Clearedge Projects – Greywater Recycling and Sewage Treatment Systems [ECG-Premium] [Cat. 1 - Manufatured] | ecospecifier

Clearedge Projects – Greywater Recycling and Sewage Treatment Systems [ECG-Premium] [Cat. 1 - Manufatured]

Overview:

Greywater recycling systems and sewage treatment systems available for a wide range of applications.

Product Description:

Clearedge offers sewage treatment systems and greywater recycling systems and potable water purification for a wide range of applications. These include remote mining sites, game lodges, golf estates, residential homes, hotels and many other commercial and residential applications.

Clearedge utilizes natural biochemical breakdown of effluent and contaminants with an improved aeration system, Whale Tooth Technology ™ for increased oxygen levels, even distribution and treatment.

The Bac2Blue greywater treatment system is a biological treatment process providing COD reduction, nitrification of ammonia, and the final water goes through sterilisation with chlorine or UV light. The treated water can be used for re-flushing toilets, irrigation, or wash water.

Click here for Supplier contact details or make an enquiry directly to the supplier using the Product Enquiry Form at the bottom of the page.

PRODUCT SPECIFICATIONS

Options

Range of sizes are available to suit any application- e.g. four bed house to 10 000 person village.

20ft and 40ft containerized sewage and water treatment systems

Colours

Can be specified to blend in with environment.

Warranty

Lifetime process guarantee based on the initial design criteria

1 year on movable parts such as pumps

5 years on the plant structure

Expected Life

25 - 30 years

Indicative Costs

Cost of supply	Cost of installation
R 10 000.00 per kl of sewage treated	10% of supply cost

Purchase Options

Rental options are available for short term projects including maintenance – contact manufacturer for further info.

Constituents

Polypropylene tanks, PVC Hoses, Blower, Pump, and UV light

Technical Specifications

Treated sewage is designed to adhere to South African Department of Water Affairs and Forestry (DWAF) general standards. Potable water standards are according to World Health Organisation standards for safe human consumption.

National & International Standards

Sewage - DWAF

Water - WHO

All pipe work and fittings SABS approved 12 bar – 16 bar pressure rated

Country of Origin

South Africa

Projects

Temane Mozambique - SASOL mining camp

Tete Mozambique - Riversdale mining camp

Abu Dhabi, UAE - Al Rheem Island developments

Malindi, Kenya - Watamu Village

Selous, Tanzania - Bush Camp

Zanzibar - Kilindi Resort

Nairobi, Kenya - United Nations Office Block

Lake Albert, Uganda - Tullow Oil mining camp

Madagascar, Sodexho housing blocks

Monrovia, Liberia - Alterrain Services exploration camps

Preparation

System requirements vary. In general, a power supply, a raw water source such as a borehole and a compacted level surface area required to place the system. All pipe work reticulation to the plant and to the discharge point can be discussed.

ECOSPECIFIER LIFE-CYCLE ASSESSMENT

INTEGRATED DESIGN AND POLICY ISSUES

Greywater treatment systems allow the reuse of waste water, thus reducing a building or development’s water supply needs. The recycled water can be used for flush water, irrigation or car washing. By separating the grey water from the black; areas that use septic tanks can reduce the soak away size by up to 70%

Sewage Treatment systems reduce the impact on the environment from waste water by removing high COD and BOD levels.

HUMAN HEALTH

Health

Products treat sewage and greywater, which can then be recycled into flush water, irrigation water, and wash water. Treatment of the water reduces the biological risks from the reuse of grey water. Waste water disposal to waterways can be a source of pollutants, including chemicals and pathogens that are a significant risk to human health.

Hoses, pipes and connections are made from unplasticised PVC (uPVC) and PVC. PVC contains plasticizers, some of which have been shown to cause harmful health effects; however, harmful contact such as ingestion with leached plasticizers from PVC hosing is very unlikely given the water uses proposed are not potable.

Vinyl Chloride monomer used as a component in the manufacturer of uPVC is a Category 1 carcinogen with potential worker health impacts during manufacture. Contemporary air filtration minimises OH&S implications. Disposal via incineration can produce harmful dioxins; however recycling facilities are available in South Africa.

Comfort

Not applicable.

Indoor Environment Quality

Not applicable.

Electromagnetic Radiation

Safety

Sewage- all waste is housed in chemical grade containers where it is oxidised and broken down into stable forms such as the conversion of ammonia to nitrates and eventually nitrogen gas which is released into the air. Final treated effluent has low BOD values and can be released as clean oxygenated water into the environment.

Accessibility

Not applicable

ECOLOGICAL QUALITY

Terrestrial

Emissions – Chlorine is a key constituent of PVC and the emissions from its production consist of chlorine and hydrogen. Mercury is also produced during chlorine production.

The iron and other ores and the production of steel used to make the product lead to localised emissions to terrestrial environments around production facilities.

Physical – Provided that state-of-the-art technology is used the production of PVC, terrestrial, aquatic and atmosphere pollution impacts are considered to be low. Additionally, this product does not constitute a substantial impact on the toxicity of landfill leachate and gas (Life Cycle Assessment of PVC and of principal competing materials, Final Report, commissioned by the European Union, July 2004)

The extraction of iron and other ores used to make steel does disrupt local landscapes and alter local ecosystems.

Aquatic Pollution

Emissions – Ethylene is produced in the initial production stage of PVC and the emissions to water consist of methanol and butane.

The extraction of iron and other ores and the production of steel have associated emissions to aquatic environments that have localised impacts around production facilities.

Physical – The petrochemical portion of polypropylene, PVC, and other plastics results in potential sea pollution in the extraction of oil. Other aquatic emissions include methanol and butane in the production of ethylene as well as mercury and chlorine in the production of chlorine (Life Cycle Assessment of PVC and of principal competing materials, Final Report, commissioned by the European Union, July 2004).

The extraction of iron and other ores and the production of steel have associated minor localised physical impacts on aquatic environments around production facilities.

Atmosphere

Greenhouse (GHG) – This product utilises polypropylene, PVC and other plastics which are fabricated from fossil fuels. Fossil fuels generate both atmospheric pollutants and greenhouse gasses on combustion.

The process of manufacturing steel has very high energy requirements and subsequent GHG levels. The production of steel creates CO2 emissions of which approximately 80% come from the chemical process of making iron.

Greenhouse intensity – Due to the complexity of the systems, accurate greenhouse intensity is unable to be calculated. Based on the major constituents, (polypropylene tanks, PVC hoses and pipes, steel blowers and pumps) an estimate for a domestic greywater system with an approximate total weight of 100 kg is 239.25kg CO2e.

Transport intensity – Product is manufactured in Durban, South Africa. GHG intensities for shipping product are shown below. Total weight of a domestic greywater system is approximately 100kg. Table below provides land transportation greenhouse intensity figures to help calculate the greenhouse gas intensity of land transportation from shipping port.

Light commercial vehicle	Rigid Truck	Articulated Truck
0.001451kgCO2e / kg.km	0.000195kgCO2e / kg.km	0.000169kgCO2e / kg.km

Transport intensity figures sourced from Australian National Greenhouse Gas Inventory 1990, 1995 and 1999 and WWF International, Inland Navigations and Emissions, 2005.

Operational efficiency –A domestic greywater treatment plant (2-6 people) has a power rating of 280 watts and can treat a max of 600lt/day.

Re-use Efficiency – Containerized systems are designed for reuse.

Toxics and Pollutants – PVC is highly toxic if burnt and is known to generate hydrochloric acid (HCI) and dioxin emissions. Emissions from ethylene production consist primarily of ethylene and propylene.

Ozone Depletion – No known ozone depleting chemicals used.

Urban Heat Island Effects – Not applicable

Noise – Not applicable

Biodiversity

The treatment and reuse of water reduces the impact on the environment by reducing consumption and pollution of surface water. High COD and BOD levels from untreated waste water reduce the levels of dissolved oxygen in water systems and can have significant localised impacts.

PVC, polypropylene and other plastics are originally derived from non-renewable fossil fuel petrochemical based polymers including ethylene. This generates biodiversity impacts through the atmospheric emissions generated during the extracting and manufacturing processes. These have not been quantified in terms of impacts on biological systems, except in the case of oil-spill impacts which, while rare, can have significant long-term, localised impacts.

PVC has been widely studied and researched regarding potential adverse health and environmental impacts during manufacture and disposal. Please see Glossary for more information on PVC.

Mercury ingestion by humans and other animals has serious potential effects (see Glossary).

RESOURCE DEPLETION

Resource Efficiency

Treatment systems are predominately composed of plastics derived from non renewable petrochemicals. However the systems are designed to provided a benefit of water treatment and reuse, and the plastics are irreplaceable to the system, providing functionality, durability and ease of transport and installation.

Embodied Fossil Fuel Energy

7496.75 MJ/ domestic system

Embodied Water

Unknown for manufacturing process, but products in use will significantly reduce water consumption.

Durability

25-30 year life expectancy

Reusability

All systems are reusable and can be located to new project sites.

Repairability

All systems are easily repaired.

Design for Dematerialisation

Design for Disassembly

Yes

Recyclability

Products are generally not recyclable due to the nature of their use. PVC should not be burned as it releases harmful dioxins. PVC recycling facilities are available throughout South Africa when recycling is appropriate.

Maintenance

Periodic chlorine level checks are required in sewage treatment systems, washing of filters, checking for blockages weekly, and ensuring power is running daily.

Product Takeback Scheme

No, but containerized units are available for rental.

Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)

CORPORATE AND SOCIAL SUSTAINABILITY

Audits and Environmental Reporting

Convictions

Environmental Policy

Social Enhancement Programs

Clearedge employs unskilled labourers and provides jobs to previously disadvantaged members of the community. Asylum seekers from Zimbabwe and Burundi are also employed. Clearedge distributes free footballs to local children where work is performed.

Technology Transfer Programs

Yes, Clearedge supplies technical information to Kenya and other African countries.

Environmental Management Systems (EMS)