Big water issues: A new contract signed

Xylem will supply eight Wedeco SMOevo ozone systems to the Werdhoelzli wastewater treatment plant as part of a 50 million CHF (51.17 million USD) upgrade project.

Once operational, the plant will be able to produce 153 kilograms of ozone per hour (kgO3/h)  to treat a flow of 6,500 litres per second (l/s), making it the largest ozone plant for the removal of micropollutants in the world.

Growing concern about micropollutants – contaminants that are released from everyday products such as industrial chemicals, pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs), pesticides, and hormones, and cannot be removed with conventional wastewater treatment technologies – is leading many countries to consider more rigorous treatment solutions. The European Union (EU) has published a list of prioritized substances that pose a threat to ground and surface water sources. To adhere to the environmental standards set by the EU, the member countries have to regularly monitor the occurrence of the listed substances*.

In Switzerland, a 20-year process to upgrade major wastewater treatment plants is underway to tackle such pollutants, which currently remain in treated wastewater and are released into surrounding lakes and rivers. As part of this agenda, new legislation came into effect on 1 January 2016 requiring wastewater treatment plants to implement an additional treatment process, specifically for the removal of micropollutants.

Peter Wiederkehr, Chief Operating Officer (COO) Entsorgung + Recycling Zürich explained, “Wastewater treatment plants serving a population of 5,000 or more must be equipped now with a new treatment stage which ensures that up to 80 percent of pre-selected micropollutants are removed. Extensive research has confirmed ozone
as a preferred technology for this stage**. Xylem’s Wedeco SMOevo ozone systems will enable us to meet the new treatment regulations with a reliable, environmentally- friendly and cost-effective solution.”

Florian Milz, Key Account Manager with Xylem added, “The elimination of micropollutants from wastewater is a challenge which more and more facilities must address. While conventional treatment processes do not remove them completely, oxidation with ozone is proving to be one of the most efficient methods for reducing these contaminants. Pollutants, colored substances, odors and microorganisms are directly destroyed by oxidation, without creating harmful chlorinated by-products or significant residues. We are pleased to support this ambitious project in partnership with Carl Heusser AG, Xylem’s official distributor in Switzerland, by providing our Wedeco SMOevo
ozone systems which combine maximum flexibility and reliable operating characteristics for operations of varying capacities.” Construction on the Werdhölzli wastewater treatment plant upgrade began in 2016 and the plant is expected to be operational by 2018.

About Xylem

Xylem (XYL) is a leading global water technology provider, enabling customers to transport, treat, test and efficiently use water in public utility, residential and commercial building services, industrial and agricultural settings. The Company does business in more than 150 countries through a number of market-leading product brands, and its people bring broad applications expertise with a strong focus on finding local solutions to the world’s most challenging water and wastewater problems. Xylem is headquartered in Rye Brook, New York, with 2014 revenues of $3.9 billion and approximately 12,500 employees worldwide. Xylem was named
to the Dow Jones Sustainability Index for the last four years for advancing sustainable business practices and solutions worldwide and the Company has satisfied the requirements to be a constituent of the FTSE4Good Index Series each year since 2013.

The name Xylem is derived from classical Greek and is the tissue that transports water in plants, highlighting the engineering efficiency of our water-centric business by linking it with the best water transportation of all – that which occurs in nature.