Sewer mining is the capture and processing of a portion of urban sewage close to its origin for reuse applications in the local community and to reduce the effluent load on the larger sewage network.
WRG is active in this sector and sees considerable advantages in such activities, particularly the reuse potential in times of water shortage or where operating and maintenance costs can be substantially reduced.
Left: Package STP in downtown Jakarta treating office building sewage (EP 1,000) despite being connected to city sewer grid for local reuse applications.
Right: Industrial estate sewer mining (EP 400) in China for local garden reuse applications.
WRG is a leading supplier and installer of small footprint packaged sewage treatment systems which can be combined with other processes to produce up to Class A quality water by chemical free methods for a wide range of local reuse applications saving valuable town water and reducing overall operating costs.
WRG also designs and installs these systems for public authorities, typically in a suburb or community that is difficult to maintain within an existing grid - or just outside the grid (often in a valley or in a sheltered cove, etc).
Key Benefits
Significant benefits of sewer mining include:
Sewer mining uses small dedicated systems for immediate local use - this compares with traditional sewage systems that are static, large footprint and energy intensive
Reduces pressure on potable town water supplies - as the treated sewage can be used in irrigation of sports fields, golf courses, etc with great effect.
Chemical free processes - so no detrimental impact on gardens and greywater reuse potential.
Minimal energy requirement - compared to use of riser mains and large treatment plant energy costs.
Fast reaction time (not +30 days in a large pond!) to allow for quick reuse applications on demand.
Substantial reduction in maintenance and repair - of overloaded sewage networks in the area where the sewer mining is undertaken.
Provision of environmentally sustainable renewable irrigation resources - regardless of drought or town water supply conditions.
Direct benefit to the local community - that generated the effluent and also demand quality amenities and landscaping upkeep.
Very favourable capital cost - in thousands not $ millions for EPs up 1000 !
As all sites are treatment process specific in scale, focus, reuse application and fine tuning, it is not possible to detail the full breath of systems available.
For further information email Water Recycle Group indicating your specific application, or site specifications.
