Mon, 09/22/2014 - 00:00

SCHAFFHAUSEN, Switzerland (Sept. 22, 2014) – Xylem Inc. provided ultrafiltration solutions as part of the upgrade of the Santa Eufemia municipal water treatment plant, north of Oporto in Portugal. As a result of the upgrade, the plant has a new capacity of 24 million liters per day, providing clean drinking water to 80,000 people in the Guimarães and Vizela regions. Xylem has worked with Moinhos Ambiente, the company in charge of engineering, procurement and construction for the project to provide GE’s ZeeWeed* 1500 membrane modules and Lowara pumps, as well as process and design engineering support, in a contract worth €430,000 to Xylem. The Santa Eufemia plant treats water from the nearby Rio Ave river and is operated by Vimágua, the municipal authority for water management in the region. Plant upgrade work was required as a result of deteriorating water quality from the river. The Santa Eufemia drinking water plant is now one of the largest installation of GE’s ZeeWeed 1500 modules in Europe and the Middle East. Xylem has been a distribution partner for GE’s advanced membrane filtration products since November 2011. GE’s ZeeWeed 1500 membranes were chosen for the Santa Eufemia plant because of their reliable filtration. The ultrafiltration system provided by Xylem is designed with four parallel membrane trains each incorporating 88 membrane modules. This ensures full system capacity and, because it is fully automated, minimizes operator intervention. “The Santa Eufemia ultrafiltration system is one of the largest installations of GE’s ZeeWeed 1500 membranes in Europe,” said Duarte Ferreira from Xylem Portugal. “The Xylem solutions we provided as part of this program will ensure the smooth running of the upgraded plant, with minimal environmental impact and low maintenance. With population and industrial growth, municipalities all around Europe are seeking to upgrade their water treatment systems and require efficient, cost-effective solutions. Xylem is committed to working with these customers to solve their water challenges, offering unrivalled products and delivering on-the-ground expertise.” Alberto Moinhos, general manager of Moinhos Ambiente, which awarded the contract to Xylem, said, “Xylem’s proven expertise in water treatment, as well as local knowledge and commitment to delivering cost-effective, environmentally sustainable solutions, made them a natural fit to work on the Santa Eufemia plant upgrade. We are delighted to now be able to provide the highest quality water to the people of the Guimarães and Vizela regions.” The Santa Eufemia plant was originally constructed in the 1980s and has performed with limited capacity since then. Vimágua decided to revamp the facility to install the ultrafiltration membrane plant following an in-depth study of alternative solutions. Xylem is a Gold Sponsor of IWA World Water Congress & Exhibition 2014 (Sept. 21-26), and delegates will have an opportunity to visit the state-of-the-art Santa Eufemia installation Sept. 26. Xylem is a global water technology provider, enabling customers to transport, treat, test and efficiently use water in public utility, residential and commercial building services, industrial and agricultural settings. *Trademark of General Electric Company; may be registered in one or more countries.