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10 - Membrane technology and a Living Machine for wastewater treatment, Netherlands |
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Project name
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Waterfactory
and a Living Machine in the Zoo of Emmen
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Fig. 1: The
Living Machine in a bio-glasshouse where visitor's can view the system |
Keywords
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A closed
watercycle has been realized in the Noorder Zoo Emmen (The Netherlands).
Membrane (ultra-filtration) technology was combined with biological treatment by a Living
Machine.
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Start of
the project
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1997
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End of
the project
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2002, but still in full operation
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Contact
person
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Dierenpark Emmen
Hoofdstraat 18
Emmen, the Netherlands
www.zoo-emmen.nl
Email:
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Short project description/ project function
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The
system consists of 3 small and 1 large wastewater cycle. The 3 small cycles
are cleaning the water of the pools of the hippopotamus, the 250
Humboldt penguins and the 4
sea turtles.
The large
watercycle combines the residues of the 3 small cycles with the waste water
of the restaurant, the toilets
and the dirty pond water. Rainwater from the pavements is also collected and
re-used.
The cleaned waste water of the large cycle is used for cleaning the
animal houses and as toilet and pond water. The total amount of wastewater
goes to a Living Machine where bacteria, plants, snails, worms and fishes are
taking up most of the nutrients reducing the sludge considerably. The Living
Machine can be considered as a combined active sludge system with a
constructed wetland.
The
effluent of the living machine is treated by ultrafiltration before is goes
back in the reuse cycle.
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Summary of experiences
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The whole
system is working and the treatment cleans the waste water well below the requirements for effluent.
The
visitors enjoy the system very much as they can come very close into contact
with the operational system.
The water
of the pools of the hippopotamus has become clear so that the visitors can
observe the animals when they are under water.
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Project
benefits
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Tap water
use has been reduced from 180'000 m3 to 30'000 m3 per
year and the system produces less waste.
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Project
level
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Mature
technology
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Financial
scale
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Total
investment of the Waterfactory: 10 million Euro
Eductional Water
Pavilion: 13 million Euro.
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Environmental conditions
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Boreo-atlantic climate
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Altitude
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25 m above sea level
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Description of special local conditions
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The part
of the Noorder Emmen Zoo, where the waterworks are situated is a
soil-water-conservation area where drinking water is pumped. With special
provisions it has been made possible.
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Why this is ecological engineering
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New technology
(ultra filtration) is combined with the living machine approach to clean the
waste water as well as the run-off water from the pavements. The total system
can be visited by visitors of the zoo to learn more about water and life.
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 18 December 2007 )
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