Wastewater Management

Water Stress Management & Scarcity

The recent World Health Organization Guidelines on safe use of wastewater, excreta and black & grey water opens doors for other reuse opportunities than urban irrigation. This gives an opportunity to re-invent the role of sanitary engineers in the future of sustainable urban development to join with urban planners, developers and policy makers to integrate sanitation infrastructure in the urban planning and development agenda.

According to the relevant WHO guidelines (Mara & Cairncross, 1989), the treated wastewater should contain no more than one helminth egg per liter and no more than 1000 faecal coliforms per 100 ml if it is to be used for unrestricted irrigation. It is essential that the treated sludge contain no more than one helminth egg per kilogram. Human excreta are the principal vehicle for the transmission and spread of a wide range of communicable diseases, and excreta from hospital patients may be expected to contain far higher concentrations of pathogens, and therefore to be far more infectious, than from households.

Unprecedented development in the U.A.E. and the growing demand for water are crucial issues facing the region. While the Middle East represents 5% of the global population, the region has only about 1% of the world’s renewable fresh water.

Affluent countries such as the U.A.E. can afford to produce most of the fresh water through desalination. However, desalination is relatively expensive and this is reflected by soaring household water bills. As a result, certain residential areas tend to be devoid of lawns or gardens, a situation that can be corrected.

The water conservation concept introduced by Genoil is designed to reduce fresh water consumption in arid areas. In adopting this concept, the U.A.E. would have a pioneering role in the management of ever growing water scarcity.

Sewage treatment challenges in the U.A.E. & Beyond

Another major challenge posed by new residential areas is sewage treatment. Due to exponential population growth, the existing municipal infrastructure in the U.A.E. is overtaxed and new developments tend to exacerbate the problem.

Meanwhile, the introduction of conventional sewage treatment plants in residential areas would face insurmountable obstacles. For example, a sewage treatment plant located in the World Islands is unfeasible for the following reasons:

Septic tanks limitations

As an alternative to sewage plants, conventional septic tanks

have inadequate water treatment capability and their discharge contains high levels of BOD (biological oxygen demand), COD (chemical oxygen demand), TSS (total suspended solids) and other contaminants.

Clearly, they would be unacceptable in the U.A.E. despite being extensively used in other parts of the world.

For example, in North America approximately 25% of the population in North America relies on septic tanks. Indianapolis is the example of a large city where most of the sewage is processed by septic tanks. However, septic tanks discharge contaminated effluent directly into the groundwater. Moreover, suspended particles and slime caused by bacteria plug the pores of the soil, which becomes impermeable. As waste water seepage into the ground is blocked, the septic tank requires very expensive repairs.

Nevertheless, septic tanks having their discharge decontaminated by Genoil’s water treatment plant are decidedly viable and appropriate.

Bilge water treatment

In the Dubai World Islands and other similar areas a potential source of pollution is bilge water generated by boats and water taxis which will be the main means of communication between the luxury islands & the mainland. Yachts and commercial vessels sailing in the area will pose additional risks of pollution by bilge water.

Bilge water contains lube oil and toxic dissolved contaminants. Oil can cause an unsightly sheen throughout the canals, whereas contaminants can seriously affect the ecosystem.

It is therefore imperative to provide means for collecting and treating bilge water, which otherwise would be discharged directly into the sea. As a bonus, decontaminated water could be recycled and lube oil can be reused.

Genoil waste water treatment system

In response to the challenges outlined above, Genoil is introducing an entirely innovative system for treating waste water.

The system, tailored to the specific conditions of the most arid areas, is designed for:

•  Process sewage in anywhere. Even in remote areas.
•  Purify waste water.
•  Recycle treated water to households.
•  Expandability due to seasonal demand.
•  Mobility. Easily transportable.
•  Simple automated operation.
•  Ultra efficient energy usage.
•  Meets environmental compliance standards.
•  Military or emergency installations.
•  Treat bilge water in order to eliminate a potentially serious source of pollution.

In essence, water conservation is to be achieved by way of recycling waste water in newly developed residential areas, which is made possible by Genoil’s innovative technology.

 

Cubic (m3)	Population Equivalent
1	Capacity for 200 People
2	Capacity for 400 People
3	Capacity for 600 People
4	Capacity for 800 People
5	Capacity for 1000 People
6	Capacity for 1200 People
7	Capacity for 1400 People
8	Capacity for 1600 People
9	Capacity for 1800 People
10	Capacity for 2000 People

Advantages:

• Provides a viable alternative to overloaded municipal water treatment plants.
• Eliminates pollution risks by bilge and waste water in the vicinity of pristine beaches.
• Recycles the entire amount of waste water contributing greatly to water conservation in the U.A.E.
• Provides irrigation for lush lawns and gardens in arid areas.
• Reduces household water bills.
• Low capital costs and important savings due to eliminating extensive piping networks.
• Outstanding reliability for safe and uninterrupted operation in extreme circumstances.