Xylem Supplies Wastewater Treatment Denitrification Systems in China

SCHAFFHAUSEN, Switzerland (Oct. 23, 2014)—Xylem Inc. has supplied wastewater treatment denitrification systems to three wastewater treatment plants in eastern China as part of a national strategy to improve wastewater treatment by 90 percent over five years. Xylem’s Leopold elimi-NITE denitrification system will support the improvement of wastewater quality for approximately 10 million inhabitants in three provinces in the region, enabling plant operators to exceed national water effluent regulations.¹ The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that nearly 100,000 people die annually from water pollution-related illnesses in China, and 75 percent of disease is linked to poor water quality.² The installation of these Xylem solutions is part of a program involving the construction of 1,200 new municipal wastewater treatment plants and approximately 160,000 kilometers of new piping. Xylem’s Leopold elimi-NITE system, incorporating Xylem’s Leopold Type S Underdrain and FilterWorx Control System, is already operational at the Jingkaiqu Third Wastewater Treatment Plant in Hefei, the capital of the Anhui Province. Treating 100,000 tons of wastewater per day, this is one of the most important plants in the region. The Yangzhou Liuwei Wastewater Treatment Plant in Jiangsu Province, where Xylem has also provided denitrification technology, is situated at the center of the densely populated Yangzhou metropolitan area and plays a vital role in treating effluent from the surrounding cities. The third installation at the Jingjiang Huahui City Wastewater Treatment Plant in the Jiangsu Province is also situated in a heavily populated region. Discharge from wastewater treatment plants frequently contains high levels of nutrients, which feed algae blooms. The Leopold elimi-NITE system uses a patented process-control program that harnesses the advantages of deep-bed, mono-media filters to remove nutrients in the wastewater by converting nitrate-nitrogen to harmless nitrogen gas, leading to reduced impact on aquatic life. It also removes phosphorus and total suspended solids (TSS) from wastewater. In addition, the system is engineered for use in plants where space is limited, as is the case with these plants. “China is currently embarking on a program of improving wastewater quality, and Xylem is in a strong position to support this effort,” said Steve Scheidler, business director of Xylem Leopold. “Our advanced wastewater solution, the first application of the Leopold denitrification filter process in eastern China, will enhance people’s living standards as well as provide a sustainable wastewater system that will benefit the local environment.” In addition to its environmental benefits, the Leopold elimi-NITE denitrification system is a cost-effective solution. The system uses a patented process during denitrification that reduces operational costs by increasing the filter run time. A patented methanol feed system further reduces operational costs by optimizing methanol dosing while maintaining effluent requirements. ¹ Chinese Environmental Quality Standard for Surface Water (GB3838-2002). ² Pacific Environment organization http://pacificenvironment.org/section.php?id=379 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.