waste water since 1990
Aguambiente is constantly working in the study of new processes which improve the performance of the WWTP (waste water treatment plants) and the cost saving in water management. Years and experience have generated in-depth knowledge in different fabrication processes in many industries and a way to build containerized plants. This way to build compact waster water treatment plants break the mold of megalithic plants and take account of lead time, space and people who daily work there.
What are the most typical client requests when they are going to install a WWTP?
Customer wants to save: chemists saving, energy saving, few residues generated and low maintenance. Twenty four-hour availability to solve possible breakdowns is also important. Treatment process has to be made in little space. This is why we we work with modular plants assembled inside ship containers that can pile up on others.
How does this idea of containerized WWTP arise?
Firstly, we try to optimize lead time and reduce the space. Spanish industry performs its activity in industrial parks where they have not to much available space. Then, manufacture processes are standardized to reduce cost of production. This standardization supposes that equipment leave the factory fully mounted and proved so assembly time and tests in destination are enormously reduced. Portability and ease of transport is another key point.
Are this compact solutions requested from abroad?
Of course! The most part of our market is placed in Spain and Portugal but every time there are more customers from foreign countries. A lot of countries from Europe, South America, Central America or East countries are interested in these compact solutions. Low cost, ergonomic design, lead time, and easy installation and set up are essential characteristics to export this compact WWTP.
There are differences between the way of undertaking these projects in other countries and in Spain?
Yes, each country is different. Cultural beliefs in negotiations are points to keep in mind. Water and landfill legislation is different in every country too. We always try to go ahead of these facts and keep us informed to advise the client perfectly in every sector. In conclusion, industries work in a similar manner around the world and the main strength of Aguambiente is the thorough knowledge of each one of these manufacturing processes.
Which industries is Aguambiente specialized in?
Aguambiente is an expert water treatment company and is specialized in a lot of sectors. We have installed WWTP in foodstuff industries all over the world, in meat plants, dairy plants, wineries, canning factories, pastry and bakery factories, fish processing plants, egg processing plants… There are also a lot of references in textile sector, tank cleaning plants, chemical and pharmaceutical industries, metallurgical sector, paper factories, wood industries, waste treatment plants or biofuel plants in which GFRP digesters are becoming very usefull. To highlight some of them, we have recently installed sludge anaerobic digestion in a Slaughterhouse WWTP in Portugal. In this plant we have reach an excellent optimization in operating costs and in the own project, allowing, moreover, the re-use of process water.
What advantages does the customer get with your installations?
At the beginning, the main advantage is the optimization of treatment process and the costs reduction that is what customers want when they request to Aguambiente. The space is also important. Containerized solutions can be easily installed and they can make the plant bigger or smaller depending on the customer needs. Specific increases of production or flow used to be common in certain industries. So, versatility and installation time are very important to our customers. The ease of transport and installation, costs reduction coupled with them and reduction of maintenance are great advantages in relation with traditional plants. In addition, WWTP humanization is vital, we try to make them more functional and easy to use for people who work there daily.
On the other hand, customer can outsource the whole project by rent plants for a fee. Cost of the fee can round 1€/ m3 of treated water and it includes every cost of WWTP: analysis of water and industrial process, project, civil work; equipment supply, installation and set up; chemical products, generated sludge management and preventive maintenance. All with guarantee of energy consumption. Optimization is the most important point from economic view.
What are Aguambiente future challenges?
Legislation on landfills will be more and more strict in fines, fees and taxes. Water is not endless and we have to take care. At the same time, optimization projects will be fundamental in industrial wastewater treatment. We will get less costs, less energy, less water and less waste, and everything cheaper.
