Water Reuse Project of the Year
ADSWS Recycling Transformation, UAE
What is it?
A strategic programme that has transformed wastewater treatment and reuse capabilities in Abu Dhabi, UAE. In 2023 the programme achieved its goal of 80% utilisation of recycled water in the emirate.
Who is involved?
The transformation has been delivered by the operating and project teams at the Abu Dhabi Sustainable Water Solutions Company (ADSWS), the state body responsible for all wastewater collection and treatment and reuse in the emirate. It worked in collaboration with Abu Dhabi’s Department of Environment.
What makes it special?
The achievement of recycling targets through the production of 909,000m3/d of treated wastewater for reuse in agriculture, district cooling and industrial purposes marks a crucial step towards the preservation of rapidly depleting freshwater resources and takes the burden off the energy-hungry seawater desalination network in one of the world’s most arid regions.
In a region historically driven by the value generated from hydrocarbons, the creation of a circular water economy is a huge step towards the decarbonisation and greening of crucial infrastructure. 2023 saw a huge uptick in the use of biogas at wastewater treatment plants, with more than 200MW of extra power generated over the year, meaning more than 10% of total energy consumption at plants is now generated internally.
In 2023, ADSWS’s Project Scan sewage network monitoring programme made its first impact. Deploying advanced scanning, monitoring, and inspection technologies to meticulously identify potential problem areas within sewerage infrastructure, protecting ecosystems and promoting water sustainability by mitigating wastage and contamination. The programme identified issues that resulted in a 40% reduction in salinity in recycled water in the emirate in its first year.
Distinction
Santa Monica Sustainable Water Infrastructure Project, USA
What is it?
A state-of-the-art stormwater harvesting and water recycling facility in Santa Monica, California, using a combination of membrane bio-reactors (MBRs), cartridge filters and reverse osmosis (RO) to produce up to around 5,700m3/d of treated water for both non-potable use in irrigation and toilet flushing, and indirect potable use through aquifer recharge. It is the first plant in the state to inject treated stormwater directly into a groundwater aquifer.
Who is involved?
The $96 million plant was delivered under a two-year design-build-operate contract by a team comprising Kiewit, Perc Water and Arcadis. Key equipment was supplied by Veolia Water Technologies & Solutions (MBR), H2O Innovation (RO) and Trojan Technologies (UV systems). The client was the City of Santa Monica, which owns and operates the plant.
What makes it special?
The project is visionary in simultaneously processing raw wastewater and stormwater up to groundwater recharge standards, meaning a flexible response is available at a time when weather conditions are getting more unpredictable. The entire facility is located under the car park at Santa Monica’s city hall, minimising urban footprint while keeping the plant at the heart of the city’s infrastructure concerns.
Water produced at the facility represents up to 10% of the city’s water supply: by diversifying the city’s water supply portfolio, the project significantly reduces reliance on imported water, showcasing a commitment to environmental innovation at a time when water resources in California and neighbouring states are under unprecedented strain.
By redirecting rainwater and urban runoff away from the ocean and purifying it beyond drinking water standards, the project promises to dramatically improve water quality in Santa Monica Bay, a crucial element of the planning in a region that is a regular tourist hotspot.