Research & Development
During the MINWA project research about the effectiveness of purification of different wastewater treatment solution is done both in Finland and in Estonia.
TUAS
Given that the accurate measurements from small single-household waste water treatment plants are very scarce or non-existent, TUAS applies modern continuous monitoring technique to study their real purification efficacy. We are able to measure both incoming and out flowing water in situ and thus, gain reliable long-term data on how much nitrogen is entering the treatment unit and the proportion of it coming out of the system, ending eventually up to the natural water bodies.
As continuous monitoring instruments for long-term, unattended deployments we apply S::CAN nitrolyser and YSI multi-parameter analyzers. Pre-study treatment plant is located in Aura, South-Western Finland.
In addition to continuous monitoring of NO3 and turbidity, we take conventional spot samples to laboratory for calibration purposes (NO3) and to obtain data from the parameters (BOD, tot-P, PO4, N-tot,NO2) that cannot be analyzed in situ by field instruments.
The study is scheduled in a way that testing the equipment and running a pre-study takes place during this autumn 2009. Detailed research plan will be updated and sampling protocol decided on the basis of pre-study results and practical experiences from field. More comprehensive study (including a few different kinds of treatment plants) will then be conducted during the year 2010, starting in spring and continuing till the end of the year.
acb
Since 2009 in cooperation with the Türi College, Aqua Consult Baltic has studied small wastewater treatment plants in Järva County. We have selected different types of treatment plants in Järva County (activated sludge, septic tanks, filtration beds and combined treatment plants).
Our aim is to investigate the chosen treatment plants inflow and outflow parameters. Analyses are made during the summer and winter months and analyses of the wastewater is carried out in the lab. Basic parameters are COD, BOD7, Ntot, Ptot, SS.
The first analysis was made last summer. Last summer, students primarily in labs conducted wastewater tests, but in the coming period, we plan to use an online-analyzer which is the working principle of spectrum and will analyze wastewater 24 hours a day.
Students also will continue the analysis to verify the reliability of the device.
Analysis will continue during the winter and summer of 2010 and the same cycles will repeat in 2011.
From this project, we can conclude which waste water treatment technology is giving better results.
In winter 2010, Aqua Consult Baltic are planning to launch a pilot plant to investigate how efficient the membrane bioreactor (MBR) technology is in Estonian conditions.
Valonia
During year 2009 Valonia has taken samples from 26 small scale waste water treatment plants. Samples are taken monthly, 1-3 samples from every plant annually. In sampling program there are three village size biological-chemical
waste water treatment plants and the rest are single household treatment solutions. On-site single household waste water treatment solutions consist of 14 biological-chemical treatment plants, seven filtration systems, one biological treatment plant for grey water and urine and one treatment system for dry toilet percolation liquids.
Basic analysed parameters are BOD, tot-P and tot-N. Half of the waste water treatment plants are monitored more detailed, besides basic parameters also coliform bacteria, pH, soluble phosphorous, ammonia, NH4 and suspended solids are analysed.
Sampling results are delivered to estate owners and manufactures and are also shown in web-pages. Aim is to offer for estate owners, manufacturers and the public impartial information about functioning of different waste water treatment solutions.
