The Zero-to-Low Energy Accel-o-Fac® system is an upgrade of an existing WwTP.

Following study and planning by both New Zealand local officials and Gurney Environmental, the company in February installed an Accel-o-Fac® wastewater treatment system that includes SERIES 3 zero-to-low energy windpowered aeration units for retrofit to the WwTP at the Homebush WwTP outside Masterton, New Zealand. This installation follows a similar installation at Nelson, New Zealand in 2017.

The Zero-to-Low Energy Accel-o-Fac® windpowered system fits in with Masterton's eco/sustainability focus of seeking out significantly greener and more sustainable options. The Masterton WwTP features a unique Grass Plot system surrounding the WwTP (see below) that provides an eco-sustainable, low carbon footprint method of nutrient removal at a very low cost. Using Gurney Environmental’s renewable energy wind power to enhance removal rates within the treatment cells solves numerous issues such as odour control, sludge digestion, BOD removal and other removal acceleration. And all with little ongoing operating costs or energy.

Simple maintenance consists of
changing the lube pack annually.

Meeting the Challenges of Climate Change

Employing the windpowered Accel-o-Fac® Nature Based System is uniquely suited to meet the many challenges of climate change

with an extremely low carbon footprint, dramatic energy savings, no sludge production or handling, no odour, no CSOs, plus energy-free disinfection, thereby making effluent suitable for irrigation water re-use or safe-bathing waters whether discharged to river or sea.

Installation Improves Performance Whilst Saving Energy

The Accel-o-Fac® upgrade will be used to significantly improve overall treatment within the WwTP whilst also controlling odour, digesting sludge and improving disinfection. With a zero-to-low energy cost, the benefits are gained with OPEX savings that can literally pay for the initial capital cost.

 

 

 

Nutrient Removal With Grass Plots – A Cost Effective Nature Based Solution

The Masterton WwTP utilises a cost effective natural method for nutrient removal by applying the treated wastewater to multiple grass strips. Creating the treatment cell border dykes involved dividing the land into strips and grading them until they were level. Large valves open at one end releasing thousands of litres of treated effluent onto the land and flooding each strip one by one. Grass crops are planted on these strips which are harvested for baleage. The net effect is low cost nutrient removal as well as improving soil health by re-establishing the organic structure so that it can do the best possible job of filtering the wastewater and absorbing nutrients.

With this system, treated wastewater is irrigated to 100 hectares of Council-owned land on a seven to ten-day cycle, depending on weather conditions and the time of the year. When groundwater is high after lots of rain and it's not possible to irrigate to land, discharge is made to a nearby river. The grass growing on the border strips is harvested as baleage and sold for animal food. Strict conditions apply to the production and testing of the baleage to make sure it's safe for animals to eat.

 

 

Several Unique Nature Based Wastewater Treatment Solutions from Gurney Environmental

Gurney Environmental offer several complete Nature Based Solutions as well as specialised equipment that include:

• • Full 100% treatment, standalone solutions (Aero-Fac® and Accel-o-Fac®);
  • Pretreatment systems to solve issues and expand existing filter plants (Aero-Fac PTS); and
  • Standalone sludge digestion systems (Aero-Fac SDS).

The very unique and economical Accel-o-Fac® system, as an example, utilises a mostly windpowered option to offer a zero-to-low energy solution that provides incredibly low OPEX with very low initial CAPEX. In many cases, no energy costs plus no sludge handling costs or complexities make Accel-o-Fac® extraordinarily sustainable and economical initially and long-term. Accel-o-Fac® has been used for over 17 years in the UK at such locations as Holkham Hall and Village.

READ MORE about our technologies here.