Siemens Water Technologies Focuses On Sustainable Solutions At WEFTEC

"Economical and responsible use of water and the protection of source water have become increasingly important. Our customers are demanding solutions to help them ensure sustainability in their communities," stated Roger Radke, CEO of Siemens Water Technologies, at a luncheon meeting with water trade editors during the 80th annual Water Environment Federation WEFTEC conference in San Diego on October 15.

Siemens Water Technologies has seen a steady increase in demand for sustainable solution technologies, such as water reuse, enhanced nutrient removal, biosolids reduction, and UV technologies. In particular, water reuse technologies continue to gain momentum in the marketplace, especially Memcor membrane products.

"The membrane systems at the groundwater replenishment facility in Orange County, California, and wastewater reuse facility in Scottsdale, Arizona, reflect the type of projects, we're seeing more of—forward-thinking solutions and technology applications to meet population growth and water resource demands," added Radke. Siemens estimates that approximately 30% of its new membrane business and 50% of its new membrane bioreactor (MBR) business is related to wastewater reuse applications.

"We're also seeing more innovation application and integration of technologies to reduce energy and other operational costs, while still meeting water treatment goals," added Radke. "For instance, Siemens has a new biological optimization program called BioFlowsheets+ solutions, which harnesses the company's internal biological treatment expertise to better meet the environmental demands of its customers." The program optimizes the integration of the main unit operations of a wastewater treatment plant by evaluating effluent requirements, land availability and specific cost factors such as energy use, labor, and disposal costs. Through Siemens' extensive process knowledge and product expertise, its biological treatment experts can review an entire system and ensure process optimization--with a single point of process responsibility.

Recently, the city of Peru, Indiana selected the company to expand and modernize its plant. After reviewing the city's expectations and requirements, the Siemens biological treatment experts recommended a Vertical Loop Reactor (VLR), an optimized clarifier design along with the Cannibal system for low sludge production. This resulted in lower construction costs, a 90% reduction in sludge production; significant power reduction; improved environmental performance and better management of storm flows.

In the last 12 months, Siemens Water Technologies has expanded its global research and development operation, acquired significant technology and service organizations and received key project awards to help continue its expansion into international markets.

"The opening of Water Technologies' global R&D center in Singapore this year is an important milestone towards realizing our goal of making Siemens in Singapore a global water hub," said Radke. "We've harnessed our internal R&D resources, and expanded and fine tuned our programs and projects, so we are even better at developing leading-edge technology worldwide." As announced in December 2006, Siemens is making a 25 million euro investment in the region to expand its presence, and has established an R&D relationship with Singapore's PUB agency.

The company has also announced several key niche acquisitions and business agreements in the last 12 months. In January, Siemens announced three services acquisitions, which expanded the company's U.S. coverage and capability. In addition, the company acquired ultraviolet disinfection technology with the Sunlight UV purchase. "We will continue to review our technology and service portfolio and evaluate acquisitions and strategic partnerships—where it makes sense," said Radke. "The recent announcement of our marketing agreement with inge AG illustrates how we can leverage tuck-in partnerships to provide our customers with leading edge technologies and obtain access to new markets."

Several key international projects illustrate the company's expanded global presence and traction using Siemens' international sales network, since being acquired in 2004. In Beijing, Siemens membrane bioreactor system at the Bei Xiaohe Wastewater Treatment Plant (Bei Xiaohe WWTP) is starting up. The 60,000 m3 per day plant will serve the Olympic Park in terms of recreational water and reuse water in 2008 to fully meet the requirements of increasing demands of water utilization. Recent multi-million project awards in Turkey and Kuwait will utilize the company's BioFlowsheet+ Solutions capability to help reduce operations and energy costs and improve sludge removal efficiency. In Australia, Siemens Water Technologies will supply a MBR system as part of a new water factory project in the Gippsland region of Victoria, Australia. The MBR will treat 40 million liters per day (MLD) of domestic wastewater and 23 MLD of industrial wastewater, and will provide approximately 8 MLD of Class A recycled water for use by local industry.

Some examples from the industrial international front include a produced water treatment system as part of an expansion at Saudi Aramco's Safaniya plant in the Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia, using dissolved gas flotation (DGF), so the water can be used for subsurface re-injection. As well, Water Technologies provided, leading shipbuilder, Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) 14 Electrocatalytic Chloropac sodium hypochlorite generating systems. The systems operate on separate liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers and help prevent marine growth in the seawater cooling systems.

SOURCE: Siemens Industry, Inc. - Water Technologies