Press releases

Munich/Celle, 18 May 2012 - The German Federal Technical Aid Agency (THW) expert groups specialising in drinking water treatment received at the IFAT in a symbolic handover eight new Berkefeld type TWA 15 UF treatment plants. On behalf of the groups, the first plant was handed over to the drinking water specialist team from Starnberg, near Munich. The newly developed modular system, which complies with the German Drinking Water Regulation, stands out for its combination of state-of-the-art processes technologies and its core component of a ceramic ultrafiltration.

"Every one of our new drinking water treatment plants can provide sufficient drinking water to supply up to 20,000 people a day," said THW President Albrecht Broemme. "With these mobile ultrafiltration plants the THW fulfils the requirements of disaster relief in Germany." The high process technology standard is the result of a close development cooperation between the THW and the water technology manufacturer Berkefeld, part of Veolia Water Solutions & Technologies. "In particular, we took into account the advice of the very experienced volunteer THW aid workers in the drinking water specialist groups to ensure that their specific needs were met," said Dr Thorsten Grenz, Chairman of Veolia in Germany. "We thank the THW for this close and challenging partnership."

Depending on the combination of the process steps, a TWA 15 UF system provides up to 15m³/hour of clean drinking water to supply up to about 2,400 inhabitants if the water is fed into the grid, or about 20,000 if it is distributed in canisters. The plant's core component is a highly-effective CeraMem® ceramic ultrafiltration membrane with a pore width of 0.1 μm by which viruses and germs are reliably removed from the water. The ceramic membrane is structured as a monolith block and therefore is especially robust. In addition, disinfection with ultraviolet light and chlorination ensures a safe drinking water quality. Upstream area coagulation and adsorption unit as well as pre-filtration with automatically back-washable discfilters. The system also includes a storage unit for 40m³ of drinking water and a distribution and sludge disposal module. Due to the modular concept, these water treatment plants can be transported to the action site in commercial aircraft and trucks, erected without great effort and quickly put into operation. The predominantly automatic control and the reduced need for chemicals ease the efforts of the aid workers on-site.

More at www.berkefeld.de

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Eight new Berkefeld water treatmentplants were handed over to the THW at the IFAT. Albrecht Broemme, THW President, Lothar Köpf, THW local branch Starnberg, and Dr Thorsten Grenz, Chairman Veolia Germany, toast the event with clean drinking water. (Photo: Berkefeld / Veolia)

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One of the new drinking water systems which the THW in future will deploy in crisis situations. Each of those plants produces 15 m³ of clean drinking water per hour.
(Photo: Berkefeld / Veolia)

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The TWA 15 UF drinking water plant is of modular structure and can be adapted to various raw water sources. Its core component is a ceramic ultrafiltration.
(Photo: Berkefeld / Veolia)