE (population equivalent). utp umwelttechnik pöhnl GmbH with its product kläropro® also offers plants in the range of 50 to 1500 PE especially suitable for SMEs or small settlements. The system, which functions according to the sequencing batch reactor (SBR) principle, can easily be adapted to the individual waste water volumes due to its modular composition. A special feature provided by utp is the remote supervision (telemetry) which can replace daily checks and monitoring by the operator which are requested by national law in some European countries, e.g. Germany. Cleaning capacity of the fully biological system is comparable to centralized facilities. Description: An SBR waste water treatment plant basically comprises two treatment steps. First, waste water runs into the mechanical primary treatment where coarse solids are sedimented and stored with the secondary sludge from the SBR reactor in the sludge storage. Mechanically pretreated waste water is also kept in the storage, hydraulic overload is prevented by an additional security storage. Second, by means of a filling device operated by compressed air, the biological stage is charged with pretreated waste water within a very short period of time with a defined minimum quantity (cycle volume). The nitrification and de-nitrification phases are followed in case of an appropriate load by the settlement phase during which cleared water as well as a sludge layer are formed. The cleared water layer is drawn off through the outlet by means of a compressed air sewage lifting unit. Surplus activated sludge is brought back into the primary treatment and is stored there together with primary sludge. Function of the system is illustrated in a short movie available online: http://www.utp-umwelttechnik-poehnl.de/ umwelttechnik/klaerofix-die-haeusliche-kleinklaeranlage. html.

Innovative aspects – environmental, economic, social: SBR systems exhibit a high carbon clearing ratio (>90%). Technique applied in the wastewater is free of wear which also holds true for air compressors, resulting in low maintenance costs. By making use of the offered remote monitoring, operators do not have to take care for their wastewater treatment which will increase acceptance of such decentralized systems amongst entrepreneurs.

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Provider: utp umwelttechnik pöhnl GmbH Contact Mr. Roland Pöhnl Weidenberger Str. 2-4 D-95517 Seybothenreuth, Germany Tel.: +49 (0) 9275 60566-47 Fax: +49 (0) 9275 60566-68 [email protected] www.utp-umwelttechnik-poehnl.de

Bergmann Abwassertechnik GmbH Abstract: Bergmann Waste Water Engineering supplies the wastewater treatment solution WSB® clean. WSB® clean is based on the moving bed biofilm technology. It is designed for wastewater quantities ranging from 1 to 1,000 PE or 1 m3/day up to 200 m3/day. Systems have been installed in the field of municipal wastewater treatment as well as in touristic applications like restaurants, resorts and campgrounds. Every plant can be planned individually according to the local effluent requirements and customer specifications. Its strength is the handling of underload situations or high loading variations. So far, more than 35,000 units have been installed in 14 countries.

Description: Wastewater is first collected in a septic tank where primary sludge is stored. Hereafter, sinkable materials are held back in the pre-clearing compartment before the biological clearing stage is reached. Supported by compressed air aeration, a biofilm of microorganisms attached to a carrier material made from polyethylene with a large protected surface (500 m2/m3) clears the water. It is then transferred into the final sedimentation tank, where remaining sludges are removed via a sludge-collecting gutter and pumped back into the septic tank in a time-controlled manner. Biologically cleared waste water reaches runoff via a discharge device.

Innovative aspects – environmental, economic, social: The difference to standard fixed film systems is the floating carrier material (matrix) which allows its agitation during the aeration step for complete stirring of wastewater and microorganisms. This enhances the water clearing performance significantly in comparison to statical films and, as a result, reduces sludge accumulation. WSB® clean pro is equipped with a control unit for the power supply as well as the automatic control of the compressor and immersion pumps in the final sedimentation. For optimized operation at minimum energy consumption, the aerator works intermittently, with changing operation and recess times. Thus, energy consumption is as low as 70 kWh per resident and year. Actual operating parameters can be precisely defined taking into account the varying waste water accruals during the course of the day.

Provider: Bergmann Abwassertechnik GmbH Contact Bergmann Abwassertechnik GmbH Mr. Lars Bergmann Am Zeisig 8 09322 Penig (OT Wernsdorf) Germany Tel.: +49 (0)37381 86 10 Fax: +49 (0)37381 8 61 3 [email protected] www.wsb-clean.com

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SPIN

SPIN Decentralized WASTEWATER TREATMENT

ENKOSYSTEM - New concept of decentralised wastewater treatment Abstract: ENKOSYSTEM is an integrated biological system for decentralized treatment of residential sewage and polluted waters. It generates highly oxygenated and BOD-free water which may be used as grey water for e.g. watering the garden. ENKOSYSTEM is designed and constructed to serve single households. However, it is scalable and can also serve larger number of households and high-rise buildings in an urban environment by proper scale up and process control. For bigger sewage flow, several systems can be combined in a cluster.

Description: The system is featured by a microbiological wastewater clearing processes combined with the root system of selected aquatic and bog plants in a botanic bed. It requires very small construction footprint and consumes little energy compared to conventional wastewater systems. ENKOSYSTEM can easily be incorporated into new garden design. Furthermore, it can be applied in pool water cleaning without use of chemicals.

Fig. 2 Working ENCOSYSTEM

Fig. 1 Idea of ENKOSYSTEM

Innovative aspects: ■ Designed both for single household and small settlements ■ Small construction footprint ■ High efficiency ■ Sludge and odour free process ■ Very low operational costs ■ Secure and maintenance free operation ■ No chemicals required

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Provider: ENKO SA Contact ul. Dojazdowa 10 44-101 Gliwice Poland Tel.: +48 32 232 18 36 Fax: +48 32 232 30 72 [email protected] www.enko.pl

Biomimetic Water Purification / Extraction

Abstract: The new emerging Aquaporin Inside™ technology offers enormous commercial potential in several water market segments in its capability to separate and purify water from all other compounds by exploiting – or mimicking – nature’s tremendous capability for selective water transport across membranes. Biomimetic membranes will soon be ready to hit the market, and this proprietary and superior technology is now ready for introduction to leading system providers.

Description: Aquaporin A/S is an industrial biotech/cleantech company based in Copenhagen, Denmark. Aquaporin develops a novel biomimetic water membrane, based on natures’ own water filter, aquaporin water channels. The Aquaporin Inside™ technology is capable of purifying water to a unique level of purity, while concurrently reducing energy costs. In laboratory tests the Aquaporin Inside™ technology has demonstrated the potential to be vastly superior both in terms of efficiency and effectiveness compared to any other known water purifying technology. The technology is still in the development phase, however, Aquaporin is extracting water with extremely high initial salt rejection rates of 99,9% and initial water fluxes of ~10 kg/m2. The Aquaporin Inside™ technology is developed in two parallel tracks: A traditional Reverse Osmosis (RO) membrane track to be used in industrial production where the selective layer consists of natural aquaporin water channels. Secondly, a novel Forward Osmosis (FO) membrane track, which is different in design, compared to the Reverse Osmosis membrane track. This design for Forward Osmosis secures simple production and good upscaling possibilities for the desalination market and its vast demand for membranes.

Innovative aspects – environmental, economic, social: Aquaporin facilitates new revenue streams from tomorrow’s technology in water filtration. A unique, strong IPR innovation within several patent family fields providing unique value proposition for customers. Aquaporin Inside™ is a superior technology both in terms of efficiency and effectiveness compared to any other known water purifying technology. ■ A membrane design very suitable for industrial up scaling ■ Initial salt rejection rates of 99,9% ■ Initial water flux exceeding 10 kg/m2 ■ Osmotic gradients of 30 bar in draw solutions Aquaporin possesses in-depth knowledge of biomimetic membranes based on many years of research as well as a genuine entrepreneurial spirit with an indispensable goal of revolutionizsing the water world.

Provider: Aquaporin A/S Contact CTO Oliver Geschke Ole Maaløes vej 3 2200 Copenhagen N Denmark Phone +45 82303082 [email protected] www.aquaporin.com

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SPIN

SPIN Decentralized WASTEWATER TREATMENT

Supervision and control systems for harvesting of environmental resources through wireless Internet technology, WEB and smartphones. Abstract: The Danish electronic developing and manufacturing company Crysberg A/S is currently developing a supervision and control system for water harvesting tanks. The idea originates from the irrigation business, where Crysberg has a long history and many products among those Internet, WEB and smart phone based irrigation systems. The water harvesting supervision is an add-on to irrigation, but also an area for new business. Further the technology can evolve to other areas like Environmental Resource Management in general. Crysberg is looking for partners interested in distribution and development of new markets for the current and future technology. Description: The system is aimed to control level and usage of resources from storage and efficient usage of scarce resources. The system consists of an embedded sensor and control unit, communication module(s), server, WEB/Java application and a smart phone application. The embedded sensor and control unit is in principle a box with interface for level sensors, pressure sensors, and alarm contacts, pump activation etc for supervision of water harvesting tanks and pumps. The unit contains logic doing alarm reaction, sending emails and monitoring various parameters. The unit is currently under development for water harvesting and pumps control, but will be able to be used for other purposes like general Environmental Resource Management. The communication modules are used for communication between the server and the embedded sensor and control unit. Modules using technologies such as GPRS, Ethernet (LAN) and radio link are already developed and in production. Module utilizing satellite communication for rural areas is on the development plan. The server solution is already developed and has been in use for years. In the development of the embedded sensor and control unit, the server will utilize and be adapted to the proven technology. The WEB/Java application and smart phone application will be developed as an add-on to the existing applications for the irrigation systems. Crysberg has 25 years’ experience in development and manufacturing of sustainable industrial solutions, especially in the irrigation business.

Innovative aspects – environmental, economic, social: ■ Gives the customer a supervision and control anywhere anytime ■ Saves water resources through intelligent harvesting ■ Utilizes several communication methods for optimization of cost and installation ■ Monitors waste due to tank or distribution defects ■ Optimizes/minimizes usage of potable water ■ Pump supervision and fault monitoring ■ Integration with weather service providers for forecasting of rainfall Maintenance Environmental Aspects: ■ Water harvesting reduces the use of potable water for irrigation etc. to ensure scarce water resources are saved for human purposes ■ Supervision anywhere through the Internet saves energy in transport of service staff ■ Solar powered to reduce CO2 Economic Aspects: ■ Water harvesting reduces the use of potable water for irrigation etc. to ensure scarce water resources are saved for human purposes ■ Supervision anywhere through the Internet saves energy in transport of service staff ■ Solar powered to reduce CO2

Provider: Crysberg Contact Søren Haxvig Manager R&D and Quality & Environment Email: [email protected] Cell: +45 61 62 92 09 www.crysberg.dk

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The SPIN Project The aim of SPIN is spelt out in the full title of the project: SPIN aims at enhancing “Sustainable Production through Innovation in SMEs”. SPIN is based on the simple but normally successful business equation of matching supply and demand. SPIN taps on innovations throughout the Baltic Sea Region (BSR), which lead to sustainable production in SMEs. It supports SMEs who have developed sustainable solutions to reach out to a larger market. At the same time it gives enterprises the technical and managerial solutions they need to make their production process more sustainable and to increase their profits. In doing so the project is creating a win-win-win situation: The supplier increases his profit by selling more products / services, the applier increases his profit by reducing production costs (e.g. through improved resource efficiency) and / or by increasing his sales (through innovative production techniques fulfilling higher environmental or social standards). In any case society benefits through reduced environmental costs or improved working conditions. The slogan of SPIN is therefore: Private Profits – Public Benefits. SPIN has created a number of instruments to fuel this matchmaking throughout the BSR: Innovation highlights like the ones presented in this brochure are collected in the SPIN Database. This is a ready-to-use instrument for SMEs wanting to push their innovative products and for enterprises seeking an innovative solution for their specific

Our understanding of innovation is based on the definition of the former Finnish Prime Minister Esko Aho who stated: “Quite often, when people talk about innovation they mean research and development. But innovation is broader than that: research is transforming money into knowledge, while innovation is transforming knowledge into money and well-being.

situation. All SMEs from the BSR can register and post their entries directly online. The SPIN partners perform a quality check and if the data set is meeting the criteria of sustainable production the entry is made accessible to all users. Users only searching the database for innovations can use it without registering. Other instruments are the SPIN Toolbox and the SPIN Industry Workshops. The SPIN tools can be applied rather broadly in all kinds of SMEs and are not as specific as the innovation highlights. “Umberto“ is such a tool that is promoted by SPIN. It is a powerful software tool to model, calculate and visualize material and energy flow systems in SMEs with cost intensive production that wish to optimize their processes and improve their competitiveness. Results can be assessed using economic and environmental performance indicators. The SPIN Industry Workshops bring together experts, enterprises and researchers from different countries of the BSR. The host of the workshop is setting up the agenda of the workshop based on a background analysis on the needs of the SMEs in the specific industry sector of his country.

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www.spin-project.eu

It’s all about creating a market for innovations – provided that they enhance sustainable production: While the effective matchmaking between supply and demand involving SMEs from the whole BSR is one pillar of the SPIN project the other important pillar of SPIN is the improvement of the political, macro-economic framework conditions. Based on the results of country specific studies and a synthesis report for the whole BSR, SPIN partners have developed the SPIN Action Plan. The SPIN Action Plan translates the findings on SME needs, existing barriers to innovations for sustainable production and experience on best-practice incentives into a transnational action plan. It addresses policy makers on national, transnational and European level as well as authorities, financing institutions and associations. The aim is to reduce barriers and create new transnational incentives to effectively support an uptake of innovations for sustainable production in SMEs of the BSR.

SPIN runs for 3 years (until January 2012) and is supported by the Baltic Sea Region Programme 2007-2013 of the European Union. SPIN is lead by the Federal Environment Agency from Germany and brings together some of the most important institutions for eco-innovations in the BSR. Many national governments, sector associations, research bodies and transnational NGOs support the project. The importance of SPIN is further highlighted by the fact that the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region as well as the Council of the Baltic Sea States (CBSS) awarded SPIN the title as Strategic and Lighthouse Project, respectively. The website www.spin-project.eu has developed into a frequently used information platform for entrepreneurs and policy makers in the BSR but also into a market place for innovations and tools supporting sustainable production. For more information please visit the website, which provides you also with all contact details for each country.

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PROJECT PARTNERS Germany Federal Environment Agency (UBA) - the Lead Partner Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU) Sweden Swedish Environmental Research Institute (IVL) Poland Polish Environmental Partnership Foundation (EPCE) Central Mining Institute (GIG) Denmark Danish Technological Institute (DTI) Lithuania Kaunas University of Technology, Institute of Environmental Engineering (APINI) Estonia University of Tartu Finland Technical Research Centre of Finland (VTT)