On Friday 5 November, the Scheldestromen water board and Evides Industriewater organised a symposium to celebrate the fact that a new membrane bioreactor (MBR) has been taken into use successfully on the site of the Terneuzen sewage treatment plant. This MBR plays an important role in closing the water chain in the Zeeuws-Vlaanderen region. In order to realise this, the water parties in Zeeuws-Vlaanderen set up a successful collaboration.
At the symposium, various prominent speakers talked about their vision on the past, present and future of the water chain, including Joop Dees, board member of the Zeeuws-Vlaanderen water board, Emmanuel van Houtte of the IWSA, Peter Glas of the Association of Water Boards, Toine Poppelaars, chairman of the Scheldestromen water board (in formation), Niels Groot van Dow Benelux and Sjack van Agtmaal of Evides. Although they all had their own perspective, each of them came to the conclusion that recycling water will play an increasingly more important role in solving the freshwater shortages around the world. Closing the water chain in Zeeuws-Vlaanderen is a good example thereof.
The water chain
The drinking water for the municipality of Terneuzen comes from the Braakman production site of Evides. It is made from water from the river Maas, which is first stored in reservoirs in the Biesbosch. After use, it becomes wastewater and is transported to the Terneuzen sewerage treatment plant where it is treated. The water board subsequently supplies the treated wastewater to Evides Industriewater, whose special demineralised water plant (the DECO plant) turns it into demineralised water for Dow Benelux. Evides used to use Westerschelde water for this process, which required a lot of energy. Dow uses the demineralised water in the chemical process for generating steam, after which it is again treated, ready for its third life: that of cooling water.
Win-Win-Win
The reason for the symposium was the successful commissioning of the MBR at the Terneuzen sewage treatment plant. This innovative plant, which is jointly owned by the water board and Evides, makes it possible to treat more wastewater. In addition, the MBR goes through an additional treatment stage, making the effluent even more suitable for recycling. Also, thanks to the MBR, one treatment stage can be dropped from the DECO plant and more wastewater can be used. The collaboration is of great benefit for the parties concerned: Evides Industriewater has a good water source, the Scheldestromen water board can supply water better and cheaper thanks to the MBR, and Dow Benelux uses safe water for its chemical process. The water chain is closed, which is good for the environment!
