Xylem study shows 65 percent reduction in energy use through more efficient wastewater treatment plant aeration system

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 27, 2012-- Xylem Inc., a leading global water technology company focused on addressing the world’s most challenging water issues, has released the results of a full-scale study showing a 65 percent reduction in energy consumption at a municipal wastewater treatment plant in Sweden when more efficient equipment and improved systems were incorporated. The results of the study indicate a four-year payback, with the new system decreasing the total energy consumption of the entire plant by 13 percent.

“These full-scale tests, carried out over a six month period, clearly demonstrate the substantial benefits that Xylem can bring to a wastewater treatment operation,” Lars Larsson, product manager for Xylem said. “Xylem’s extensive experience and expertise in optimizing treatment systems’ energy efficiency is a key focus area for us, and is a skill that can reap significant benefits for our customers.”

Biological-secondary treatment is the most energy-intensive phase in the wastewater treatment process, with aeration consuming between 25 and 60 percent of the total energy used in a municipal plant.* The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reports that these costs are increasing due to rising energy prices and more stringent requirements for effluent quality. **

The tests were conducted by Xylem at the Sternö municipal wastewater treatment plant in southern Sweden, which was built in 1997 and is designed to serve 26,000 people. Aeration was consuming 44 percent of the total energy usage of the plant. The test line was upgraded with Xylem’s Sanitare Silver Series Low pressure diffusers, a new blower and a new control system.

With the new Xylem system in place, aeration efficiency is almost three times as high in the test line compared to the reference line. The required airflow was reduced by 30 percent and the system pressure was reduced by 15 percent. These savings were gained by combining a more efficient blower, a higher Standard Oxygen Transfer Efficiency (SOTE), a lower headloss and an energy-optimized dissolved oxygen (DO) control and DO profile, as well as more than 40 years of expertise in optimizing wastewater treatment systems.

Click here for an abstract of the study. A detailed paper about the trials is available upon request by contacting Lars Larsson. Email: lars.larsson@xyleminc.com; telephone: +46 8 475 63 60 / Cell: +46 76 127 40 60

*WEF. 2009. MOP No. 32: Energy Conservation in Water and Wastewater Facilities

**EPA (2010). Evaluation of Energy Conservation Measures for wastewater treatment facilities. EPA 832-R10-005.

About Sanitaire

Sanitaire, a Xylem brand, is committed to providing innovative diffused aeration and biological wastewater treatment solutions to help meet the growing challenge of clean water. Installed in thousands of municipal and industry wastewater treatment applications worldwide, Sanitaire equipment and technologies ensure quality, energy efficient and dependable operations. Standard and customized solutions are designed with deep process capability, experience and regulatory insight to meet any demand from design through installation and ownership with integrity. For more information about Sanitaire, visit www.sanitaire.com

About Xylem

Xylem (XYL) is a leading global water technology provider, enabling customers to transport, treat, test and efficiently use water in public utility, residential and commercial building services, industrial and agricultural settings. The company does business in more than 150 countries through a number of market-leading product brands, and its people bring broad applications expertise with a strong focus on finding local solutions to the world’s most challenging water and wastewater problems. Launched in 2011 from the spinoff of the water-related businesses of ITT Corporation, Xylem is headquartered in White Plains, N.Y., with 2011 revenues of $3.8 billion and 12,500 employees worldwide.

The name Xylem is derived from classical Greek and is the tissue that transports water in plants, highlighting the engineering efficiency of our water-centric business by linking it with the best water transportation of all -- that which occurs in nature. For more information, please visit us at www.xyleminc.com.

Source: Xylem Inc.

for Xylem
Louise Cassidy, +353 (0) 1 678 9333
Cell: +353 (0) 86 383 5727
louise.cassidy@edelman.com