Water. Desalination + reuse
Issue link: https://fhpublishing.uberflip.com/i/907858
Far Site 23 Winner: Most Innovative Water Reuse Scheme in Europe Award Bakkavor Cucina Sano water reuse plant scooped the Water Reuse Europe Most Innovative Water Reuse Scheme Award in October. Aquabio development and operations manager Dan Brothwell (right) accepts the award from Paul Jeff rey of Water Reuse Europe. What the judges said • Reuses the highest percentage of wastewater of any large-scale food production facility in Europe • Reuse water is returned to the factory for use in all potable grade supplies • Project in the risk-averse food production sector signifi cantly contributes to changing public and corporate perceptions about large scale water reuse by multi-national food producers • Plant uses advanced low energy membrane bioreactor (MBR) technology Reuse plant at food factory is named 'most innovative' in Europe Bakkavor, a large-scale producer of Italian ready meals for Marks & Spencer, a leading UK supermarket chain, produces e uent from its factory that's loaded with fats, oil and grease. The challenge for Aqua- bio was to design a wastewater treatment system that would enable a high percentage of the e uent to be reused on site, and to do so at an a- ordable price. The company began with an eight-month pilot in 2015 that helped to establish the plant's design parameters, including the optimum loading rate for the bio- logical treatment process, and other peak and minimum conditions. The water is pre-treated before it goes to an Aquabio-designed, standardised low energy cross … ow membrane separation system (AMBR LE), then to the company's standardised re- verse osmosis system, followed by a packaged ultraviolet system, and chlorine dosing. The product water must meet the Private Water Supplies (England) Regulations 2016 for potable use, as well as other criteria contracted with the client, including pH levels, … ow rate, and temperature. Aqua- bio has a 10-year operations con- tract which provides for bonuses if the percentage of reuse water exceeds 72 per cent, and penalties if it falls short – the facility is typically outperforming. The plant treats up to 7,000 m3/d. The key to the plant's success is that it's designed as a fully circular system, operating both as a sup- plier of water at the front-end, for food production, and a wastewater treatment facility. Speci— cally, this meant designing the treatment system so that it produces a — xed … ow of puri— ed water o- the back end, which can support the produc- tion line of the food factory without interruptions. The capital investment by the client was £3 million, and the Cucina Sano plant is expected to provide a return in the form of reduced operating costs over 4.6 years. One of the big savings has been to eliminate completely the cost of 130 tankers a week trans- porting wastewater o- site, which has provided an immediate cash- … ow bene— t to the client. Further, Aquabio's supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) soŸ ware monitors the overall energy usage of the plant, including the energy usage of the MBR and membrane system, helping to optimise energy use in the separation stage. Aquabio has carved out a strong position in the water treatment market for food and beverage com- panies. It operates 10 other plants similar to Cucina Sano. The award win comes as a wel- come recognition of its work. Aquabio's closed loop, low energy reuse system at UK food production factory wins the judges' approval in inaugural Water Reuse Europe awards