February 2016

Pharmaceuticals. (c) Shutterstock / Alexander Raths
Pharmaceuticals, of increasing concern as micropollutants. (c) Shutterstock / Alexander Raths

Welcome to the first issue of Aqua Strategy. This launch edition will give you a taste of just some of the themes that we will be covering in later issues.

Three of our features focus on the emerging issue of micropollutants, including a look at the work underway in Switzerland, an interview with Ana Giros of Suez, and a review of the substances covered in European, Swiss and Swedish measures.

Further features look at the increasing efforts to change the energy outlook for water utilities, especially their sewage treatment activities. We look at work in Austria, and hear from international technology company Xylem.

We also take a look at the rise of smart water utilities, featuring a look at the four-country SmartWater4Europe initiative.

We hope you like what you read, and look forward to the issues ahead.

 

ISSN (Online): 2059-8068

ISSN (Print): 2059-805X

Issue 1 Volume 1

Switzerland's progress on micropollutants in sewage

Micropollutants

Switzerland is pushing ahead with upgrading of many of its sewage treatment plants to help cut the release of micropollutants to the aquatic environment. This presents opportunities for technology providers. It will also provide a valuable reference on the practicalities and costs of addressing this issue in the European Union and beyond. Keith Hayward provides an update on the Swiss plans, and the ongoing efforts to decide on detailed implementation.

Lausanne contract boosts micropollutant prospects for Suez

Interview

The recent contract award for the upgrading of Lausanne’s sewage plant to install micropollutant removal represents the latest significant step in Switzerland’s action on this issue, and will provide winning technology supplier Suez with an important reference project. Keith Hayward spoke with Ana Giros, CEO of Suez International’s Europe Latin-America Business Unit, about the company’s progress and prospects with micropollutants.

Vienna’s journey to wastewater energy self-sufficiency

Water and energy

Water utilities are increasingly looking at opportunities to reduce energy use and cut carbon emissions, with those at the forefront setting their sights on becoming energy neutral or even net exporters of energy. Keith Hayward provides an update on one of Europe’s most significant current projects – upgrading of the main sewage treatment plant in Vienna.

Investing in wastewater energy efficiency for a greener future

Energy efficiency

Expenditure on infrastructure such as wastewater treatment systems represents investment in what are long-life assets, meaning there is good reason to make decisions based on whole life costs rather than just the upfront capital costs. But what if more efficient equipment could reduce overall costs and at the same time deliver much-needed cuts in greenhouse gas emissions? A recent report by international technology company Xylem provides an assessment to support precisely this idea. Keith Hayward takes a closer look at the findings.

The water sector energy efficiency opportunity

Interview

As countries step up their search for ways to act on the global climate change commitments made in Paris last year, Keith Hayward spoke with Al Cho, Xylem’s VP Strategy and Business Development, about how investment in wastewater treatment efficiency can make an important contribution to the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, and the potential for efficiency contracts to inject the capital needed for these investments to be made.

European support for smarter water utilities - a destiny with data

Smart water

New opportunities to capture and exploit data are emerging all the time, and the coming of the Internet of Things can only accelerate this process. But the shift to ‘smart water utilities’ is making slower progress, for many reasons. Keith Hayward looks at SmartWater4Europe, a major European project that is expected to provide a business case for data-driven technologies in the water supply sector and support the growth of companies offering these technologies.