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CASE STUDIES OF DOMESTIC AND INDUSTRIAL WATER REUSE
FOR NON-POTABLE APPLICATIONS

Bruce Jank, Ph.D., P.Eng.
Canadian Global Environmental Technologies
677 Montego Crescent
Burlington, ON, Canada L7N 2Y9

ABSTRACT

The lack of an adequate water supply and the cost of water are the two most significant driving forces in the implementation of a water reuse program. Four case studies addressing various options for implementation of successful water reuse programs are presented in this paper. The SUTRANE Integrated Wastewater Treatment System for reuse of water, nutrients and energy represents a low cost option for treatment and reuse of wastewater from domestic and industrial sources. The Monterrey, Mexico water reuse program represents an example of a very large water management program where virtually all of the wastewater from the city is treated and reused either directly for non-potable industrial reuse or indirectly for potable water reuse throughout the city. The Oneida Industrial Park project represents a full scale demonstration of a total water reuse program for an industrial park which does not have access to water distribution and wastewater collection systems. The fourth case study is the presentation of a conceptual model which addresses water reuse issues within industrial park complexes.

KEYWORDS

Industrial water reuse; industrial wastewater reuse; water management planning; water reuse; water reclamation; SUTRANE treatment system; wastewater treatment.

INTRODUCTION

In locations where the quantity of water is limited or an adequate water supply is not available, treated wastewater becomes a viable option for non-potable reuse applications. The wastewater source may be of domestic or industrial origin with rainwater representing a significant source to supplement the volume required. An important consideration is the consistency of the quantity and quality of the wastewater source stream. The quality of the product being reused must also be well defined as inadequate treatment may limit the acceptability for the end user while over treatment could substantially increase the cost per unit of production.

The technology for the treatment of the wastewater to appropriate reuse standards is well defined. Optimization of system design and operation for the more conventional technologies has resulted in improved process performance and a reduction in the total cost of production of a unit volume of water. A wide range of technologies is being applied with further refinements and modifications being made to continually improve the quality and reduce the costs. As a result, the factor limiting the use of wastewater in water reuse applications is not the acceptability of the treatment technology, but is primarily related to the acceptability of the product water and more importantly the cost of producing the water for reuse.

In this presentation, four case studies involving the use of wastewater for non-potable water reuse will be described. They are as follows:

• The SUTRANE Integrated Wastewater Treatment System, a low cost option for treatment of wastewater from domestic and industrial sources.
• A description of the extensive water reuse program for Monterrey, Mexico, a city with a heavy industrial base and totally inadequate raw water supply.
• Oneida Industrial Park, an industrial park being established with total water reuse within the industrial complex, because water distribution and wastewater collection systems are not available.
• The presentation of a conceptual model for water reuse within industrial park complexes with emphasis on recovery of product losses, treating of residual wastewater flows, and on-site reuse of the treated effluent.

CASE STUDY NUMBER 1: THE SUTRANE SYSTEM

Process Description

The SUTRANE system incorporates a low cost version of a constructed wetland which functions best in warm climates and is ideally suited for developing countries. The technology was developed using a total system approach which provides reuse of water, nutrients and energy for industrial and municipal applications. The SUTRANE Integrated Wastewater Treatment System was developed by Professor Jesús Arias Chavez of the University of Chapingo in Texcoco, the State of Mexico. The technology has been further developed and marketed by the Xochicalli Eco-Development Foundation, A.C., Mexico D.F.

The English translation for SUTRANE is the Unit Treatment System for the Reuse of Water, Nutrients and Energy at the domestic level. As illustrated in Figure 1, the system provides primary and secondary treatment. The primary system includes an anaerobic digester for the treatment of black water and a two-stage reactor for the treatment of grey water, a pre-oxygenator (a box filled with stone and gravel) followed by a grease trap. Both primary effluents flow into a channel with aquatic plants. These effluents sub-irrigate a secondary filtration field constructed of stone, gravel and sand, with the entire bed placed on an impermeable film. Selected plants are grown on the filtration bed. A multi-purpose greenhouse can be used to provide optimal growth for the plants in both stages of secondary treatment.

For larger systems, the SUTRANE system concepts have been incorporated into a design referred to as the Dual Microplant system. The components of this system are presented in Figure 2. Blackwater combined with the biodegradable organic fraction of solid wastes is treated in a three-stage anaerobic reactor followed by solid/liquid separation and effluent polishing. The selection of the effluent polishing tertiary treatment technology is based on the water quality reuse requirements.

The anaerobic digesters decompose complex organic material, thereby generating methane gas and liberating essential nutrients for plant growth in the secondary treatment system. The methane gas is used as a fuel source for cooking or heating.

Pre-treatment, including the pre-oxygenator, provides film flow on the surface of the rock media, absorbing oxygen necessary to counteract the harmful effect of the detergents. This effluent flows to the grease trap where the oil and grease floats to the surface; the grease is reused for soap production or placed in the anaerobic digesters to enhance digester loading and performance.

The plants in the secondary process consume the available nutrients and, with the assistance of the soil micro-organisms in the filtration bed, provide a relatively high degree of treatment.

Table of Contents

• Brochure
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• International Year of Forests
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• World Environment Day
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• UNEP Campaign
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