Water & Wastewater Asia July/August 2020

Water & Wastewater Asia 

INCORPORATING THE OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF THE SINGAPORE WATER ASSOCIATION 

MICA (P) No: 076/05/2019 • ISSN: 2010-233X • KDN: PPS 1501/11/2012(022878) • www.waterwastewaterasia.com • JULY/AUGUST 2020

TECHNOLOGY THAT’S TRUSTED THE WORLD OVER 

Water authorities across the globe rely on our data-driven solutions to advance 

 

MONITORING 

& CONTROL 

ANALYTICS 

TELEMETRY 

CONSULTANCY

FOCUS 

30 Simple steps to keep onsite treatment within consent 

32 Microbiologically Influenced Corrosion (MIC) 

monitoring techniques 

24 

CONTENTS 

July / August 2020 

04 Editor’s Note 

51 SWA Newsletter 

63 What’s Next? 

64 Advertisers’ Index 

5 MINUTES WITH 

16 A new trailblazer is in town…or is it really new? 

IN THE FIELD 

20 Keeping the cattle watered! 

24 Surat turns to digitalisation 

26 Researcher explores new method to predict 

disease risks in aquaculture stocks 

28 Veolia Water Technologies & Urban Utilities to 

install APAC’s first full-scale sidestream 

VIEWPOINT 

37 Unlocking water resources using mimicry 

40 Age of data driven leak management dawns 

44 Impact of floating solar panels on surface water quality 

for drinking water production 

47 

HOTSEAT 

47 Revolutionising field operations 

ON OUR RADAR 

57 Find the right measuring instrument even faster 

58 Veolia launches TERION 

60 Water system engineering in more than one dimension 

with the LANXESS LewaPlus module 

61 SNEAK PEEK 

59 

37 

Scan to download eBook 

WWA July/August 2020

FROM THE EDITOR 

Embracing the 

“new normal” 

WATER & WASTEWATER ASIA: 

WELCOME TO THE FAMILY 

PABLO SINGAPORE 

Publisher 

William Pang 

williampang@pabloasia.com 

PANG YANRONG 

Senior Editor 

It’s been about more than half the year in for 

the COVID-19 pandemic, and the industry is 

exploring to put in place even stronger safety 

measures. 

For instance, Singapore’s National 

Environment Agency (NEA) has initiated 

a pilot surveillance programme to screen 

wastewater samples for COVID-19 (p.8). 

The amount of viral material in wastewater 

from a community could reveal the level of 

COVID-19 spread in the community, and trigger the necessary response 

plans and mitigation actions, such as individual testing and isolation. 

Companies are looking to evolve the industry during this trying 

time by bringing in advanced solutions (p.16). In fact, in a bold 

move, Servelec Technologies and Primayer rebranded themselves 

to Ovarro, bringing their technology to monitor and control critical, 

national infrastructure throughout the world under one brand. 

Novade is revolutionising field operations with its modules such as 

Quality, Reports and Maintenance (p.47). 

In fact, the pandemic has shown how the industry is advancing at a fast 

pace to digitalise. For instance, ABB India is enabling digitalisation of 

the entire water management of Surat, India (p.24). 

“Digitally monitoring the consumption of a critical resource like water 

will help in more equitable distribution and optimise water management 

for the benefit of the population of Surat city,” said Sanjeev Sharma, 

managing director of ABB India. 

Associate Publisher 

Senior Editor 

Assistant Editor 

Business Development Manager 

Graphic Designer 

Circulation Manager 

PABLO BEIJING 

General Manager 

PABLO SHANGHAI 

Editor 

Pamela Buckley 

pamela@pabloasia.com 

Pang Yanrong 

yanrong@pabloasia.com 

Natalie Chew 

natalie@pabloasia.com 

YanJun Pang 

yanjun@pabloasia.com 

Edwin De Souza 

edwin@pabloasia.com 

Shu Ai Ling 

circulation@pabloasia.com 

Ellen Gao 

pablobeijing@163.com 

Sharon Wu 

pabloshanghai@163.net 

And then there’s Emmanuelle Prest, scientist from PWNT, who shares 

about the impact of floating solar panels on surface water quality for 

drinking water (p.44). 

While the COVID-19 pandemic has affected everyone, organisational 

personnel in the water and wastewater industry have been working 

hard to ensure that water remains potable as well keeping personnel’s 

safety as top priority. 

Published by 

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E-mail: info@pabloasia.com 

www.waterwastewaterasia.com 

Company Registration No: 200001473N 

Singapore MICA (P) No: 076/05/2019 

Together, we can embrace the “new normal”! 

Cheers, 

REGIONAL OFFICES (CHINA) 

Pablo BEIJING 

Tel : +86 10 6509 7728 

Email: pablobeijing@163.com 

Pablo SHANGHAI 

Tel : +86 21 5238 9737 

Email: pabloshanghai@163.net 

LET'S CONNECT! 

@waterwastewaterasia 

 

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July / August 2020 • waterwastewaterasia.com


6 THE NEWS 

VEGA teams up with Open Industry 4.0 Alliance to 

implement Industry 4.0 

THE “Open Industry 4.0 Alliance” was 

launched in the spring of 2019 and in the 

short time since then its membership has 

risen from eight to around 60. One of the 

members is VEGA. That’s because the 

Black Forest instrumentation specialist 

fully supports the Alliance’s goal of helping 

the diverse range of cloud-based services 

now available on the market to achieve a 

kind of teamwork capability. 

manager for Digital Solutions, VEGA, 

summarising the current situation at the 

company. 

OPENNESS IS THE KEY 

The more Industry 4.0 becomes a reality 

and the more ubiquitous proprietary cloud 

services become, the clearer it becomes 

Whether Smart Factory, Industry 4.0 

or IIoT: ultimately, these terms mean 

the same thing Factories, machines and 

components are becoming increasingly 

networked and smarter. With its 

comprehensive sensor portfolio, VEGA 

offers high-performance measurement 

technology for all level and pressure 

requirements – from standard applications 

to highly complex solutions for any 

conceivable production environment. It is 

becoming increasingly important to link 

production more closely with IT technology 

and use measuring results for intelligent 

control across the entire business. 

JUST-IN-TIME SOLUTION 

A powerful example of this is the software 

technology embodied by VEGA Inventory 

System. It builds the bridge between 

automated logistics and IT. Thanks to its 

data streams, it enables goods to flow 

efficiently, “just in time”. It eliminates the 

need for massive storage facilities that 

have to buffer the supply of materials 

directly on site at production locations. 

Materials are delivered automatically and 

exactly when the production process 

requires them. The data for this is provided 

by service-proven VEGA sensor technology. 

“Nowadays, premier instrument 

manufacturers need to provide some level 

of IIoT services via the cloud. At VEGA, we 

support our customers with a complete 

package of automation solutions that 

ensure faster and more flexible production 

processes,” said Jakob Hummel, product 

With the Open Industry Alliance 4.0, customer is indeed king 


THE NEWS 7 

that Industry 4.0 cannot be implemented on its own. 

Industry 4.0 depends on collaboration and compatibility 

across the entire value-added chain – from supplier to 

manufacturer. Open standards are the determining factor 

for success. Hence, VEGA has been a member of the “Open 

Industry 4.0 Alliance” since the beginning of the year. 

Around 60 members now trust in its approach to implement 

open and standardised links in production – from individual 

components right through to servicing. 

MORE FREEDOM FOR CUSTOMERS 

For customers, this means having a free choice of modular and 

scalable solution components. 

“Nobody has to fear a so-called ‘vendor lock-in’ anymore,” 

explained Hummel. 

To date, if a customer opts for a particular supplier’s product, 

the customer commits to his technology, but “changing 

suppliers is now much easier thanks to the Alliance’s open 

standard.” The customer no longer has to automatically buy 

new instruments and machines from the previous supplier. 

He can also combine the solutions of multiple suppliers 

without fearing the compatibility of technology. 

“In the coming years, the Alliance will enable us to speak one 

language when offering our products,” said Hummel, looking 

ahead to the future. This will make everything a lot easier on 

the way to smart processes and factories. 

OVERCOMING THE MULTITUDE OF INSULAR 

SOLUTIONS 

The Open Industry 4.0 Alliance itself likes to talk about 

the open ecosystem it is aiming for. It clearly states that 

it wants to overcome the multitude of individual insular 

solutions that exist today and thus give European industry 

a decisive boost. Together, the current and future member 

companies are planning a unifying, mandatory framework 

for an “Open Industry 4.0.” Compared to other initiatives, 

the organisational form of the Alliance clearly stands out as 

superior. 

“This is precisely what will make it successful,” declared 

Hummel with great certainty. On one hand, “open” means 

that every member has equal rights. And on the other, it 

commits all members to the principle of “one.” This means 

that everyone contributes their expertise and technologies 

in such a way that, in the end, the customer is king. They 

can always be sure of getting the most reliable and scalable 

overall solution. WWA 


8 THE NEWS 

NEA leads scientific team in wastewater surveillance 

trials for assessment of COVID-19 transmission 

SINGAPORE’S NATIONAL ENVIRONMENT 

AGENCY (NEA) has initiated a pilot 

surveillance programme to screen 

wastewater samples for SARS-CoV-2, 

the causative virus of COVID-19. The 

amount of viral material in wastewater 

from a community could reveal the level 

of COVID-19 spread in the community, 

and trigger the necessary response 

plans and mitigation actions, such as 

individual testing and isolation. Supported 

by National Water Agency PUB and 

Home Team Science and Technology 

Agency (HTX), the novel approach has 

complemented the Inter-Agency Task 

Force’s efforts in assessing the situation 

and reducing the transmission of 

COVID-19 in the workers’ dormitories. 

GLEANING INFORMATION FROM 

WASTEWATER 

Wastewater surveillance is a promising 

method for assessing the COVID-19 

situation, as infected individuals, including 

those with mild or no symptoms, could 

shed the virus in their stool. Since 

February 2020, scientists from NEA’s 

Environmental Health Institute (EHI), with 

scientific input from Singapore Centre for 

Environmental Life Sciences Engineering 

(SCELSE) and the Nanyang Technological 

University, Singapore-Massachusetts 

Institute of Technology Alliance for 

Research and Technology (SMART) and 

the National University of Singapore, have 

developed a methodology for wastewater 

sampling and testing for COVID-19. 

With support from PUB and HTX, the team 

has been sampling wastewater from the 

Water Reclamation Plants (WRPs) and 

workers’ dormitories. In the laboratory, a 

sensitive molecular assay is used to screen 

the samples and quantify the genetic 

material of the virus. 

Results from the testing of the wastewater 

from the WRPs showed that the level of 

COVID-19 viral ribonucleic acid (RNA) 

was not detected when there were 160 

COVID-19 cases reported nation-wide as 

of 9 March 2020. However, the RNA levels 

became detectable in late March 2020, 

which correlated with the increase in cases 

detected in foreign workers’ dormitories. 

This demonstrated the usefulness of 

wastewater surveillance as a monitoring 

tool for SARS-CoV-2. 

Detection of viral material or RNA in 

the wastewater does not suggest the 

presence of viable or infectious virus. 

Without a host, the virus will not be able 

to propagate over time in wastewater. As 

an added preventive measure, wastewater 

from locations with COVID-19 cases, 

such as hospitals, isolation facilities and 

dormitories, are disinfected with chlorine 

at the premises before discharge into the 

public sewers. Disinfectants like chlorine 

can effectively inactivate the viruses. 

WASTEWATER TESTING TO 

SUPPORT DEDICATED EFFORTS 

AT WORKERS’ DORMITORIES 

Testing of wastewater to assess the 

situation of COVID-19 in a community or 

geographical population catchment is not 

new. However, NEA’s EHI has brought the 

science of wastewater testing further by 

using it to support the Inter-Agency Task 

Force’s dedicated effort in monitoring and 

management of COVID-19 transmission 

among workers in dormitories. The 

pilot programme involves monitoring 

wastewater in manholes of 20 large 

dormitories to provide an additional 

indicator that complements the clinical 

tests to assess the COVID-19 situation 

and guide the progressive clearance of the 

dormitories. 

Fieldwork conducted to collect wastewater samples 

For dormitories in the pilot programme 

with no detected COVID-19 cases, a zero 

reading for SARS-CoV-2 material in the 

wastewater provided the added assurance 

that the dormitories remain free from 

infection, and to allow the workers to leave 

the dormitories for work. On the other 

hand, viral material was detected in the 

wastewater of some dormitories, and this 

had prompted more swab tests for workers 

at these dormitories, leading to more 

detections and isolation of cases, including 

asymptomatic ones. This facilitated a more 

targeted swabbing strategy and contributed 

to the mitigation of further transmission. 

The trial results at the dormitories also 

show that the concentration of SARS-CoV-2 

material in wastewater is related to the 


THE NEWS 9 

prevalence of COVID-19 in the dormitories. The team has thus 

far demonstrated the utility of wastewater testing as a warning 

system for the presence of the COVID-19 cases, and that the 

trending of SARS-CoV-2 concentration over time can determine if 

infection control measures taken have been effective. 

Wastewater samples can also capture information on a crosssection 

of the community, which allows for the monitoring of 

large groups. If positive signals are detected from wastewater at 

a particular site, clinical testing for COVID-19 can be carried out 

for the affected community, allowing screening for COVID-19 to be 

carried out in a more targeted manner. Although the approach has 

been useful in detecting COVID-19 cases, more research is needed 

to understand the sensitivity of the method in detecting early or a 

few number of cases. 

Despite its potential, the use of wastewater surveillance to detect 

COVID-19 spread is still in its early stages. NEA is working to ramp 

up its capacity to increase its coverage by expanding sampling 

The team has been working on sampling wastewater from WRPs and 

workers’ dormitories 

to more wastewater nodes, which will improve the ability to pick up 

transmission. More information on the results of the wastewater 

surveillance in Singapore will be revealed when ready. WWA 


10 THE NEWS 

Eleven companies selected to join Imagine H 2 O Asia 2020 

ACROSS South and South East Asia, the 

pursuit for new water solutions is intensifying 

as utilities and businesses strive to protect 

and sustain increasingly scarce resources. 

Eleven global water technology startups have 

been selected to join Imagine H 2O Asia 2020, 

to each provide a distinct water innovation 

opportunity to alleviate the mounting water 

pressures facing communities across the 

Asia-Pacific region. 

At the same time, all 2020 finalists share 

a common vision to challenge the water 

management status quo — treating and 

reusing more water with less; monitoring 

changing water resources in real-time to 

make smarter decisions, faster; and boosting 

progress towards universal access to safe 

drinking water and sanitation. 

In collaboration with programme partners 

Enterprise Singapore, SUEZ, ADB Ventures 

and PUB, Singapore’s National Water Agency, 

Imagine H 2O Asia is a Singapore-based, 

South East Asia water innovation accelerator 

that provides the resources to help promising 

water entrepreneurs launch and scale their 

businesses in the region. 

The organisation’s evaluation committee 

selected the 11 finalists from a field of 

115 applicants across 29 countries based 

on commercial viability, technological 

differentiation, impact and South East Asia 

market readiness. The 2020 cohort will 

benefit from an enhanced programme this 

year with new pilot funding awards, additional 

visibility opportunities in South East Asia and 

an expanded mentors and customer network 

to unlock a faster path to market. 

from population growth, urbanisation, and 

climate change. 

Water & Wastewater Treatment & Reuse 

Arun (South Korea): High rate, nonclogging 

microfiltration technology based 

on a unique and patented filter perforation 

design which allows for a smalle footprint, 

lower maintenance and operational cost 

savings compared to competitors. 

Fluid Technology Solutions (USA): 

Osmotically assisted reverse osmosis 

and forward osmosis technology for Zero 

Liquid Discharge (ZLD) and water reuse. 

Drinking Water 

Liquinex (Singapore): Compact suitcasesized 

water treatment system using 

ceramic ultrafiltration and UV-LED 

disinfection for mobile deployment. 

The suitcase can tap on off-grid power 

sources such as automotive batteries or 

solar panels. 40+ deployments so far, 

primarily in disaster zones or remote 

communities. 

Sensors & Diagnostics 

AquAffirm (UK): Rapid and low-cost 

enzyme strip-testing technology and digital 

monitoring platform for real-time detection 

of arsenic and fluoride. Initial field testing 

in Bangladesh completed with proprietary 

enzyme and biosensor. 

Noria Water Technologies (USA): Real-time, 

image-based reverse osmosis membrane 

monitoring tool with software analytics 

to help diagnose abnormalities and 

guide operators when taking on targeted 

maintenance actions. Current installations 

demonstrate 30% OPEX savings due 

The Imagine H 2O Asia 2020 accelerator 

companies are as follows: 

Applications in mineral refining, digestate 

treatment and industrial wastewater. 

Memsift (Singapore): Energy efficient, 

chemical resistant membrane distillation 

technology for product concentration 

and ZLD applications using a proprietary 

hydrophobic hollow fiber membrane. 

Initial pilots demonstrate significant cost 

savings for pharmaceutical and metalfinishing 

industries. 

Mempure (Singapore): Easy-tomanufacture, 

positively-charged hollow 

fiber nanofiltration membrane technology 

which demonstrates high removal of 

hardness, heavy metals and bacteria 

for safe drinking water production in 

a POE and POU setup. The proprietary 

membrane also has high fouling and 

chlorine resistance. 

to reduction in CIP chemical usage and 

filtration downtime. 

SENTRY (Canada): Novel bio-electrode 

sensor that performs real-time 

measurement and analysis of microbial 

metabolic activity in a robust, easyto-deploy 

package. The sensor has 

been deployed for in-situ monitoring of 

biological wastewater treatment processes 

and can be used to monitor toxicity events 

in sewer networks. Plug-and-play solution 

is installed within three hours. 

The 2020 applicant pool showcased a record 

number of water startups also worthy of 

the spotlight. Emerging water technology 

entrepreneurs create new opportunities 

to accelerate water security today when 

equitable access to safe drinking water or 

hand-washing stations has become a nonnegotiable 

due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

As the world looks ahead towards a global 

recovery, these same entrepreneurs serve as 

powerful change agents reimagining water 

resilience for communities facing pressures 

Network Management & Leak Detection 

Fluid Robotics (India): In-pipe robotic 

mapping and assessment tools to detect 

leaks, monitor wastewater networks and 

Digital Water Solutions 

SatSure (India): Big data integration 

and analytics platform as a forecasting 

decision support tool for agricultural, 

irrigation and water balance applications. 

50 million hectares monitored weekly 

through initial projects in India. 

prevent pollution runoff. Flagship 

pilot diverted 650+ MLD of raw 

sewage from rivers. 

SmartTerra (India): Water intelligence tool 

that helps cities quickly identify districts 

with abnormalities in water consumption 

due to metering faults, unauthorised usage 

and erroneous data recording. Pilot in 

India demonstrated potential for significant 

revenue recovery for a city’s water utility. 


THE NEWS 11 

MICRODYN-NADIR announces new brand for UF product line 

MICRODYN-NADIR has launched a new brand 

for their hollow fibre PVDF ultrafiltration 

(UF) product line: MICRODYN PureULTRA. 

The modules are used to treat surface water, 

groundwater, sea water, and tertiary treated 

wastewater. 

Previously under the brand OLTREcap, the 

newly branded MICRODYN PureULTRA hollow 

fibre UF product remains focused on water 

treatment and pretreatment to reverse 

osmosis (RO) and nanofiltration (NF) as 

primary applications. 

Highly hydrophilic modified PVDF hollow 

fibre offers high tensile strength and 

chemical tolerance, resulting in increased 

overall membrane life even after exposure 

to aggressive cleaning regimes. MICRODYN 

PureULTRA UF modules can be operated at 

low pressures and optimum flux, leading to 

lower operating costs for customers. 

The modules are available in three 

configurations for customers, with varying 

membrane area per model. 

In addition to MICRODYN PureULTRA, a 

standard, hollow fibre module, the company 

offers specialised UF products for niche 

applications, including MICRODYN AQUADYN ® 

UF (ideal for oily water applications) and 

MICRODYN iSep 500 (most suited for 

difficult-to-treat wastewaters). WWA 


12 THE NEWS 

Blue-White ® engages all resources to 

quickly develop temporary ventilator 

WHEN officials in Huntington Beach, 

California, USA, became concerned 

whether enough ventilators would 

be available to treat the anticipated 

surge in COVID-19 patients, the city 

turned to Blue-White Industries, 

a local manufacturer of chemical 

metering pumps, flowmeters and 

water treatment accessories. 

Blue-White was tasked to quickly 

develop and build temporary 

ventilators that met multiple 

specifications and requirements. 

Without hesitation, Blue-White’s 

engineering team, led by President 

and Chief Executive Officer Rob 

Gledhill, took up the challenge. 

“Although the request was outside the 

scope of the products that Blue-White has 

manufactured for more than 60 years, 

we jumped at this opportunity to be of 

service,” said Gledhill. 

“The initial design parameters called 

for us to automate the manual process 

of squeezing a manual valve bag (Ambu 

Bag) in emergency conditions to provide 

positive pressure ventilation to patients 

having difficulty breathing,” he added. 

“This process is meant to be used as a 

temporary measure, lasting from a few 

hours to three days, to sustain a patient 

until a long-term ventilator becomes 

available.” 

For two weeks, seven of Blue-White’s 

most experienced engineers – mechanical, 

electrical and manufacturing – 

collaborated with Gledhill to design, 

develop and test prototypes. They 

drew on the expertise of local 

doctors, respiratory therapists and 

professors. 

“With a strong desire to be of service, 

and with will and determination, 

we produced what we believe is 

an exceptionally high-quality and 

reliable piece of equipment,” said 

Gledhill. “We developed the Blue- 

White Temporary Ventilator using 

100% in-house parts, raw materials 

and existing equipment.” 

Blue-White’s ventilator is currently 

in long-term testing and is being 

submitted to the U.S. Food and 

Drug Administration for approval. In the 

meantime, Blue-White’s team is busy 

developing a rechargeable lithium-ion 

battery pack so the ventilator can be 

portable. 

“We are immensely proud of our 

engineering team, as well as everyone 

at Blue-White who encouraged us in our 

efforts,” Gledhill said. WWA 


THE NEWS 13 

UN experts urge Japan not to rush discharge of radioactive water 

FOUR UNITED NATIONS human rights experts 

have urged the Japanese government against 

rushing to discharge radioactive water from 

the Fukushima nuclear plant into the sea 

until consultations are made with affected 

communities and neighbouring countries. 

Japan is considering ways to safely dispose 

of the water contaminated with radioactive 

materials, including releasing it into the 

Pacific Ocean and evaporating it. Tanks used 

to store the water are expected to be filled 

by summer 2022. 

The experts are imploring the government to 

delay its decision on releasing the radioactive 

water until after the coronavirus pandemic 

has been contained, so proper attention can 

be dedicated to the issue. 

The concern was raised as public 

consultations on the release of the plant’s 

wastewater have been accelerated. Such 

consultations were initially scheduled until 

after the now-postponed Tokyo Olympic and 

Paralympic Games. 

The experts - UN special rapporteurs 

respectively on hazardous wastes, rights to 

food, rights to assembly and association, 

and rights of indigenous people - took 

note of credible indications that the 

postponement of the games sped up the 

government’s decision-making process. 

With the pandemic also preventing in-depth 

consultations with relevant stakeholders, 

the rapporteurs called on the Japanese 

government to give “proper space and 

opportunity for consultations on the disposal of 

nuclear waste that will likely affect people and 

peoples both inside and outside of Japan.” 

“COVID-19 must be not be used as a sleight of 

hand to distract from decisions that will have 

profound implications for people and the planet 

for generations to come,” they said, raising the 

alarm that a discharge will pose a grave threat 

to the livelihoods of local fishermen. WWA 


14 THE NEWS 

Balmoral Tanks’ 150,000sqft design and manufacturing facility in South Yorkshire, UK. 

Balmoral’s new glass fused to steel tanks 

to aid green energy revolution 

FOLLOWING a $25 million (S$34.8 

million) investment in state-of-the-art 

manufacturing facilities at its facility in 

South Yorkshire, UK, Balmoral Tanks has 

introduced a new range of glass fused to 

steel (GFS) liquid storage tanks. 

Part of Aberdeen-based Balmoral Group, 

Balmoral Tanks manufactures a broad 

portfolio of storage tanks for the water, 

wastewater, anaerobic digestion and 

processing markets. 

Providing a new level of excellence in glass 

enamel coating technology, Allan Joyce, 

managing director at Balmoral Tanks, said, 

“The latest addition to our market-leading 

range of liquid storage solutions enhances 

our capability to provide clients with exactly 

the right product for every project.” 

Having been in the tank manufacturing 

business for 40 years, Balmoral has built a 

trusted reputation for providing not only 

the highest quality of product but also 

unrivalled levels of customer service on 

a global basis. 

Mr Joyce continued, “International 

markets require technology which 

allows their economy to thrive while 

being mindful of the impact on the 

environment. 

“Against this background, we have 

established ourselves as a global 

player in the design, manufacture and 

installation of bulk liquid storage tanks 

to support the anaerobic digestion green 

energy revolution.” 

Successfully delivering to the WWT 

sector in the UK for many years 

Balmoral now exports to a significant 

number of markets that have established 

a renewable energy sector as part of 

their future infrastructure plans. 

Demand for the company’s products is 

driven by environmental legislation put in 

place at national, regional and local levels 

across the world. There is barely a country 

in the world that will not be impacted 

by energy transition requirements and 

pressure is on governments to improve 

their climate policies. 

“Bulk liquid storage tanks used in the 

AD sector require well designed and 

engineered products. Exporting products 

across the world demands quality and 

performance levels of a standard that is 

built around a zero defects philosophy. 

“Achieving such performance levels takes 

investment, foresight and a willingness to 

believe in what your market research is 

telling you,” concluded Mr Joyce. WWA 


THE NEWS 15 

Grundfos proceeds to acquire Eurowater 

GRUNDFOS has entered into an agreement 

to acquire Eurowater. The acquisition 

aligns closely with Grundfos’ strategy 

to strengthen its innovation leadership 

within water technology, and supports the 

company’s purpose to pioneer solutions to 

the world’s water and climate challenges 

and improve the quality of life for people. 

“Eurowater brings a broad portfolio of 

solutions and a deep understanding of 

water treatment applications and end-users. 

This will enable us to strengthen our value 

proposition to customers. When complete, 

this acquisition will further advance us in our 

important work to address water challenges 

on a global scale,” said Ulrik Gernow, group 

executive vice president, CMO, at Grundfos 

and continued, “Eurowater is an outstanding 

company and we are truly impressed by its 

organisation and the people we have met”. 

The Eurowater and Grundfos businesses 

share many similarities, including a sharp 

focus on innovation and offering high-quality 

products and value-added services to 

customers. Culturally, the two organisations 

match well, both being purpose-driven and 

highly customer-centric. 

“A better buyer does not exist! It is with 

peace of mind that we leave ownership of 

our life’s work to Grundfos. We took over 

the company 17 years ago from the Scherfig 

family, who has owned the company since 

its foundation in 1936. With the global 

reach and presence of Grundfos and our 

extensive experience in producing first 

class products, we see great opportunities 

to boost the development of innovative and 

water efficient solutions to the benefit of 

our many customers,” said Torben Buhl, 

managing director for Eurowater. 

Headquartered in Denmark, Eurowater 

serves primarily the European markets 

with a range of water treatment offerings, 

with a focus on customers in the industrial 

and municipal sectors. The transaction 

is subject to regulatory approvals and 

is expected to be closed during autumn 

2020. WWA 


16 5 MINUTES WITH 

A new trailblazer 

is in town…or is 

it really new? 

By Pang Yanrong 

In a bold move, Servelec Technologies and Primayer 

rebranded themselves to Ovarro, bringing their 

technology to monitor and control critical, national 

infrastructure throughout the world under one brand. 

As the technology company looks to strengthen its 

presence in Asia Pacific, Chief Executive David Frost 

talks to Water & Wastewater Asia. 


5 MINUTES WITH 17 

By the end of 2020, the brand 

names of Servelec Technologies 

and Primayer will be phased out, 

with a new powerhouse standing in their 

places - Ovarro. 

With the same great people who will 

continue to support clients’ needs and 

work towards success for them, the 

name Ovarro drew inspiration from 

Roman scholar Marcus Terentius Varro, 

the first to propose the honeycomb 

conjecture. He stated that a regular 

hexagonal grid or honeycomb pattern 

was the best way to divide a surface into 

regions of equal area, with the shortest 

total perimeter. 

British naturalist Charles Darwin had 

also later commented, “the honeycomb 

is a masterpiece of engineering. It 

is absolutely perfect in economising 

labour and wax”. 

“The water technology market is 

entering an extraordinarily vibrant 

phase. Exceptional efficiencies are 

sought by our customers and they 

will only be achieved through working 

collaboratively and with technologies 

that create efficiencies. This is what 

we have tried to capture with our 

honeycomb theme,” remarked David 

Frost, chief executive of Ovarro. 

A SMOOTH TRANSITION 

From day one of the rebranding, Ovarro 

ensures that communications are 

done smoothly and closely with global 

customers and partner networks, and 

will continue to do so throughout the 

rest of 2020. 

David Frost, 

Chief Executive, 

Ovarro 

“Key to this engagement is highlighting 

the benefits of the rebrand. We have 

some great technologies and unrivalled 

in-house expertise, and in coming 

together and integrating our teams in 

research and development, operations 

and at the executive level, we can 


18 5 MINUTES WITH 

streamline our offer across industries and 

geographies. Having a single brand to 

wrap around this unique integrated offer is 

the most effective way of delivering to our 

customers and partners,” explained Frost. 

By working closely working with a 

specialist brand agency, the first phase 

of the rebranding was research and 

discovery, which looked into Ovarro’s 

markets and current positioning, including 

interviews with internal and external 

stakeholders. This formed the basis of the 

creative and brand development phase, 

giving careful consideration to factors 

such as how the name translated into 

other languages. 

“We wanted the transition to be as smooth 

and clear for customers as possible, 

and there has been little change to our 

working relationships. Billing and payment 

processes have not changed and there has 

been no impact on products currently in 

the field,” said Frost. 

In fact, the organisation has received 

positive feedback from customers and 

stakeholders who said they are impressed 

by the new look and feel, and understand 

the ethos behind it. 

THE SOLUTIONS PROVIDER 

In the water and wastewater industry, 

population growth and ageing water 

networks are some of the most obvious 

challenges. Alongside that, there is a 

parallel growth in the industry that puts 

additional pressure on the water supply. 

“We have been looking to develop our 

software to assist water utilities with 

planning their infrastructure needs, all 

the way from sensors that help detect 

and locate failures in the water pipes, 

through to the telemetry hardware and 

software. We’re trying to make these 

tools more accessible and cloud-based, 

so users can access them from anywhere,” 

Frost explained. 

And one of the geographies they are 

looking at is Asia Pacific. 

Providing water utilities with the 

information they need to continue to 

provide potable water is a core purpose 

of what Ovarro does. The brands behind 

Ovarro have spent decades developing 

solutions for remote monitoring, controlled 

water supply and water quality, helping 

customers keep their water supply assets 

operating securely, which has never been 

more relevant. 

And with the COVID-19 pandemic across 

the globe, it will change how business is 

done. 

“Water is such an essential resource that 

while many industries were temporarily 

shut, water authorities have continued to 

operate in Asia and every other part of 

the world. The challenges they face with 

restrictions on travel, size of teams, how 

to get expertise to site without physically 

being there, all play to how a business like 

Ovarro can support the market today,” 

said Frost. 

“One of our key focusses is reducing 

leakage in the water networks. To achieve 

that requires innovation and technology 

and this is an area we will continue to 

invest further in, enabling us to present a 

broader suite of technologies to the sector.” 

As growth continues in Asia Pacific, there is 

a continuing need to address a wide variety 

of water-related issues due to large parts 

of Asia that are rural. While water may be 

abundant, it lacks the infrastructure to pipe 

clean water to every home. 

“On the counter, there are modern, densely 

populated cities with excellent telecoms 

and infrastructure but they can be sitting 

on ageing water networks, coming under 

increasing pressure from a growing 

population. Innovation is certainly at the 

centre of how we can respond to the 

issues the sector faces,” remarked Frost. 

And this is what Ovarro is looking at: 

expanding their partner network so that 

with combined minds and expertise, 

they are able to address some of the 

specific requirements of the market. For 

instance, communications technology 

in China can be different to western 

Europe, and Ovarro strives to partner 

locally to better address these needs. 

ADDRESSING THE COVID-19 

PANDEMIC 

With the COVID-19 pandemic circling 

round the globe, Ovarro is not immune 

to the impacts of the change. 

“Our priority is the continued health and 

wellbeing of our employees around the 

world. Around 80% of our employees 

are working remotely and will continue 

to do so for some time. We were ahead 

of the game in pre-testing our IT 

networks, making sure employees had 

the right equipment to work remotely 

and access our systems securely,” 

said Frost. 

He added, “For our production teams 

continuing to work in our facilities, we 

have taken steps to protect them by 

introducing all the official COVID-19 

health and safety guidance. It is an 

evolving situation but we have continued 

to operate - not as normal because 

clearly it’s not a normal situation – 

but disruption to customers has been 

minimal. With regards to our supply 

chain, we continue to work very closely 

with our key suppliers to make sure we 

have continuity of supply by placing 

orders through to the end of 2020. This 

provides a level of longer-term security 

for our suppliers.” 

The organisation is now planning how to 

come out of the lockdown and return to 

a new normal, which will provide more 

challenges. 


5 MINUTES WITH 19 

“Our priority is the continued health and 

wellbeing of our employees around the world. 

Around 80% of our employees are working 

remotely and will continue to do so for some 

time. We were ahead of the game in pre-testing 

our IT networks, making sure employees had the 

right equipment to work remotely and access our 

systems securely,” said Frost. 

Photo credit: Martin Sanchez 

“Our posture is one of caution,” Frost 

commented. 

2020 AND BEYOND 

The global water and wastewater 

industry has faced unique challenges 

in 2020, changing the way people work 

and transforming the markets. While 

the industry has to adjust to short-term 

challenges, Ovarro’s long-term goals 

remain the same. 

“Of course, COVID-19 means our 

immediate priority remains the health and 

wellbeing of our employees, while safely 

navigating our way through the situation. 

Alongside that, we are continuing to 

invest heavily in our global portfolio, 

both through organic development and 

the acquisition of additional businesses,” 

explained Frost. 

There is an internet of things (IoT) theme 

running through Ovarro’s strategy too 

- remote working, capturing data and 

applying analytics to provide actionable 

insight – and a shift in emphasis to 

become more of an analytics software 

services company. 

“Embracing this technology will enable 

the water industry to become smarter, 

more productive and efficient, operate 

more safely and ultimately save money,” 

commented Frost. 

He went on to explain that the 

organisation is focusing on areas where 

they can assist utilities in converting data 

into actionable insight – from prioritising 

of leakage, not only accurate identification 

but pinpointing which leaks to fix first, 

through to sewage and spillage monitoring 

and analytics. 

In addition, they are looking to reach 

out to the market and their customer 

base, through their global sales team 

and channel partner network. This applies 

particularly in Asia, where Ovarro has their 

local support and sales team, as well as a 

very loyal and established partner network 

to access the market. 

“The Asian Pacific market is of real interest 

to us. Hopefully, once COVID-19 is behind 

us, we can accelerate our activities there, 

focusing on areas that may not have had 

access to some of the technology we 

offer, and which could be of real benefit 

to the water and wastewater authorities 

throughout the region,” said Frost. WWA 


20 IN THE FIELD 

During 2007, approval was given for an NZ$8m (US$5.1m) project to install a pipeline in a part of the scheme 

comprising of the installation of 19 miles (30km), of pipe, supplying 37 farms and irrigating 9,884 acres (4,000 ha) 

Keeping 

the cattle 

watered! 

By Glynn Nuthall 

Managing Director, 

Cla-Val Pacific 

The Ashburton Lyndhurst Irrigation 

Limited (A.L.I.L.) is situated in New 

Zealand’s South Island, 80km 

south of the city of Christchurch, in a 

region known as the Canterbury Plains. 

It was developed in the late 1940s 

to provide open channel irrigation 

via a gravity supply canal to the local 

landowners. In those days, sheep farming 

was the mainstay of the livestock industry, 

and even today New Zealand is home 

to over 27 million sheep! However, in 

recent years dairy cattle farming has 

increased dramatically and this is due to 

the dramatic increase in demand globally 

for New Zealand’s dairy products. Several 

large commercial milk drying plants have 

been built in the area in recent years to 

serve this fast-growing segment of the 

local economy. 

The A.L.I.L. scheme encompasses 74,130 

acres (30,000ha), which is the size of 

the Island of Singapore. The water is 

supplied from the Rangitata diversion 

canal which was built between 1937 and 

1944. The canal is 42 miles (67km) long 

with an average width of 49 feet (15m), 

and a depth of 10 feet (3m). It flows at 

491,360gpm (31m 3 /sec), with the schemes 

allowance being 206,054gpm (13m 3 /sec). 

During 2007, approval was given for an 

NZ$8m (US$5.1m) project to install a 

pipeline in a part of the scheme comprising 

of the installation of 19 miles (30km), of 

pipe, supplying 37 farms and irrigating 

9,884 acres (4,000ha). 

A single 40” (1,000mm) mainline was 

installed which included Cla-Val 90 series 


IN THE FIELD 21 

Pressure Reducing valves to control the 

pressure as the pipeline descended down 

the plains. two @ 24” (600mm), two @ 16” 

(400mm) along with associated bypass 

and relief valves. Along with these were 

37 farm supply valves, 90 series valves 

ranging in sizes from 3” (80mm) to 10” 

(250mm). 

In 2013, after seven years of continuous 

duty, the first valve was taken out of service 

for inspection. A 16” (400mm) Reducing 

valve and a 6” (150mm) Reducing bypass 

valve. 

Both valves were in excellent condition 

and the valves were returned to service 

using the original parts and the decision 

was made to do another inspection at the 

10-year mark. 

At the 10-year mark in 2016, an inspection 

was performed on a 24” (600mm) valve 

and an 8” (200mm) bypass valve and again 

the valves were found to be in excellent 

condition and were returned into service. 

The decision was made to inspect the valves 

again at the 15-year point in 2021. 

Since the initial piping scheme, the decision 

has been reached to install a further 

124 miles (200km) of pipeline, serving 

an additional 167 properties at a cost of 

NZ$95m (US$60.7m). This also includes 

Cla-Val control valves for each property 

ranging is sizes of 1.5” (40mm) to 14” 

(350mm) plus main line electronic control 

valves in sizes 14”, 24”, 36” and 40” 

(350mm, 600mm, 900mm and 1,000mm) 

along with bypass and relief valves. 

Following the success of this scheme, Cla- 

Val have supplied neighbouring schemes 

with automatic control valves, namely, 

Barrhill Chertsey Irrigation – 45 valves 

in sizes 4” to 12”, (100mm to 300mm), 

CPWL Stage 1 – 219 valves including four 

@ 24” (600mm), five @ 30” (750mm) 

electronic control valves; CPWL Stage 2 – 

222 control valves including three @ 36” 

(900mm) electronic control valves with 

14” (350mm) bypass valves. 

The mainline Pressure Control Valves in 

sizes 14”, 24”, 36” and 40”, (350mm, 

600mm, 900mm and 1,000mm) are Cla- 

Val Model 131 Series electronic control 

valves with Cla-Val VC22D controllers and 

installed with X143 Turbine Generators. 

Following the success of the scheme, 

Cla-Val have supplied neighbouring 

schemes with automatic control valves 



As demand increases, and the bypass PRV goes open above 80% for more than 60 seconds, the 40” (1000mm) 

electronically controlled main PRV will start to open, allowing flow to transition to the bigger valve 

Above is the valve schematic and operation 

of one of the 1,000mm control valves with 

150mm bypass valve. 

Valve Operation: 

On low flow, the 6” (150mm) bypass 

PRV, equipped with a hydraulic pilot, 

controls downstream pressure. As demand 

increases, and the bypass PRV goes open 

above 80% for more than 60 seconds, the 

40”(1,000mm) electronically controlled 

main PRV will start to open, allowing 

flow to transition to the bigger valve. 

The bypass PRV is then forced and held 

closed while the main PRV regulates the 

downstream pressure. When the demand 

decreases and the main PRV is open less 

than 8%, the bypass PRV will then be 

released and allowed to open, allowing 

flow to transition back to the smaller valve. 

The main PRV is then forced and held 

close, while the bypass PRV regulates the 

downstream pressure. 

A secondary hydraulic pilot system acts 

as a back-up in case of power failure. The 

hydraulic circuit is kept isolated by two 2” 

(50mm) hytrol valves held closed by an 

energised solenoid wired to an external 

relay and powered independently. The 

hydraulic pilot set point is the same as that 

of the electronic set point. 

In the event of a power outage, the 

solenoid is de-energised and would 

change state, allowing the two hytrol 

valves to open. When open, the secondary 

hydraulic pilot system on the main PRV 

would run and regulate the downstream 

pressure with the smaller bypass PRV 

acting as such. WWA 

All images are credited to Cla-Val. 


July / August 2020 • waterwastewaterasia.com 

IN THE FIELD 23


ABB’s 240 digitally-enabled 

flowmeters installed across 

Surat, India, will help to track, 

measure and optimise water 

consumption in real-time; 

partnering the city corporation 

to manage water more 

efficiently. 



consumption patterns and explore areas of 

improvement to better water management, 

moving Surat ahead in its journey to 

becoming a Smart City. 

in readings. The data collected from the 

readings will provide computer-generated 

monthly and quarterly reports on the 

consumption patterns. 

BUILDING A FUTURE 

ABB first installed manual flowmeters for 

water measurement in the city in 2005. 

With the advent of digital technology 

and Surat making to the list of 100 

Smart Cities, ABB partnered with the 

city municipal corporation to deploy a 

more scalable and sustainable model, by 

upgrading the existing manual flowmeters 

to digitally-enabled devices. SMC has 

already installed over 240 flowmeters 

across the Pandesaran area of the 

city, which has numerous textile mills, 

and other locations in the city such as 

engineering college, hospitals and hotels. 

Presently, the textile mills in the city 

consume over 50% of the water supplied 

by SMC, while the remaining amount 

is consumed by households and other 

commercial establishments in the city. 

Moving forward, the corporation will 

be able to use the detailed information 

such as the timings of the usage and the 

peak hours of usage to optimise water 

management. As per a World Bank report, 

if water losses in developing countries 

could be halved or the share of nonrevenue 

water cut down, the saved water 

would be enough to supply for around 

90 million people. 

ABB India is enabling digitalisation 

of the entire water management 

system of Surat, India, with 

its GSM (Global System for Mobile 

communications) enabled AquaMaster 

flowmeters solution to measure water 

consumption in real-time. 

The next level technology will help the 

Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC), 

the governing civic authority, study 

“Digitally monitoring the consumption of 

a critical resource like water will help in 

more equitable distribution and optimise 

water management for the benefit of the 

population of Surat city. We are proud 

to partner and congratulate Surat’s 

administrators for their vision and actions 

to adopt our world-class digital flowmeter 

solution, which will help the city scale up 

and transition sustainably into a Smart 

city,” said Sanjeev Sharma, managing 

director of ABB India. 

“ABB flowmeters are operating in five cities 

of Delhi, Bangalore, Ranchi, Kolkata and 

Chennai to ensure efficient monitoring, 

tracking and billing water usage. We 

believe that this is a key step for the city 

corporations to reduce the share of nonrevenue 

water as India steps into the era 

of smart cities and optimised usage of 

natural resources,” Sharma added. 

ABB’s flowmeters installed in the inlet 

pipes of the municipal water lines enables 

automatic meter reading (AMR) that 

measures water flow and send precise 

readings to the corporation’s central 

control centre through GSM connection 

in real-time, eliminating the burden of 

manual data collection and reducing error 

Located on the coast of Gujarat state in 

India, Surat is the country’s diamond 

capital and textile hub, home to over 

5,000 diamond merchants and roughly 

600,000 power looms that process 

roughly 20 million metres of fabric 

everyday. With city’s aim to build a 

sustainable future as well as a Smart 

City, one of the major issues it is trying to 

tackle is optimising the water-intensive 

textile industry by bringing in better water 

management. 

The SMC has been trying to reduce 

water waste and adopt a digital 

solution to automatically track the 

consumption in the city, especially across 

the 1,000 garment mills consuming 

roughly 90 million litres everyday for 

processes like scouring, cleaning, 

bleaching, and dyeing. WWA 

Photo credit: Janko Ferlic 



The university’s research programmes seek to “identify solutions to critical challenges by 

extending the frontiers of knowledge both within and beyond existing research paradigms.” 

Researcher explores 

new method to predict 

disease risks in 

aquaculture stocks 

Research out of Hong Kong that combines environmental DNA 

testing with water quality monitoring is showing promise as a 

method to predict risk of disease in aquaculture operations. 

By Helen Taylor, Content Manager, In-Situ 

Dr Giana Bastos Gomes is not your 

typical veterinarian. Instead of caring 

for cats and dogs, she looks after 

fish, specifically how to prevent disease 

outbreaks within aquaculture farms. From 

City University of Hong Kong, Dr Gomes is 

conducting groundbreaking research on 

early identification of disease in fish and 

shrimp using environmental DNA (eDNA) 

quantification paired with water quality 

monitoring. 

Disease prevention is a common struggle 

among aquaculture farmers worldwide. It’s 

estimated that diseases are responsible for up 

to 40% of production losses, valued at more 

than US$100b per year. 



COMBINING EDNA WITH 

WATER QUALITY DATA 

Gomes’ project, which is a 

continuation of research she 

began in Australia, is the 

first instance in which eDNA 

analysis, often factored into 

ecological studies, is being 

used in aquaculture to quantify 

pathogen presence in water. 

It’s also one of the first times 

eDNA data has been used in 

conjunction with water quality 

data to provide information on 

both water-borne parasites and 

water quality parameters and 

how they’re connected. 

Gomes is sampling in both open 

pen (saltwater) and pond (fresh 

water) operations. Every week a 

research assistant collects water 

from the sites and brings it to 

the lab to analyse the genetic 

information it carries. 

In the meantime, monitoring 

installations that include In-Situ’s Aqua 

TROLL 500 Multiparameter Sonde and 

HydroMace data loggers, as well as rain 

gauges, deliver real-time data to In-Situ’s 

data services platform, HydroVu, where 

Gomes can download it for analysis. 

In-Situ’s Aqua 

TROLL 500 

Multiparameter 

Sonde data 

logger 

the installation was straightforward; 

and the company representatives 

were very helpful in getting 

everything set up.” 

MODEL IN THE WORKS 

Gomes has been collecting data 

since late last year and will 

continue the project through the 

summer months, because weather 

is a contributing factor. Despite 

disruptions caused by the protests 

in Hong Kong and COVID-19, she’s 

determined to complete the project 

and develop a model that will give 

farmers the assistance they need to 

predict disease in their stocks. 

“I’d like to create an app that could 

predict disease risk,” she said. 

“There’s so much uncertainty in the 

industry because there is no data. 

The ability to use information to 

lower risk could benefit the farmers, 

investors, insurance companies and 

government policy teams.” 

As the fastest growing agribusiness in the 

world, aquaculture has the potential to 

With this equipment, 

I can trust that data 

is always being 

collected. The cost 

comparison was 

favorable, especially 

given the amount of 

data we’re getting; 

the installation was 

straightforward; 

and the company 

representatives were 

very helpful in getting 

everything set up. 

provide a critical food source for a growing 

population, with fewer environmental 

impacts than traditional agriculture. 

“If we can measure, we can predict,” said 

Gomes. “Then we can be proactive. Even 

a small improvement in mortality numbers 

can make a big difference to farmers.” WWA 

Continuous data on temperature, salinity, 

DO, pH, turbidity and rain measurement 

gives Gomes the information she needs 

to correlate water quality and pathogen 

presence. And as a bonus, she’s able to 

alert her participating farmers if there’s 

a significant change in their water 

parameters. 

Reliable monitoring equipment has 

been key to her progress, said Gomes. 

“With this equipment, I can trust that 

data is always being collected. The cost 

comparison was favourable, especially 

given the amount of data we’re getting; 

Dr Giana Bastos Gomes conducting research in Australia 



Veolia Water 

Technologies & 

Urban Utilities 

to install APAC’s 

first full-scale 

sidestream 

Once completed, the project is expected to save up to 

$347,000 per year in plant operational costs. 

The new sidestream plant at the Luggage Point 

Resource Recovery Centre will be used to treat 

one million litres per day of high-ammonia 

sludge concentrate produced by the plant’s main 

treatment processes. 

Veolia Water Technologies and Urban 

Utilities are working to install Asia 

Pacific’s first full-scale sidestream 

ANITA Mox treatment plant this year. A 

first-of-its-kind in Australia, this organic 

and environmentally-focused technology is 

an exciting development for the wastewater 

treatment industry. 

Construction is scheduled to commence 

later this year at Urban Utilities’ Luggage 

Point Resource Recovery Centre in Brisbane. 

Once completed, the project is expected to 

save up to $500,000 per year in operational 

costs at the plant. The two companies have 

worked together to develop the first full 

scale ANITA Mox project in Australia, 

which uses the Anammox bacteria to break 

down nitrogen in wastewater, requiring 

less energy and chemicals than traditional 

treatment processes. 

“We are delighted to partner with Urban 

Utilities to introduce the ANITA Mox 

solution in Australia,” commented Karen 

Shaw, client manager, municipal – Australia 

& New Zealand, Veolia Water Technologies. 

“This development signals a new chapter 

for the wastewater treatment industry 

in Australia and offers other municipal 

service providers the opportunity to see 

the positive impact this innovative and 

environmentally-friendly solution can bring 

to their treatment plants.” 

The new sidestream plant at the Luggage 

Point Resource Recovery Centre will be 

used to treat one million litres per day 

of high-ammonia sludge concentrate 

produced by the plant’s main treatment 

processes. Peter Donaghy, general manager 

of treatment and production at Urban 

Utilities, shared that the company had 

been researching the use of Anammox 

bacteria with the University of Queensland’s 

Advanced Water Management Centre for 

more than 10 years. 



He added, “Based on our preliminary 

research and work to develop Anammox 

bacteria seed, we made a decision in 2015 

to work with Veolia to grow Anammox bugs 

into a booming farm at our Innovation 

Centre. This project is a great example 

of taking a new and innovative approach, 

and making it part of our daily operations 

to help us cut costs, increase treatment 

capacity at the plant, and benefit the 

environment at the same time.” 

Traditional wastewater treatment produces 

a liquid byproduct with high nitrogen loads, 

which is returned to the head of the plant 

for treatment. This process contributes 

significantly to the plant’s operating costs 

and requires a costly carbon addition and 

electricity for aeration. In contrast, the 

ANITA Mox solution is a robust, singlestage 

ammonia and total nitrogen removal 

biofilm process that utilises Anammox 

bacteria, offering a chemical-free treatment 

process that requires much less energy. 

As the Anammox bacterium cannot be 

imported into Australia, the sidestream 

plant at Luggage Point will operate as a 

biofarm, making it possible for Veolia to 

harvest the seeds for use in future ANITA 

Mox projects within Australia. Shaw 

concluded, “With the plant’s ANITA Mox 

process well in place, our local customers 

can have immediate access to this new 

organic treatment process.” 

Anita Mox sidestream tank at the Luggage Point Resource Recovery Centre in Australia 

The ANITA Mox solution is ideal for 

municipal assets looking to reduce cost 

and increase operational efficiency, 

while meeting regulatory requirements 

on nitrogen concentrations in treated 

wastewater. WWA 

A look at the ANITA Mox carrier 


30 FOCUS 

Simple 

steps to 

keep onsite 

treatment 

within 

consent 

With the Environment Agency 

making clear to the water 

industry its expectations for 

zero pollutions, the need for 

robust wastewater treatment has 

never been greater, said Andrew 

Baird, WPL Technical Director. 

The regulator’s toughening approach 

to discharge permit breaches, a 

number of high profile prosecutions 

and record fines for polluters, along 

with increased public awareness, means 

customers are also demanding more from 

their water utilities. While much of the 

Environment Agency’s scrutiny has been 

directed at the water sector – in 2019, it 

told the industry to clean up its act and 

protect the environment from pollution – 

it is clear that all companies with onsite 

treatment are coming under increasing 

pressure to have reliable processes in place. 

A breach of trade effluent consent, which is 

granted by water companies to companies 

that discharge into the public sewer, is a 

criminal offence and penalties can range 

from an early warning notice to a fine or 

prosecution or, in the most serious cases, 

imprisonment. Financial and reputational 

implications are also significant. The cost 

of reactive mitigation for the most serious 

breaches, such as clean-ups or tankering, 

can potentially run into millions and risks 

thrusting the company brand into the 

spotlight for the wrong reasons. 

WPL specialises in packaged wastewater 

treatment plants and sees different 

companies making the same avoidable 

mistakes that result in permit breaches - 

but the solutions are often simple. 

MAINTAIN ONSITE EQUIPMENT 

Equipment failure lies behind the majority 

of permit breaches, and often occurs due to 

a lack of maintenance. 

When it comes to commercial or industrial 

companies, onsite effluent treatment is 

Andrew Baird, WPL Technical Director 

not necessarily seen as a core part of the 

operation and interest can be lacking. This 

can result in this vital equipment, that may 

underpin the efficiency of the whole site, 

being some of the least loved. 

When installing new kits, we advise 

management to give the responsibility of 

maintaining it to specific employees who 

understand not only the mechanics but 

also the importance of the plant. Having 

enthusiastic champions of the equipment 

means it is more likely to receive the 

attention it deserves. Of course, with the 

COVID-19 pandemic leading to urgent 

reviews of business continuity plans, 


FOCUS 31 

it seems good practice to assign this 

responsibility to a team rather than an 

individual, so the knowledge is not lost if 

one person becomes unavailable 

TESTING AND TRIALS 

Performance and commercial shocks 

caused by discrepancies between designs 

and the delivery of a project can be avoided 

by conducting detailed reviews and pilot 

trials ahead of installing permanent plant. 

WPL can undertake in-depth advance 

testing in two ways - laboratory testing and 

onsite pilot trials. 

INDUSTRIAL LABORATORY 

SERVICE 

Bespoke lab-scale reviews are conducted 

at WPL’s in-house facility to ascertain 

the profile of the effluent and ensure 

that the correct dosing regime is 

implemented, based on the requirements 

of environmental discharge permits. WPL’s 

process scientists carry out a separation 

test on effluent samples from the specific 

site and replicate appropriate treatment 

processes from WPL’s range which includes 

dissolved air floatation (DAF), biological 

treatment and settlement options. 

Depending on the specific consent 

requirements, scientists can monitor 

chemical oxygen demand (COD) and 

biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and 

levels of pollutants such as greases, 

phosphates, nutrients and nitrates to see if 

they are achieving the separation required. 

Based on the analysis, a report is produced 

that determines the best technology and 

cost of the final scheme. This kind of 

testing has a quick turnaround with results 

returned in about a week. It causes little 

disruption to the customer and allows 

designers to rule out different technologies, 

saving time in researching options that 

might not work. 

ONSITE PILOTS 

Following a lab review, an onsite pilot 

project is usually recommended to identify 

the precise equipment required. Pilots allow 

engineers to really look closely at factors 

including chemical and power consumption 

and sludge production to give a very 

accurate indication of how the plant will 

operate and the costs, giving the customer 

confidence that there will be no surprises. 

They can seem expensive but they may 

save money in the long run. 

WPL recently built a permanent dissolved 

air flotation (DAF) unit on the site of a food 

manufacturer, which only wanted a lab 

review and not a pilot. It transpired the 

effluent being discharged was different 

from the sample given for lab testing – the 

sugar content differed vastly and could not 

be effectively removed. 

Samples are variable in industrial treatment 

and the pilot would have picked this up 

very quickly, saving the customer time and 

money. An additional biological treatment 

plant has since had to be installed on the 

site. 

REPURPOSE EXISTING 

EQUIPMENT 

The solution to failing consent may not 

always require a large investment or the 

rebuilding of infrastructure. In many cases, 

just a single piece of equipment is needed, 

Installation of the WPL Hybrid-SAF 

or, where an existing piece of kit fails, it can 

often be repurposed. 

WPL’s Hybrid-SAF is a highly efficient 

biological treatment technology with 

custom-built cells can be retrofitted into 

any onsite vessels regardless of shape or 

size. 

STAFF TRAINING 

Of course, the solution to consent failure 

may not even be engineering-based. It 

can be a case of better staff training and 

revamped internal policy. For example, 

in the food industry, breaches can occur 

because employees are not scraping 

utensils before they wash them, meaning 

food debris and grease washes into the 

public sewer – resulting in a breach. 

Education and ongoing training can really 

help prevent equipment and processes 

breaking down, ensuring the treatment 

plant remains fully compliant and continues 

to protect the environment. WPL can offer 

advice on all of these issues and support 

companies who are concerned about onsite 

treatment facilities failing consent. WWA 


32 FOCUS 

Microbiologically 

Influenced 

Corrosion (MIC) 

monitoring 

techniques 

A look into microbiologically influenced 

corrosion (MIC), organisms involved, and 

new biological testing methods that can be 

used to mitigate the risk of MIC. 

In today’s society, infrastructure is so 

ubiquitous that its safety and security is 

taken for granted - but corrosion has been 

identified as one of the major economic issues 

that governments and companies will face 

while moving forward in the 21 st century. 

While the most common occurrence of 

microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC) 

is in oil and gas-associated transportation 

and storage systems, MIC is also relevant 

for the industrial and municipal sectors, 

including water and wastewater systems. Even 

infrastructure in residential and commercial 

buildings such as sprinkler systems can be 

affected by MIC. 

MIC itself is not a unique kind of corrosion. It 

is merely corrosion that has been expedited 

or triggered by microbial proliferation, most 

usually in biofilms attached to the surface of 

the material. While in the past MIC has mostly 


FOCUS 33 

been associated with metal surfaces, 

it can also affect non-metal surfaces 

like concrete, plastic and coated metals 

as well. Research compiled by NACE 

estimates that the annual global cost 

of corrosion is $2.5tn. Further, recent 

estimates have attributed roughly 20% 

of the total cost of corrosion to MIC 

specifically. Therefore, the cost of MIC is 

approximately $500m annually. 

This represents a huge strain on 

businesses and governments to maintain 

infrastructure to prevent economic losses 

or health risks due to accidents caused 

by corrosion. The ideal situation is to 

prevent all corrosion in the first place, but 

since it is impossible to monitor and treat 

all infrastructure, it is important to settle 

for the mitigation of risk of corrosion. 

This whitepaper will review LuminUltra’s 

microbiological testing methods 

that are used to monitor the 

microbial population with varying 

degrees of specificity and rapidity. 

represent a risk for MIC. 

While corrosion has been a well-studied 

field for many years now, MIC has only 

been recognised as a contributing factor 

in recent decades. Many studies exist 

which highlight the types of organisms that 

can inhabit different systems and impact 

corrosion rates. The best known and 

commonly studied of organisms implicated 

in MIC are certainly sulphate-reducing 

prokaryotes (SRP), but MIC is caused and 

exaggerated by a consortium of microbes 

with various metabolic functions. 

Among these other groupings of organisms 

are acid-producing prokaryotes (APP), 

iron-reducing bacteria (IRB), sulphuroxidising 

bacteria (SOB), methanogens, 

slime formers, nitrate-reducing prokaryotes 

(NRP), and others with varying degrees of 

importance. More relevant organisms will 

be highlighted as more corrosion studies 

are performed and results published in 

peer-reviewed papers and at conferences. 

MIC MONITORING TECHNIQUES 

Existing techniques to try to assess 

MIC risk typically rely on culturing 

organisms. While this has been the 

global standard for hundreds of years 

to assess microbial populations, there 

are significant drawbacks associated 

with this method. Namely, the turnaround 

time is generally days to weeks, 

and culture (via liquid broth or plating) 

does not have the ability to grow all 

organisms, and some groupings of 

organisms are not able to be grown in 

culture at all. New, rapid methods are 

required to supplement those that are 

used presently. These techniques rely on 

the measurement of adenosine 

triphosphate (ATP) and DNA, 

which are components of living 

microorganisms. 

MIC AND WHAT CAUSES IT 

While MIC is not a unique form 

of corrosion, it is unique in that 

microorganisms are ubiquitous in 

almost all of the systems which 

are concerned with MIC, which 

can make risk mitigation difficult. 

Many organisms are harmless and 

will not cause any trouble in the 

system, while certain organisms 

will have a large effect on the 

system even if found in small 

quantities. 

The key to risk mitigation is the 

availability of quick monitoring 

methods that are used routinely 

to give a forewarning in advance 

of an increase in the population 

that might be conducive to 

or support the development 

of corrosion. When an initial 

increase in the general microbial 

population is detected, further 

specific testing can be performed 

to identify whether the organisms 

The key to risk mitigation is the availability of quick monitoring 

methods that are used routinely to give a forewarning in advance of 

an increase in the population that might be conducive to or support 

the development of corrosion 

ATP is a molecule present in 

all living cells that serves as 

an energy source. Since ATP 

is only associated with living 

microorganisms, its presence 

indicates the presence of living 

organisms, but is not possible 

to determine what ATP is 

from what organisms. Further, 

DNA can provide the kind of 

specificity that ATP cannot as 

certain (genetic or metabolic) 

groupings of organisms will have 

DNA sequences that are common 

between each other, unique from 

other microorganisms, and can 

be targeted with quantitative 

Polymerase Chain Reaction 

(qPCR) probes. These testing 

techniques are part of a holistic 

approach to microbial control, 

and will be employed at different 

frequencies and in different 

situations in order to remain in 

control of the system. 


34 FOCUS 

In addition to measuring ATP, adenosine 

monophosphate (AMP) can also be 

measured using the same technology. The 

ratio of ATP to AMP can be used to assess 

the dormancy of the population. If most 

exists as ATP, it’s an indication of a healthy, 

growing population. If the amount of AMP 

is higher, it’s an indication of dormancy 

and that the population may be stressed 

but not necessarily killed. 

Of various microbiological testing techniques, ATP testing forms the 

base of the pyramid as a daily monitoring tool 

ATP 

ATP testing is at the frontline of microbial 

control and can be applied to almost 

anywhere within the system. Test kits are 

available to test all sample types: fluids, 

solids, or surfaces so that both planktonic 

and sessile microbiological populations 

can be assessed. ATP provides nonspecific 

results for the concentration of 

the total microbial community in units of 

ATP per mL, g or surface area. Equipment 

is portable and easy to use in the field, 

so that samples can be tested as soon 

as they are collected so the population 

is measured accurately. Versatility to 

perform testing in the field prevents 

sample degradation during shipping which 

is a concern when testing is not available 

at or near the sampling point. It also 

reduces the time between measurement 

and corrective action, if needed. While the 

susceptibility of samples to change during 

shipping depends on the composition 

of the microbial community, oxygen 

conditions, and nutrient supply, it is 

preferred to test sooner rather than later in 

every case. 

act as a forewarning to alert operators 

to an increase in microbes, either due to 

their introduction from outside the system, 

or from a decreased biocide efficacy. In 

the case that ATP testing indicates the 

presence of a larger population compared 

to the baseline, more advanced techniques 

(such as qPCR) can be deployed to 

determine the identity of the increased 

population to determine if they represent 

a MIC risk. 

qPCR 

qPCR is a molecular microbiological 

method that is used to identify and 

quantify specific DNA (or RNA) sequences 

from microorganisms. A specific probe and 

primer set must first be developed to allow 

the measurement of the desired DNA. This 

requires knowledge of the unique genetic 

structure of the targeted organism(s). 

Many DNA sequences are available in 

publicly compiled databases that can be 

used to design qPCR probes. 

qPCR testing can be performed in under 

two hours, which gives unprecedented 

rapid access to data that otherwise 

ATP testing can be performed in less than 

five minutes per sample, and as such is an 

easy way to monitor the effectiveness of 

a biocide program to ensure microbes are 

kept in check. ATP should be used daily or 

a few times weekly as this quick test will 

While microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC) is not a unique form of corrosion, it is unique in 

that microorganisms are ubiquitous in almost all of the systems which are concerned with MIC, which 

can make risk mitigation difficult. 

Photo credit: Andrew Martin 


FOCUS 35 

Krona plot used to 

visualise NGS results - 

the colours represent 

different metabolic 

groups and genera 

wouldn’t be available for weeks. In the 

case that samples are not able to be 

analysed at or near the point of sampling, 

sample preservation kits (SPK) can be 

used to preserve the integrity of the 

sample so its nucleic acid composition 

changes minimally over the shipping or 

holding time regardless of environmental 

conditions. 

Routine qPCR testing can be performed 

to keep a tab on the population of certain 

metabolic groups on a weekly or bi-weekly 

basis, or when ATP indicates an elevated 

population. While this allows the constant 

monitoring of known populations, there may 

be unknown microorganisms present in the 

system who are implicated in MIC, but qPCR 

assays are not available for their detection. 

NGS 

Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) is a 

newer molecular microbiological method 

that allows for the characterisation of 

nearly the entire microbial population 

present in a sample. Like ATP and qPCR, 

testing can be performed on a variety 

of sample types including fluids, solids 

and surfaces. NGS is performed in a 

clean laboratory setting using cutting 

edge instrumentation. This testing is 

accomplished by sequencing certain 

parts of the 16S gene, present in all 

bacteria and archaea. Comparing the 

generated sequences against a genetic 

database allows the classification of the 

microorganisms present to the genus 

level. Bioinformatics reporting assigns 

certain metabolic functions, like sulphatereduction 

or slime formation to the genera 

identified to allow the determination of the 

proportion of organisms present that are 

responsible for certain activities that may 

represent a corrosion risk. 

The previously-mentioned SPK can be 

NGS testing might typically be performed 

quarterly in order to trend the relative 

proportions of different organisms that 

are present in a system over time and to 


36 FOCUS 

A final comparison of ATP, qPCR and NGS microbial monitoring techniques 

continually ensure that good MIC risk 

mitigation strategies are being followed. 

NGS is also useful to probe the potential 

causative microorganisms in the case of 

a pipeline failure. Damaged sections of 

pipeline can be assessed to determine 

what microbes were present and in what 

quantities and abundances. Compilation 

of this data will help assist the industry 

identify what levels of which microbes 

represent a risk and develop better 

guidelines for microbial control. 

Regardless of the requirements for 

microbial testing, the combination of ATP, 

qPCR and NGS will allow the near full 

characterisation of a system, with varying 

degrees of rapidity and specificity. In the 

case that the system is in good control, 

regular ATP testing can be supplemented 

at intervals with qPCR and NGS to ensure 

that desired groupings are kept in check. 

When ATP testing indicates an elevated 

population, qPCR or NGS can be used 

to determine whether these microbes 

represent a risk for MIC. WWA 

Existing techniques to try to assess MIC risk typically rely on culturing organisms - these techniques 

rely on the measurement of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and DNA. 

Photo credit: Michal Jarmoluk 


VIEWPOINT 37 

Unlocking water resources 

using mimicry 

By Arthur Umble, 

Global Wastewater Practice Leader, 

Stantec 

The term “wastewater” is outdated. 

For years, engineers like me 

designed wastewater treatment 

plants (WWTP) for communities around the 

globe. That traditional treatment was all 

about disposal. No thought was given to 

recovery of resources, including the water. 

It was very linear: waste in, waste treated, 

and the cleaned “waste” sent into the 

environment. 

Today, it’s much more appropriate to 

think of those facilities as water resource 

recovery factories (WRRF) because most 

of what is in wastewater is not waste. It 

shouldn’t be about treatment and then 

disposal. It should be about recovery. 

As Earth’s natural resources become 

scarce, resource recovery is our industry’s 

link to the circular economy. Not only is 

resource recovery here to stay, but it’s 

also growing. 

WHAT’S IN THE WASTEWATER 

Honestly, most people don’t give much 

thought to what’s in their community’s 

wastewater. The thinking is: there is no 

value in “waste.” But that’s incorrect. 

Raw wastewater entering a WRRF has 

several potential value streams: water, 

energy, nutrients, and products. 

Water: Potable and non-potable water. 

Current uses include industrial cooling, 

agriculture and landscape irrigation, and 

aquaculture. We can and should recover 

every drop of water we can. Whether 

it’s a water-rich area like Minnesota or 

a water-poor area like Phoenix, Arizona, 

there is always a use for all water we 

recover. 

Arthur Umble, 

Global Wastewater Practice Leader, Stantec 

Energy: Transportation fuels, including 

biofuels, and power and heat. About 20% 

of energy in wastewater is the form of 

chemical energy; about 80% is heat. A lot 

of resource value is in these wastewaters. 


38 VIEWPOINT 

Nutrients: Food/feed. What’s recovered 

from wastewater can help sustain our 

global population through fertilisation for 

food production. Nutrients, which 

are abundant in waste, are essential to 

the global sustainability of feeding the 

world. 

Products: A wide variety, including 

pharmaceuticals, industrial chemicals, 

performance materials, metals, and 

fertilizers. Here we’re looking mostly at 

the carbon-based products in our waste 

streams. Carbon is organic, and we can 

use it to replace plastics by building 

bioplastics from these polymers. We 

can support the biofuels industry, the 

pharmaceuticals industry, etc. These 

products all exist. 

But how best do we recover those items 

from the “waste” stream? Turn to nature. 

It knows what it’s doing. 

MANAGING OUR RESOURCES 

THROUGH BIOMIMICRY 

Biomimicry is not designing WITH nature 

but designing AS nature. Nature has had 

3.8 billion years of evolutionary time 

to develop its means and methods for 

addressing and solving problems. There 

is nothing that we have faced in our short 

human history that is not something that 

nature has not already seen and solved. 

We simply must look. 

Following nature’s lead can be summed up 

in the “3Ms: model, mentor and measure: 

Model: Reconnecting with nature directly. 

Nature informs the design framework. 

Mentor: Emulating nature’s strategies 

for survival. Nature teaches us about 

how to use resources, rather than simply 

providing us with resources for our use. 

Measure: Those 3.8 billion years of 

evolutionary development for 30 million 

known species can be now used as our 

benchmark for sustainability. Nature 

knows what works and what lasts—it is 

the ecological standard. 

As we look to nature, there are two 

paradigms to consider. 

The problem: Solution paradigm is the 

“reactive” paradigm. Here we have a 

known problem, and we go to nature to 

see if we can find analogies where nature 

has developed a solution. Then we take 

that solution and apply it. 

The solution: Problem paradigm is the 

“proactive” paradigm. Here we focus 

on observing how nature functions. It 

provides solutions to us for problems we 

do not yet know we will incur. 


VIEWPOINT 39 

If we observe nature daily (use it as 

our model), it will mentor us. Nature 

will essentially say: “Here is how I use 

available resources.” That’s the proactive 

way of approaching our challenges. 

Our industry is only now beginning to 

understand the opportunities biomimetic 

principles pose for resource recovery 

technologies that are disruptive. Here are 

several examples: 

Microalgae: Microalgae cultured from 

wastewater is disruptive because it solves 

multiple problems by what it can do: 

remove nutrients and produce energy 

while providing a sink for atmospheric 

carbon. 

Biopolymers: Building biopolymers from 

carbon recovered from wastewater is 

disruptive because of the many uses 

that can be found for biopolymers that 

are environmentally beneficial, from 

bioplastics to biofuels. These products can 

go into markets - supporting the circular 

economy. As a side benefit, we are 

reducing energy use in the plant by not 

having to remove all the carbon. 

Bioelectrical-chemical Systems (BES): 

These systems apply biomimicry 

principle by using the natural 

processes of transferring electrons 

that bacteria do when breaking down 

organic matter. By capturing these 

electrons, clean, electrical energy can 

be produced. Interestingly, we can use 

BES in conjunction with microalgae and 

produce biopolymers to make chemical 

products - driving the circular economy. 

Again, this is a disruptive technology. 

WHY BIOMIMICRY IS CRITICAL 

FOR A CIRCULAR ECONOMY 

Biomimicry is our model, measure, and 

mentor to a successful transition of 

treating wastewater for disposal to it 

being a driver for a circular economy. 

Biomimetic principles are at the core of the 

technologies being developed to recover 

the resources embedded in wastewater 

with the impact to truly disrupt our 

conventional approaches to the treatment 

of wastewater. 

To become a circular economy, everything 

must have a value: monetary, health or 

something else. Biomimicry is likely the 

only way we approach treatment that 

allows us to get the enterprise piece 

out of our wastewater. It helps us to get 

nutrients, energy, water, chemicals and 

products out and into a form that it can 

be sold. 

These are economic benefits for the 

community. That is really the key. That’s 

how you get the circular engine going, and 

that’s our future. WWA 


40 VIEWPOINT 

Age of data driven leak 

management dawns 

Water scarcity and regulatory pressure are leading to more remote monitoring of leakage, 

said Alan Cunningham, Technical Director, Ovarro, and technological advances and human resource 

challenges mean that might be about to accelerate. 

Global water resources are finite 

and stretched, and the application 

of advanced leakage management 

technologies is one way to ensure supply 

and demand balances are met. Various 

drivers mean interest in the application of 

real-time data analysis has quickly gone 

from it being ‘quite a nice idea’ to ‘we 

need to do this, we need to do it now’. 

Through a combination of very extreme 

water restrictions, a lot of focus on 

managing the water network and a bit 

of luck with the rain arriving just in time, 

Cape Town eventually managed to keep 

the network running. Moreover, there is 

a clear economic argument for reducing 

leakage where the cost of producing 

water outweighs the cost of finding leaks. 

In the UK, the drivers are mainly 

regulatory, with strenuous leakage targets 

imposed on water companies in England 

and Wales to help close the gap. There 

are also challenging targets to bring 

down the duration of customer supply 

interruptions. 

In Australia and parts of the US, leakage 

management is driven more by drought 

and availability of water. Utilities and 

municipalities are doing much more 

leakage reduction as part of a range of 

measures required to manage demand, 

including water restrictions and efficiency 

measures. 

The good news is the increased 

availability and falling cost of real-time 

leak detection technology. As digital 

solutions become more readily available, 

that makes them more affordable for a 

wider range of situations. 

Water utilities typically use flow and 

pressure data from night flows as good 

indicators of leakage events and to 

identify which particular areas might be 

experiencing leaks. As their approach 

moves into real-time data analysis, 

companies have the potential to locate 

and remedy the larger leaks before the 

customer even becomes aware of them. 

Alan Cunningham, Technical Director of Ovarro 

As well as traditional flow and pressure 

logging, utilities are carrying out more 

acoustic logging of noise data, which 

helps to locate the leaks as well as work 

out the rate of water loss. New analytical 

techniques like machine learning and 

artificial neural networks (ANNs) are being 

used to process data in smarter ways. 

WATER AVAILABILITY 

There are many cities where water 

availability is constrained and leakage 

management and improved visibility and 

management of the network is necessary 

to keep taps running. In 2018, Cape 

Town nearly hit day zero when residents 

experienced such a severe drought that 

there was justifiable concern that the taps 

would run dry. 

NETWORK VISUALISATION 

Data analytics provides water utilities 

with the tools to run a range of statistical 

models which can be used for a variety of 

purposes in water network management. 

The software provides visualisation of 

the network that was not previously 

available and is making easily digestible 

information available on dashboards and 

in apps. 

These technologies use programmed 

algorithms that evolve and improve as they 

process more and more data over time. 

That intelligence is then used to make 

increasingly accurate predictions. 

ANNs can tell quite quickly if something 

unusual is happening in the water network 

and reduce the need for analysts to 

review it. It is by bringing the full suite 


VIEWPOINT 41 

Alarm analytics provided by Ovarro 

of technologies together – measuring 

pressure, flow, acoustics and anything else 

relevant and available – that operators can 

get a broader view of potential water loss 

and risk to supply continuity. 

PERMANENT LOGGING 

The UK has seen a significant shift to 

permanent installations of acoustic logging 

technologies where information is being 

acquired proactively. In other parts of the 

world, more traditional flow and logging 

equipment is still being installed and there 

is increased sectorisation of the network to 

locate leakage down to a specific area. 

Acoustic logging technology is not new, 

ground microphones and hydrophones 

have been used for some time. Traditionally 

this has been on a lift-and-shift basis – the 

network operator identifies an area with 

leakage, acoustic logging equipment is 

installed and once the leak is found, the kit 

is moved to a new site. 

As this acoustic logging technology 

advances and costs fall, the direction 

of travel is towards more permanent 

monitoring. This has allowed UK utility 

Anglian Water to install over 3,200 of 

fixed network hydrophone acoustic 

loggers and results have been very 

positive. Leakage teams have been able 

to accurately pinpoint leaks and they 

are experiencing very few false-positive 

readings. 

PINPOINTING LEAKS 

Having loggers distributed throughout 

the network and listening in at different 

points makes it possible to measure the 

time taken for noise to reach different 

loggers. This technique, known as 

correlation, makes for greater accuracy 

in pinpointing leaks. During trials, Anglian 

Water found that correlation can work 

over longer distances than previously 

thought, so fewer loggers are required to 

cover the whole network. 

James Hargrave, regional operational 

leakage manager, Anglian Water said, 

“The results we achieve show that 

working collaboratively and thinking 

differently complements the technology 

and data platforms to deliver a holistic 

and scaleable solution.” 

Some UK companies are exploring best 

use of these techniques following trials 

over the last few years and there will 

be wider rollouts in the next five-year 

asset management period (AMP7) which 

started on 1 April 2020. Fixed network 

acoustic logging features in utilities’ 

business and water resource plans and 

chief executives are saying that this is 

what will help them achieve the stringent 

targets set by the regulator. 

Looking ahead, the uptake of remote 

monitoring is expected to increase 

and the human resource challenge 

experienced during the coronavirus 


42 VIEWPOINT 

pandemic is a good example of why 

organisations must prioritise and 

accelerate their plans. During times when 

companies are very reluctant, or the 

situation makes it impossible, to send 

people out to work on the network and risk 

the health and safety of their employees, 

so new ways of carrying out operations will 

have to be found. 

There are always tasks that must be done 

on site and others that can be carried 

out remotely and companies are trying 

to prioritise remote working where that 

is feasible. It is difficult to predict how 

that might impact on long-term trends, 

but given that remote working is already 

underway for equipment monitoring and 

meter reading, it is likely to accelerate in 

leak detection. 

REDUCING RISK 

Even before COVID-19, there was a perfect 

storm driving leakage toward digital 

solutions – water scarcity, tightening 

budgets, carbon reduction, rising customer 

expectations and importantly, the 

availability of better and more affordable 

technologies. 

The water industry has necessarily been 

conservative and risk averse and has 

not always moved as fast as others in 

embracing new technology. These solutions 

are now becoming more widespread and 

where the risk is greater, whether that is 

from water shortages or sending operatives 

out on site, the balance shifts. 

Given their position supplying clean 

wholesome water to their customer base, 

utilities should be aiming for a point where 

they can notify the customer in advance 

of any issue and provide advice. The water 

crisis may be deepening, but the increased 

availability of proven technologies that 

capture the power of data means that a 

more efficient and proactive service is 

within reach. WWA 



VIEWPOINT 43

44 VIEWPOINT 

Impact of floating solar panels 

on surface water quality for 

drinking water production 

By Emmanuelle Prest, Scientist, PWNT 

INTRODUCTION: OPPORTUNITY 

FOR THE USE OF FLOATING SOLAR 

PANELS ON WATER RESERVOIRS 

Floating solar panels offer an efficient 

opportunity for electricity production 

where available land space is limited. 

The increased efficiency of electricity 

generation is due to less extremes of 

temperature from immersion in water and 

the relative ease of rotating the panels 

to face the sun, allowing more energy 

produced than a similar system inland. 

Drinking water utility PWN (the 

Netherlands) intends to install floating 

solar panels on an open reservoir for 

surface water storage before treatment, 

with a coverage of up to 50% of the total 

surface of the reservoir. With about 50 ha 

of reservoir surface, this solution seems 

very attractive for PWN. However, floating 

solar panels have side effects which may 

impact water quality in the reservoir, such 

as reducing water mixing by wind, creating 

local growth of algae or mussels on the 

underneath surface of the panels, or 

reducing light input into the water. Light is 

an essential energy source for algal growth, 

therefore a reduced light input may have 

significant impact on algae survival and 

growth in the reservoir, in turn impacting 

the organic and inorganic matrix of the 

water. 

Figure 1: Experimental set-up made of two glass aquaria, one illuminated and one fully kept in the dark; The changes in algal concentration and composition in 

the illuminated aquarium are illustrated here 


VIEWPOINT 45 

METHODOLOGY: CONTROLLED 

LABORATORY STUDY USING 

AQUARIA 

In a controlled laboratory study, 

researchers from PWN’s daughter 

company PWNT investigated the effect 

of reduced light input on water quality 

after storage of surface water in open 

reservoirs. The study was performed at a 

full-scale drinking water facility treating 

water from the shallow Lake Ijssel, stored 

in an open reservoir with a depth of 20m 

and with vertical air mixing. Two large 

glass aquaria were fed with lake water 

with a residence time in the aquaria 

similar to the average residence time in 

the full-scale reservoir. One aquarium 

was illuminated with a day/night cycle 

by a lamp with a light spectrum and 

intensity close to day light to simulate 

normal light conditions (Figure 1). The 

other aquarium was made of black glass 

and kept in the dark for the entire study, 

to simulate conditions under the floating 

solar panels. 

Water quality was monitored for one year 

from the raw water, from the effluent 

of both the full-scale reservoir and the 

two aquaria. The algal concentration 

was monitored through total chlorophyll 

and a grouping into four different algal 

groups (green algae, diatoms and 

dinoflagellates, cyanobacteria and 

cryptophyta) was made once per hour 

with an online sensor. Water quality was 

controlled biweekly based on organic 

matter concentration and composition, 

as well as phosphate, nitrate, ammonium, 

bicarbonate and silicate concentrations. 

Figure 2 Comparison of total 

chlorophyll, biopolymers, and 

nitrate concentrations in the 

effluents of the illuminated 

aquarium and the dark aquarium 

over the duration of the experiment 


46 VIEWPOINT 

FINDINGS: POSITIVE AND 

NEGATIVE IMPACTS ON WATER 

QUALITY 

The study showed as hypothesized that 

reducing light input in the water reduces 

significantly algal growth, with significantly 

lower algal concentrations in the black 

aquarium than in the illuminated aquarium 

(Figure 2). This resulted in lower dissolved 

organic carbon (DOC) concentrations 

mainly caused by a lower biopolymer 

production by algae in the dark aquarium. 

Reducing biopolymers in water could 

be beneficial for the water treatment 

process, as biopolymers are responsible for 

treatment challenges such as membrane 

fouling. However, the lower light input 

also resulted in higher inorganic matter 

concentrations such as phosphate, nitrate, 

bicarbonate or silicate, as a result of lower 

consumption by algae. The removal of 

such nutrients by the water treatment 

is essential as inorganic nutrients may 

contribute to bacterial regrowth in the 

drinking water distribution system and lead 

to biological instability. The study showed 

therefore that reduced light input caused by 

floating solar panels may have concomitant 

positive and negative impact on raw water 

quality used for drinking water production. 

CONCLUSION: NEED FOR 

FULL-SCALE WATER QUALITY 

MONITORING UPON 

INSTALLATION 

At this stage however, it is too early to 

conclude whether the measured effects 

in the controlled aquarium test will 

be significant at full-scale under real 

conditions. The impact of reduced light 

input by floating solar panels at PWN’s 

treatment facility may be limited by the 

design of the panels, organised in small 

islands equally distributed over the 

surface, therefore avoiding a large area 

being fully covered (Figure 3). However, 

the mechanisms involved are the result of 

a complex ecological system in the water 

reservoir, where algae consume nutrients 

and are in turn part of a larger food chain, 

which are difficult to predict. Comparison 

of relative concentrations of different algal 

groups in the raw water, full-scale reservoir, 

illuminated and dark aquaria showed that 

the environmental conditions strongly 

influence the ecology of water. Algal species 

and concentrations also strongly vary 

along the year, as illustrated in Figure 1. 

Other impacts of solar panels such as wind 

mixing and localised growth also need 

to be considered. PWN will be carefully 

monitoring water quality before and after 

installation of the solar panels to detect 

any deviation in water quality. The study is 

a prelude to larger-scale implementation 

of solar panels to reduce treatment plant 

energy consumption costs without adverse 

impact on surface water quality for drinking 

water production. WWA 

Figure 3: Floating solar panel in the form of an island 


HOTSEAT 47 

Revolutionising field operations 

Novade believes digital transformation starts in the field so they put their teams in the 

field at the centre stage, and empower them to make the right decisions. In this issue, 

Novade shares what makes their modules the right fit for the water and wastewater industry. 

By Pang Yanrong 

Founded in 2014, Novade is 

headquartered in Singapore and 

operates globally. Novade offers smart 

field management software for the building 

and construction industry. Site processes 

including quality, safety, progress monitoring, 

workforce management and maintenance 

are digitised and automated using mobile 

devices. The data captured provides insights 

to streamline operations and drive results. 

Leading contractors, real estate developers, 

owners and operators around the world trust 

Novade to drive their digital transformation. 

NOVADE FOR UTILITIES 

“Novade offers an integrated platform 

connecting all modules, projects and users. 

There are six modules offered: Quality, 

Safety, Reports, Maintenance, Workforce and 

Activity, as well as the powerful functionality, 

Novade Insights, which offers analytics 

that translates field data into insights for 

decision-makers,” said Robert Zasadzki, 

country manager (ANZ) of Novade Solutions. 

Novade is the only enterprise software 

solution that has integrated the six modules 

into one platform, and has the flexibility to 

manage and digitise repetitive processes for 

a range of industries, from construction and 

manufacturing to the utilities sector. 

For instance, Novade’s Quality module is 

used in the for Unitywater (UW) Kawana 

Sewage Treatment Plant Upgrade Project in 

Queensland, Australia. 

“UW selected Novade over its existing 

systems because of Novade’s flexibility, 

mobility, reporting features and ease of 

deployment. Specifically, the commissioning 

and defect managament capabilities of 

Novade Quality,” explained Zasadzki. 

This is in addition to the other modules which 

UW is using too: Report and Maintenance. 

NOVADE’S SOLUTIONS 

Quality module 

Novade’s Quality module enables clients to 

build outstanding projects and reputation 

Novade’s Quality module 


48 HOTSEAT 

through enforcement of high-quality 

standards, reduction of rework costs and 

increased customer satisfaction. 

Through it, users can conduct quality 

inspections with digital forms to improve 

accountability and visibility in the field, 

visualise key quality indicators at a glance 

with access to customisable and easy-to-use 

dashboards, and enforce quality standards & 

drive conformance to implement consistent 

and efficient processes. 

The Quality module is used on the Kawana 

STP upgrade project and on Capital Works 

Program of Work, a list of capital projects 

(new works, upgrades and renewals) 

programmed for construction in a given year 

or years. 

Additional benefits of Novade Quality 

module: 

• Managing construction quality of new 

buildings and infrastructure 

• Managing commissioning of new assets 

and equipment 

• Defect management during construction 

and commissioning 

• Defect management at practical 

completion of new buildings, infrastructure 

• Management of ITP, ITCs 

• Collaboration with head and subcontractors 

Reports module 

The Reports module allows real-time access 

of production information for all stakeholders; 

record all relevant data from the field such 

as site activities and progress, workforce 

working hours, equipment usage to supplies 

& usage; aggregate data & automate report 

generation; and time saving for each shift on 

reporting duties. 

In addition, it 

• Provides daily site diary report – 

documenting key activities on site 

• Monitors activity, assets, workforce and 

weather 

• Provides daily operator inspection form 

• Helps STP managers inspect assets. 

equipment and performance KPIs 

Maintenance module 

The Maintenance module is the enterprise 

app to manage scheduled maintenance and 

repair work. 

The module was used 

• For an Arc Flash Project to upgrade 

and maintenance about 2500 critical 

switchboard 

• Inspection, documentation, upgrade job 

management 

GOING INTO THE FUTURE 

Novade provides digital evidence of 

inspections and adherence to ITP ITCs for 

the entire UW Kawana Sewage Treatment 

Plant Upgrade project lifecycle – not just 

inspections at Practical Completion, which 

will be too late. It also provides a central 

register of all defects and their status, 

eliminates the need of the contractor to 

self-audit, and makes data available to all 

stakeholders. 

So what are the infrastructural challenges 

that today’s water systems face in the 

region versus those of the yesteryears, from 

municipal to industrial? 

“In the past, challenges included limitations 

in infrastructure to provide clean water and 

waste management to the public, as well 

as limitations in technological access and 

Novade’s Quality module enables clients to build outstanding projects and reputation through enforcement of high-quality standards, reduction of rework 

costs and increased customer satisfaction 


HOTSEAT 49 

advancement to provide those facilities. 

Today, generally speaking, first-world countries face challenges 

such as an ageing workforce, skills loss, and budget and 

funding reductions. Emerging and developing countries 

experience population growth, increase in industrialisation and 

increased access to information leading to awareness about 

environmental deterioration and conservation. Therefore, there 

is a higher need and demand for improved public facilities 

such as clean water access and water treatment processes,” 

explained Zasadzki. 

The above challenges created a need to do more with the same 

or look for new solutions. Innovations are accelerating around 

digitisation and AI (artificial intelligence), where safety, quality 

and productivity around industrial processes can be greatly 

improved. Hence, that’s where a mobile platform like Novade 

can help companies. 

“Companies in the utilities sector see AI and digital solutions 

as a means to understand and leverage the big data behind 

water systems. Globally, we see governments moving towards 

various levels in the green industrial revolution. People want to 

know if and how a product or service is sustainably produced 

or delivered. This includes public utility services. There will also 

be an increase in value of byproducts – sludge, methane and 

grey water are opening new revenue streams. On an industry 

level, water utilities will become project owners/developers, 

or become the EPCs managing the head contractors,” said 

Zasadzki. 

is unchanged and not impacted by the current situation. While face-toface 

engagements have dramatically decreased, the support activities 

remain unchanged and clients can engage with Novade’s service and 

sales teams with online video calls. 

For the global offices and employees, all employees are following local 

government regulations and closing offices where required. Most of the 

employees are now working from home. 

“We have proper tools and technologies in place to ensure productive 

work and access,” said Zasadzki. 

He added, “For employees working in one of our offices, we are 

adopting social-distancing practices, limiting meeting sizes and 

reducing the number of visitors.” 

For clients, Novade launched in March new functionalities that enable 

rigorous implementation of health monitoring procedures on sites. 

Novade continues to improve on their offerings to help companies 

operate with the new health & safety measures using the Novade 

Platform. These include the ability to: 

He added, “As the utilities sector sees the need to increase 

quality, efficiency and affordability, we believe that players in 

the industry will start to turn to companies that provide AI and 

digital solutions on mobile technology for ease of use, increased 

collaboration, and instant access to data. 

The industry will continue to grow and improve its processes. 

Mature markets will be the leaders in best practices and 

innovation, where emerging markets can emulate. For emerging 

markets, there is high growth potential in their economies and 

public infrastructure, and we trust that the utilities sector will 

follow suit.” 

COVID-19 PANDEMIC 

As the COVID-19 pandemic travels round the globe, Novade has 

taken a set of measures to minimise the spread of COVID-19 

and to ensure business continuity. 

“We are focused on safeguarding the health of our employees, 

our partners and our valued customers,” Zasadzki emphasized. 

On the business continuity aspect, the delivery of their software 


50 HOTSEAT 

Novade’s Report module 

● Manage employees’ health & safety 

records 

● Automate daily body temperature 

capture 

● Trace employees’ contact history 

● Empower employees to share best 

practices 

● Enforce new measures with digital forms 

● Conduct health inspections digitally 

● Monitor adoption of the new practice 

“Our mission is to elevate onsite 

performance through technology,” Zasadzki 

elaborated. “We are increasing investments 

in technology and AI capabilities. Since 

inception, we have been focused on 

the automation and digitisation of site 

processes. Leveraging on the millions of 

records collected across sites, clients will 

be able to optimise operations or identify 

potential issues ahead of time with 

machine learning algorithms.” 

Novade also plans to accelerate global 

expansion and market penetration in 

Europe, China and Japan, as well as step 

up engagement with the leading global 

firms in the industry. 

“We work closely with our clients and 

partners, and are constantly innovating to 

offer the best services possible. Our teams 

also offer dedicated support service where 

we are able to suggest the best way to use 

our platform and mobile app that best serves 

our clients’ needs,” said Zasadzki. WWA 


SWASSIST : MARKETPLACE ASSIST 

PLATFORM MAP 

hps://www.swa.org.sg/swa-map-marketplace-assist-plaorm/ 

NEWSLETTER 

OF THE 

SINGAPORE 

WATER 

ASSOCIATION 

BRINGING 

A NEW VIBRANCY 

TO SINGAPORE’S 

GROWING 

WATER INDUSTRY 

With the current economic uncertaines arising from COVID-19, 

Singapore Water Associaon has launched the SWA Marketplace 

Assist Plaorm (SWA-MAP) for our SWA members to step up or 

seek help from fellow members or value chain supply partners. 

The aim is to facilitate business connuity within the SWA 

community and to de over the challenges arising during these 

difficult mes. 

Visit https://www.swa.org.sg/swa-map-marketplace-assistplaorm/ 

for more informaon and bi-weekly updates. 

SWA WEBINAR: 

Tapping on Trainings Grants & Support for Business Transformaon and 

Digitalisaon 

16 th June 2020, Complimentary, Cisco Webex 

COVID-19 and What’s Beyond? Economy is stronger aer every 

downturn. Is your organisaon prepared for V-shaped recovery? 

• How do we maximise the training budget and reduce 

operaon costs during downme? 

• How do we tap on exisng grants and support to help 

businesses to transform and digitalise? 

Parcipants get to learn from the training experts and 

professionals from InfoScience to know the available training 

schemes, courses and cost savings!

UPCOMING SWA ACTIVITIES 

SWA MASTERCLASS COURSES 

July and August 2020 

Date Day Plaorm Course Name 

13/07 - 15/07/20 2 Cisco Webex Internet of Things and Data Analycs for Industry 

03/08 – 05/08/20 3 Classroom Design of Used Water Treatment Plant & Processes 

19/08 – 21/08/20 3 Classroom Design & Operate Membrane Bioreactor (MBR) Plants 

26/08 – 27/08/20 2 Classroom Project Contracts and Management for Water Industry (NEW) 

* Due to the current COVID-19 measures, training courses may be re-scheduled, conducted online and/or 

physical classroom style. 

For more informaon on the above courses, please contact SWA office: Ms. Cecilia Tan via 

email: cecilia@swa.org.sg or Tel: (65) 6515 0812 

SWA WEBINAR SERIES 

July and August 2020 

Date Time Agenda 

7 th July 2020 9am to 10am Dialogue with World Bank and IFC on post COVID recovery measures 

16 th July 2020 4pm to 5:15pm Post COVID Recovery - Embracing Sustainable Water Soluons in Asia 

(in conjuncon with AsiaWater 2020) 

28 th July 2020 3pm to 4pm Unlocking the Potenal of Water & Wastewater with The Embassy of 

Royal Danish 

5 th August 2020 3pm to 4pm Being Business Crical during COVID-19 with LVI Associates 

20 th August 2020 4pm to 5pm Environmental Monitoring – Biofilm Sensors 

(Singapore Naonal Biofilm Consorum) 

27 th August 2020 9am to 10am CEO Breakfast Webinar with EWTCOI 

More informaon on the webinars will be populated nearer to the event date. Please visit www.swa.org.sg 

for updates.

SINGAPORE PAVILIONS AT OVERSEAS TRADE SHOWS FOR Q4 2020 

11 to 13 November 2020, Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam 

Expand your brand visibility to Southern Vietnam 

Engage with key-decision makers, leaders, and industry professionals coming from mulple industries 

Acquire internaonal expert’s knowledge at Vietwater’s Internaonal Conference and Technical Seminars 

Showcase your products, soluons and technologies to 14,000+ local and global trade visitors. 

Obtain your record posioning at the global market place with Vietwater’s awards. 

Network with 500+ industry fellows showcasing their products at Vietwater Ho Chi Minh 2020 

Contact jasvinder@swa.org.sg for show details and floor plan 

30 November to 2 December 2020, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 

With the strong economic growth within the region, Southeast Asia is going through a transformaon phase to 

enhance its water and wastewater industry. With a sturdy growth in this industry, ASIAWATER has posioned 

itself as the leading biennial water and wastewater exhibion and conference in the region. Be a part of this 

growing industry today and join the leading water and wastewater event for developing Asia. The SG Pavilion 

is approved with IMAP support from Enterprise Singapore up to 50% on parcipang fees and we are le only 

with 3 booths! 

Email jasvinder@swa.org.sg NOW to avoid disappointment. 

SWA WELCOMES NEW MEMBERS 

(joined in April and May 2020) 

ORDINARY MEMBERS 

• Pinnacle Infosys Pte Ltd 

• Suntar Technology Investment Pte Ltd 

PUBLISH YOUR 

ANNOUNCEMENTS OR 

ADVERTISEMENT 

Members, who have any press releases or corporate 

announcements to share with the public, kindly contact 

the SWA secretariat at enquiry@swa.org.sg. 

SWA reserves the right to edit the submied text. 

ASSOCIATE MEMBERS 

• CLA-VAL Asia Pacific Limited • Ecological Asia Pte Ltd 

• Terrasmith Pte Ltd 

INTERESTED TO JOIN SWA? 

We welcome all organisaons who are acvely involved 

and interested in the water and wastewater industry to join 

Singapore Water Associaon as either Ordinary, Associate, 

Instuonal or Individual member. 

Sign up at hps://www.swa.org.sg/membership/sign-up-online 

The one-me entry fees for all categories will be waived from 

01 April to 31 August 2020.


ON OUR RADAR 55

56 ON OUR RADAR 


ON OUR RADAR 57 

$ 

Find the right measuring 

instrument even faster 

Out of the Black Forest and into 

the world with just one mouse 

click: This is how VEGA has been 

presenting its extended online offering 

since the beginning of the year. The aim is 

to expand and diversify existing customer 

services. Besides consulting with sales 

personnel who offer comprehensive advice 

on sensors worldwide, customers can now 

select, configure and order for themselves 

anything directly from the VEGA product 

range. 

Features include: 

• Configurator for the entire VEGA product 

range 

• Information on prices and delivery times 

• Order directly online 

• Save configurations 

• 2D/3D drawings of configured device 

• Overview of all order transactions 

CUSTOMER ADVISORY SERVICE 

AVAILABLE AT ALL TIMES 

With the new web shop, VEGA is responding 

to the many customers who would like to 

buy their next measuring instrument quickly 

and easily online. “This new opportunity 

presented itself during the launch in 2020 

of our new VEGABAR, VEGAPOINT and 

VEGAPULS device series,” said Matthias 

Veith, the VEGA marketing manager. “It’s 

only logical that we would take steps to 

simplify access to online ordering and offer 

A look at the VEGATRUCK Interconnected solutions 

expert technical advice around the clock.” their work easier the web shop offers, 

The new shop provides lots of space for example, the “Buy again” function. 

for additional information, i.e. detailed This allows customers to place repeat 

product data - like dimensions, materials, orders that are automatically correct 

functions and device versions. 

and complete. In addition to the clear 

navigation structure, there are extended 

LESS WORK FOR PURCHASING filter options that make it easier to find the 

The procurement of process components right accessories for the device selected. 

often involves a lot of work for employees WWA 

in purchasing departments. To make 



Veolia launches TERION 

To meet market expectations and 

customer needs, Veolia Water 

Technologies has developed a new 

Plug & Play, integrated RO-CEDI unit for 

demineralised water production. 

TERION is a new RO-CEDI unit that 

produces demineralised water for power 

applications, in particular for boiler 

feed and turbine injection. The unit 

combines single-pass reverse osmosis and 

continuous electrodeionization processes. 

Key features include: 

• Five models covering flows from 5m³/h 

to 55m³/h to address the most 

demanded flows in this industry 

• Plug & play unit: flexible enough to 

treat a large number of different feed 

water sources 

• Easy control and access of equipment 

for maintenance 

• Designed to produce demineralised 

water (up to 18 MOhm.cm) meeting 

low levels of silica, sodium, TOC, and 

potassium 

• Fast installation and commissioning 

• Continuous production process, no 

chemical regeneration 

• Pre-filter protecting RO membranes 

The RO-CEDI Process Technology also 

provides several benefits compared to Ion 

Exchange technology such as modularity 

(easier and faster installation), small 

footprint (no large chemical storage tanks 

required), and a continuous process (no 

regeneration with chemicals required). 

The RO-CEDI technology allows high 

equipment reliability and flexibility through 

different options: 

• CO2 removal membrane degasser 

• Automatic valve for RO flushing with 

permeate 

• Feedwater pH probe 

• AQUAVISTA, cloud-based digital 

solutions for plant performance 

optimisation 

Different services are also available for 

additional support, such as: 

• Witnessed FAT 

• Commissioning support 

“Veolia Water Technologies provides the 

complete range of services required to 

design, deliver, maintain and upgrade 

water and wastewater treatment 

facilities and systems for industrial clients 

and public authorities. The company’s 

extensive portfolio of technologies 

features everything from online diagnostic 

solutions to evaporation and 

crystallisation, energyproducing 

sludge treatment, state-of-the-art 

desalination, laboratory-grade water and 

mobile water services. 

By optimising both processes and 

monitoring, Veolia Water Technologies 

helps clients reduce their water footprint 

while generating considerable savings in 

energy and chemical consumption.” WWA 



ON OUR RADAR 59


Water system engineering in more than one 

dimension with the LANXESS LewaPlus module 

The LewaPlus ® design software 

is unique in the water treatment 

industry, since it offers not only the 

possibility to treat one stream after the 

other (one dimensional) but to design 

complex treatment systems (two dimensional) 

with different technologies. It allows 

for planning of ion exchange resin (IX) 

and reverse osmosis (RO) systems under a 

variety of system configurations, including 

some unique process configurations only 

available with Lewatit ® and Lewabrane ® 

product technology. There is also the option 

to include ultrafiltration in the planning. 

With the new LewaPlus ® version 2.1, which 

was released in March, it is possible to design 

water treatment systems – just by drag and 

drop and moving the selected technologies 

to the requested position. In the case of RO 

treatment, it offers the possibility to treat 

the feed, the permeate, and the concentrate. 

Therefore a complex water system can be 

projected. With a single water analysis 

entry the whole system can be calculated 

since projected water analysis is seamlessly 

transferred to the next treatment step. 

The software offers a high degree of design 

flexibility and features no other water 

system design software offers. This is for 

example the closed-circuit reverse osmosis 

system, which can be used to achieve 

a high recovery rate in a closed loop 

process. For the IX module, the condensate 

polishing has the most advanced tool, 

to include different ways to alkalise the 

process water. 

In addition to making a projection, the 

software includes details of the information 

required to create a projection, such as a 

product guide and a cross-reference tool, 

in order to find the right products for your 

application. Furthermore, the complete 

technical set of data sheets and, wherever 

required, the material safety data sheets 

for all Lewatit ® and Lewabrane ® products 

– as well as the technical service bulletins 

– are directly accessible in the software. 

Since LewaPlus ® has the possibility to save 

other documents in the library, too, it can 

become the main tool for designing and 

documentation. WWA 

Available processes include: 

• Reverse osmosis 

- Brackish water and seawater application 

- Closed-circuit reverse osmosis (CCRO) 

• Ion exchange 

- Demineralisation 

- Softening and dealkalisation 

- IX system check 

- Condensate polishing 

• Ultrafiltration 

- RO pretreatment 

- Brackish water treatment 


SNEAK PEEK 61 

CAMWATER 2020 Returns: 

A Comprehensive, All-In-One Business Expo 

Showcasing more than 350 companies 

and brands from various countries, 

CAMBUILD 2020 is back again even 

bigger with more selection, more new 

innovations & design ideas, and more new 

product launches – all in one place. 

Located in the Diamond Island Exhibition & 

Convention Centre (DIECC), Phnom Penh 

from 2-4 September 2020, CAMWATER 

2020 is where visitors can expect to 

network, interact, and learn about the 

country’s water industries and its key 

players. 

As Cambodia develops its economy, 

basic necessities become crucial for the 

Kingdom’s businesses. Industries such 

as agriculture and tourism rely heavily on 

the Mekong River, Tonle Sap, and other 

perennial streams or lakes for water supply, 

subjected to annual floods and droughts. 

The Cambodian government is currently 

striving to provide nationalised access 

to sanitised water to its 16.5 million 

people. 

During the three-day expo, visitors will 

have the chance to meet key delegates 

and corporations - from manufacturers 

to engineers - and view thousands 

of showcased products and services 

presented by hundreds of companies from 

nations such as China, India, Italy, Korea, 

Malaysia and Singapore. 

Exhibitors and visitors to CAMWATER 

include: 

• Developers & Real Estate companies 

• Sewage and Water Management 

companies 

• Contractors 

• Manufacturers 

• Water & Sanitation Consultant/Engineers 

• Water & Sanitation Companies/Utilities 

• Distributors/Dealers/Retailers 

Organised by AMB Tarsus Events Group, 

CAMWATER 2020 is co-located with other 

industrial expos such as CAMENERGY 

2020, CAMBUILD 2020, CIVAR 2020, 

CAMCONCRETE 2020, and CAMSECURITY 

& FIRE 2020. WWA 

SHOW INFORMATION 

Date: 2-4 September 2020 

Venue: Diamond Island Exhibition & 

Convention Centre, Koh Pich, Phnom Penh 

Opening Hours: 10:00am – 5:00pm 

Admission: Open to business and trade 

professionals. Admission is free for 

pre-registered visitors or visitors with an 

invitation ticket. Persons under the age of 

18 years will not be admitted. 

Dress Code: Visitors are requested to be 

decently attired. Admission will not be 

permitted to visitors with im-proper attire. 


62 SNEAK PEEK 

MYANWATER 2020 

Promises A Business 

Expo Like No 

Other 

Myanmar’s economy has seen 

progress since its political and 

economic reforms in 2011, 

with a steady surge of investments in 

tourism that help generate the nation’s 

infrastructures and needs. One of such 

aspects is water – a basic commodity that 

the nation has been trying to manage for 

its nearly 55 million citizens. 

Showcasing over 160 companies 

and brands from several countries, 

MYANWATER 2020 is back again even 

bigger with more selection, more new 

innovations & design ideas, and more 

new product launches – all in one place! 

Located in the Myanmar Expo Hall, Yangon 

from 19-21 November 2020, MYANWATER 

2020 is where visitors can expect to 

network, interact, and learn about the 

country’s water industries and its key 

players. 

Myanmar is a country blessed with an 

abundance of natural water sources, 

drawing over 19,000m 2 annually from 

river basins, rain, and groundwater. With 

a rising middle-class and infrastructural 

projects such as dams and reservoirs, 

Myanmar faces increasing pressure 

managing these resources in supporting 

its economy. It is clear that the physical 

potential for further development of water 

resources in Myanmar remains substantial. 

As a business-to-business convention, 

MYANWATER will see thousands of industry 

experts convening in discourse regarding 

Myanmar’s future economy and its relation 

to the water sector. The nation welcomes 

hundreds of companies, corporations, and 

conglomerates in showcasing the latest 

innovations from the global water industry. 

From sanitation equipment distributors 

to wastewater engineers, thousands 

of delegates, government figures, and 

business owners will be present in 

MYANWATER 2020. 

Organised by AMB Tarsus Events Group, 

MYANWATER 2020 is co-located with other 

industrial expos such as MISEF 2020, 

MIVAR 2020, GREENPOWER 2020, 

MYANBUILD 2020, MYANENERGY 2020, 

and MYANMAR HARDWARE EXPO 2020. 

WWA 


J U L Y 2 0 2 0 

SWAN 10 th Annual Conference 

22 to 24 July 

Virtual Event 

17 th Everything About Water 

Exhibition and Conference 

29 to 31 July 

New Delhi, India 

AUGUST 2020 

IE expo 

13 to 15 August 

Shanghai, China 

Pumps & Valves Indonesia 


Jakarta, Indonesia 

Aquatech China 2020 


Shanghai, China 

SEPTEMBER 2020 

CAMWATER’20 

2 to 4 September 

Phnom Penh, Cambodia 

Pumps & Valves Asia 2020 


Bangkok, Thailand 

Taiwan International Water Week 


Taipei, Taiwan 

OCTOBER 2020 

WEFTEC 2020 

3 to 7 October 

Virtual Event 

Bentley Year in Infrastructure 2020 


Virtual Event 

LAOWATER’20 


Vientiane, Laos 

NOVEMBER 2020 

VietWater (Ho Chi Minh) 2020 

11 to 13 November 

Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam 

Green World Asia 


Singapore 

MyanWater 2020 


Yangon, Myanmar 

Indo Water Expo & Forum 2020 



Asia Water 2020 

30 November to 2 December 

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 

DECEMBER 2020 

InterAqua Tokyo 2021 

9 to 11 December 

Tokyo, Japan 

JANUARY 2021 

WFES Water 2021 

18 to 20 January 

Abu Dhabi, UAE 

LANKAWATER’20 

21 to 23 January 

Colombo, Sri Lanka 

FEBRUARY 2021 

World Water-Tech Innovation Summit 

2021 

23 to 24 February 

London, United Kingdom 

MARCH 2021 

Enlit Asia (formerly known as 

Asian Utility Week 2020) 

23 to 25 March 


M A Y 2 0 2 1 

IWA World Water Congress & 

Exhibition 2020 

9 to 14 May 

Copenhagen, Denmark 


Water & Wastewater Asia Advertisers’ Index 

Advertisers Page Advertisers Page 

ANDRITZ AG - SEPARATION 

FC 

MYANWATER 2020 55 

CAMWATER 2020 56 

CLA-VAL COMPANY 35 

DANFOSS INDUSTRIES SDN BHD 11 

DIEHL METERING PTE LIMITED 15 

OVARRO CONNECTING TECHNOLOGIES 01 

PERCEPTIVE ENGINEERING LIMITED 13 

SINGAPORE INTERNATIONAL WATER WEEK 59 

SINGAPORE WATER EXCHANGE (PUB) 43 

ESTRUMAT, SLU 49 

TSURUMI MANUFACTURING CO., LTD 

IFC 

GRUNDFOS 

OBC 

VAUGHAN CO., INC. 03 

GUANGDONG LESSO TECHNOLOGY INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD 05 

VEGA INSTRUMENTS (SEA) PTE LTD 

IBC 

HARBIN FIRSTLINE ENVIRONMENT TECHNNOLOGY CO., LTD 63 

INDOWATER 2020 23 

XYLEM JAPAN (ANALYTICS) 09 

WATER & WASTEWATER ASIA 64 

LACROIX SOFREL 07 



FOCUS 65

Water & Wastewater Asia July/August 2020

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