Sewage treatment plant 4.0 – what does the future of waste water technology have in store for Karlsdorf-Neuthard?
Very few industries are transforming as rapidly as waste water technology. As a result, there are many things to bear in mind, and contractors with renovations in the pipeline have no choice but to think ahead. It’s vital that obstructions be avoided and enough space be kept for new installations.
When it comes to waste water technology, one thing is certain – the requirements will become even stricter in the future, and the technology will get more and more sophisticated. Inevitably, digitalization is making its way into this field, too. In fact, the German Association for Water, Wastewater and Waste (DWA) founded an “Industry 4.0 in Waste Water Technology” working group within the “Automation of Sewage Treatment Plants” technical committee in 2017.
What’s more, there is already talk of introducing a fourth purification stage, with trials underway in pilot projects at other locations. This process is designed to eliminate micropollutants in concentrations of micrograms to nanograms per liter. The water currently taken from secondary clarifiers and fed into bodies of water may appear as clean and clear as drinking water, but it actually contains more and more traces of pharmaceuticals, industrial chemicals and hormones that harm both the environment and living creatures.
At the same time, the populations of the urban areas surrounding major cities in particular are growing so rapidly that even nearby areas are having to treat increasing volumes of waste water. This means sewage treatment plants currently undergoing urgently needed renovation are faced with the immense challenge of gazing into their crystal ball now and factoring in enough free space for the various new processes of the future.
The same also applies for employees, who must always be open to new things without losing sight of the here and now. But that’s exactly what makes working in waste water technology so exciting.
Regardless of what ground is yet to be broken in terms of systems and processes, there’s one thing Jochen Daniel Schwertheim, head of the Kammerforst sewage treatment plant, knows for sure – if he ever has to upgrade his drive technology, he’ll always use products from SEW EURODRIVE. After all, this is another area where thinking ahead can help keep future costs to a minimum.
Curious to know how your colleague in Karlsdorf-Neuthard sees the future?
Then you should definitely read part 3 of our interview series.
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