Nereda's revolutionary aerobic granular biomass exceeds expectations at first full scale WWTP Epe

The first Nereda full scale waste water treatment plant in Epe, the Netherlands, has proven to even exceed its high expectations. The municipal treatment plant has been in operation for 16 month now.

Based on extensive plant performance monitoring throughout these years it now is confirmed that stringent targets for effluent quality, sludge treatment, use of chemicals and energy consumption are easily met.

Sustainable character
It was already clear Nereda has a very small footprint (up to only 25% compared to conventional technologies) and is more cost-effective than conventional systems (savings more than 25% in investment and operational costs). With 16 months of successful operation the Epe WWTP also proves now Nereda’s sustainable character.

Low energy consumption, low effluent concentrations
Extensive monitoring of the Epe plant – designed for flows up to 1,500 m3/h - shows that the performance of Nereda even exceeds expectations. The energy consumption of the WWTP including sand filtration and sludge treatment is significant less than any type of similar-sized conventional treatment plant in the Netherlands.

Furthermore the effluent quality meets the highest standards in The Netherlands, achieving total Nitrogen and Phosphorous concentrations lower than 5 and 0.3 mg/l.

High biological sludge loads
Remarkably is the observed robustness and stability of the treatment process under strong varying influent load conditions and extreme influent pH fluctuations. Another interesting observation is that even at wintry conditions extensive nitrogen removal could be established at surprising high biological sludge loads.

Schematic representation of three-phase Nereda cyclus and the two- zone granule.

Nereda roll-out
After the Epe commissioning mid-2011, the interest for Nereda has grown tremendously. At least five new Nereda installations have their startup this year. For 2013 a further expansion is expected as the international interest for the technology is growing. Almost every week, international visits to the Epe plant are organized.

With installations in Portugal and South Africa already been realized, there is concrete interest in Nereda® installations from, among others, Australia, Poland, the Middle-East, Brazil, India, Belgium, the UK, Ireland and the USA.

Public-private development
Nereda treats waste water with the unique features of aerobic granular biomass. Invented by the Delft University of Technology and developed within a unique public-private-partnership between the University, the Dutch Foundation for Applied Water Research (STOWA), the Dutch Water Boards and Royal HaskoningDHV, the technology revolutionizes wastewater treatment.

Also read:
Official commissioning Nereda at WWTP Epe: wonder granule keeps its promise (May 9th, 2012)

More information
RoyalHaskoningDHV
Amersfoort, the Netherlands
+31 88 348 20 00
www.dhv.com/nereda