이탈리아 리미니(Rimini) 지역 정부가 북부 아드리아 해변(Adriatic Sea)을 보존하기 위한 노력의 일환으로 그 지역의 다른 폐수 처리장을 통합하여 기존 운영활동을 확장하기 위해 지역 정부의 폐수 처리장 회사 HERA와 제휴를 맺었다.

여름 시즌 동안 리미니 지역으로 온 이주민들 때문에 리미니 지역의 인구수는 22만 명에서 56만 명으로 늘었다. 적용가능한 최고의 기술을 이용하여 리미니 지역은 성공적으로 유럽 최대의 membrane bioreactor(막생물여과기) 폐수처리 시설을 정식 출범하고 2020년까지 아드리아 해의 유해요소들을 제거해 나갈 방침이다.

In an effort to preserve the beaches of the Northern Adriatic Sea, the regional government in Rimini, Italy, has partnered with HERA, operator of the regional wastewater treatment plant (WWTP), to expand its existing operations while absorbing other WWTPs in the area.

This has increased service from a population of 220,000 to 560,000 people who migrate to the area during the summer season. By utilizing the best available technologies, Rimini has successfully inaugurated Europe's largest membrane bioreactor (MBR) wastewater treatment facility and is on-track to eliminate discharges to the Adriatic by 2020.

The new Rimini wastewater treatment facility is a benchmark for the world in terms of operational efficiency and effectiveness. The facility utilizes Evoqua Water Technologies' Memcor® and Mempulse® MBR modules throughout. Mempulse is a sub-brand within the Memcor family.

The new expanded MBR line has an average daily flow that varies from approximately 55 million liters/day to more than 76 million liters. The target of the MBR line is to achieve an effluent with a quality higher than the stricter Italian legislation for reuse. Membranes are installed in tanks fed by gravity that can switch on/off according to need in order to ensure maximum flexibility. The total filtration area is approximately 150,000 square meters. In total there are nearly 4,000 Mempulse MBR modules utilized in the new expansion.

Construction of the expansion began in 2012, and the new Mempulse MBR line was put into operation at the end of 2014 . Following performance validation processes, the facility reached full capacity a few months thereafter and is actively recovering purified water for reuse and minimizing discharge.

Because the Mempulse MBR system eliminates the need for secondary clarifiers and tertiary treatment, it results in superior effluent quality, and a lower lifecycle cost with a smaller footprint. By incorporating Mempulse MBR modules, the Rimini WWTP was able to decrease its footprint and reduce project and operating costs while still treating the wastewater to their strict specifications.

[출처 = Water World / 2015년 7월 28일]