Innovative Solution

Water efficiency, water treatment, reuse, pre-treatment, flooding, hydro-meteorological forecasting, water treatment chemicals, control, monitoring, optimization, cost reduction, sustainability

technical

Global and local water-related challenges are becoming increasingly severe due to climate change, population growth, industrialization and urbanization. Flooding is the most disastrous type of local challenge and causes significant problems in human livelihood. A particularly difficult situation occurs when the amount of water to be treated exceeds the capacity of the unit. Then untreated water needs to be led directly to the environment.

This solution presents the total water cycle management concept by Kemira and Vaisala. The concept comprises hydrometeorological data collection and management by Vaisala and water treatment chemicals, chemistry management and water quality control by Kemira. The aim of the joint concept is to meet the global and local water related challenges resulting from e.g. extreme environmental conditions as well as from climate change, population growth, industrialization and urbanization. These factors all threaten to enlarge the gap between clean water supply and demand.

In this concept influent flow increase and influent quality change can be predicted with existing technology and forecasting information. Observed and forecasted changes in ambient water quantity and quality will be used for controlling water treatment process capacity and water treatment chemistry to improve both process efficiency and effluent quality.

This concept will solve the challenges faced by water treatment plants during severe weather related natural disasters, e.g. during flooding when rivers supplying drinking water turn into slurry. It also solves local challenges related to wastewater treatment plants operating at low efficiencies.

The concept will improve environmental efficiency, sustainable use of water resources, and situational awareness and disaster preparedness.

A concept and technology for reducing harmful effects of extreme weather phenomena and preventing flood disasters in municipal and industrial water treatment units.

Target customers: waterworks operators in cities, municipalities and water intensive industries

Improved quality of waste, process and fresh water

      i.                Monitoring and control of  water quality  (influent, effluent)

    ii.                Utilization of satellite or radar based information, flooding warning systems  and hydro-meteorological forecasting

   iii.                Enhanced management leading to optimized water quality

   iv.                increased efficiency of reusing treated water

Improved cost efficiency through quality

     v.                Faster recovery from natural disasters by right chemistry and predictive process control (optimized water quality and quantity management)

    iv.                Innovative use of existing technology improves quality and supports water reuse and results in cost savings

The requirement for better water is global. Our concept can be utilized in any water treatment facility in the industrial and municipal domains, but it is most useful for megacities suffering from severe weather related natural disasters due to hydrometeorological phenomena.

Kemira’s SWEET program (Center of Water efficiency excellence) established in 2010 created a platform for various companies to meet each other and to share their technologies and knowledge, in this case Kemira Oyj and Vaisala Oy. Both companies have their products and deep expertise in their own business areas. Combination of the technologies will be a solution for future water treatment challenges. This comprehensive approach is necessary, since different users of water are interdependent and by this way interests of all stakeholders will be noted; disaster prevention, water management & treatment, energy production, agriculture, tourism etc.

Continuous, real-time and integrated monitoring of water throughout the whole water cycle is the only way to optimize water resource management. This way it is possible to optimize infrastructure planning and flood disaster prevention, optimize water treatment capacity planning, improve water quality and achieve cost-efficient water treatment.

The concept has been created during the last years. Full utilization of this concept requires modelling, control system development and proof-of concept – type demonstrations. In addition, joint processes are required to create a generic technology platform.  

Kemira-Vaisala total water cycle management will help to solve problems that water treatment facilities face due to severe natural disasters to water treatment facilities. By using water treatment chemicals, chemistry management and water quality control by Kemira, and hydrometerological observations and data management by Vaisala, cleaner water can be produced with lower operational costs and in more sustainable way.

Key outputs are:

• Clean and safe water cost-efficiently for industrial and municipal customers irrespective of natural or climate conditions
• Treatment plant capacity can be optimized due to automated forecasting system without compromising effluent quality.
• No need for immediate investments
• Improved environmental efficiency & sustainable use of water resources
• Improved situational awareness and disaster preparedness 

• Improved environmental efficiency & sustainable use of water resources
  • Improved quality of water bodies through proactive measures
  • Efficiency in treatment of wastewater significantly increased
  • Improved reuse of all treated wastewater
  • Increased availability of water of appropriate quality for industrial, municipal and agricultural needs
  • Balanced supply and demand for water
• Improved situational awareness and disaster preparedness
  • Less human suffering and damage to property and infrastructure due to flooding
  • Estimate for flood forecasting: 10-20 % savings in flood damage as a result for improved hydro-meteorological forecast (UN ISDR estimate)
  • Better long-range forecasting ability
  • Improved ability to safeguard the environment
• Health care
  • Better targeting of early treatment and preventive measures against epidemics spread by floods
• Risks affecting recreation and tourism reduced

Given your experience, who would / should be most interested in this Solution and why? How will it help them?

• Intensive water industry companies in megacities
• Municipalities battling out to guarantee fresh water source for its inhabitants

In what context do you think this solution could / would work best and why?

The area of application is global and extends to all water treatment related municipalities and companies suffering from problems caused by severe natural and climate conditions

The solution would work since the available technology exists and forecasting information is available. Required expertise now exists to combine these two aspects.

Given your experience, what would be needed to upscale this solution, for example to a political or/and a regional level?

Ensurance of technology’s potentiality for municipalities by highest political stakeholders.

• Solution provider:
  • Superior understanding of water and hydrometeorological technology.
  • Innovative co-operation between partner companies and state of the art R&D facilities with committed top management.
  • Business owner integrated into technology solution management.
  • Stakeholder management and global megatrend driver understanding.
• Solution user:
  • Visualize and realize the need
  • Acquire public consent.
• Time frame from start to implementation is 2-7 years depending on the local technology level

Does not exist yet

Kemira Oyj Rauni Karjala, rauni.karjala@kemira.com

Vaisala Oy Kimmo Ristolainen, kimmo.ristolainen@vaisala.com