Bacteria as new heroes: Cleaning Mettmann's wastewater in focus!

Bacteria as new heroes: Cleaning Mettmann's wastewater in focus!

In Mettmann, a comprehensive construction measure is currently being carried out in the sewage treatment plant, which is to be completed in one year. Markus Koch, head of waste water at the Bergisch-Rheinischen Wasserverband (BRW), describes bacteria in biological sewage treatment plants as "my most hardworking and favorite employees". These organisms work tirelessly and 24 hours a day without complaining. The main goal of the project in Mettmann is to install a new pretreatment system for the incoming wastewater. This comes from both households and companies in Mettmann and is returned to the natural cycle after cleaning.

The BRW invests significantly in this construction measure. A decisive challenge in wastewater treatment is the high organic freight, which is particularly caused by agricultural wastewater such as that from wine and olive oil processing. These wastewater strain municipal sewage treatment plants, especially during harvesting. In order to achieve the required water quality, flocculant means are usually used. These often consist of metal ions such as iron or aluminum salts or synthetic polymers, which, however, can cause residues to be disposed of extensively. Such residues make the recycling of water and mud difficult.

innovative approaches in wastewater treatment

As part of a research at Fraunhofer IGB, a bio -based flocculonian was developed based on a carrier frame made of Chitosan, a material that is obtained from food production waste. This flocculation is functionalized with the enzyme laccase, an oxidoreductase. The advantage of this technology lies in adaptability: the composition can be modified depending on the specific load on the wastewater and the existing cleaning infrastructure. It is important that the residues of the bio -based flocculation agent are degradable, which facilitates the utilization of sewage sludge, for example by the recovery of important nutrients.

In addition, there are innovative solutions such as VTA Trioxsan®, a highly effective organic activator for wastewater treatment. This product uses a liquid engineering process that includes the combination of sulfur binding and oxidation. An important advantage of VTA Trioxsan® is that compared to conventional felling agents on iron chloride base, 65% less felling mud is incurred. This not only leads to improved water quality, but also to fewer residues and deposits in the sewage system, which increases the entire biological activity.

In the face of such innovative technologies, it is clear that modern wastewater management not only affects the cleaning processes itself, but also requires a deep insight into the ecological consequences and long -term benefits for the environment. The upcoming changes in the Mettmann sewage treatment plant are not only a step to improve local water quality, but also a significant part of a more comprehensive approach to sustainable development in wastewater treatment.