6 Reasons Why You Need a Smart Water Reclaim System

The reuse of wastewater is gaining significance in the management of facilities. A water reclaim system can treat appropriate wastewater and reuse it for beneficial purposes rather than just discharging it into the environment. In some cases, there is limited infrastructure, difficult locations, and continuous requirements for water reuse, making it more practical to provide a water reuse system that incorporates treatment and reuse in one system.

A smart system provides further flexibility. Automated controls, integrated treatment processes, and containerized construction can help streamline deployment and ease daily operation. The basic concept is simple, providing useful water where possible and reducing the complexity of treatment deployment and management, but the configuration will vary based on wastewater characteristics and the quality needed for reuse.

Consider these 6 reasons why a smart water reclaim system can be advantageous for contemporary water treatment projects.

1. Turn Wastewater Into a Reusable Water Resource

The first and most obvious reason for contemplating water reclamation is that treated wastewater may have a second use.

QILEE’s water treatment systems are containerized and are intended for the treatment of industrial and municipal effluent for reuse. Its published applications include municipal wastewater reuse, industrial wastewater treatment, and reuse of greywater and rainwater. Reclaimed water can be used for irrigation, industrial use, and to supply remote water needs, depending on the treatment configuration.
The treatment process should always be determined by the intended reuse application, as this will dictate the water-quality goal.

2. Save Space With a Containerized Design

The challenge of water treatment is not only the availability of good quality water but also space for the treatment equipment and other support facilities.

Containerized systems take a different approach to the problem. Treatment equipment is packaged within standardized container modules, resulting in a space-saving package that can be transported and positioned as desired.

According to QILEE, the company's water treatment systems can be easily installed and transported, even in remote areas like oil-rig locations and mining camps. All of the systems are designed in a modular fashion with treatment processes that can be set up for various situations.
This modular approach can offer increased flexibility when it isn't possible to accommodate a large permanent treatment structure.

3. Make Treatment Easier to Monitor

The operator must have visibility into system operation, especially if treatment is located at a remote or decentralized location.

Smart controls can help to integrate various treatments within the same control system. According to QILEE's published data, its containerized systems consist of intelligent pump valves and an IoT-based smart control system, which can monitor and operate remotely in real time.

This is important because there could be multiple processes in one treatment system. Having a centralized control can facilitate the observation and the operation of the system by the operator, since it allows the operator to control the system as a whole rather than each component as a single unit of equipment.

4. Match the Treatment Process to the Reuse Requirement

No one treatment process is applicable to all wastewater reuse projects. The necessary treatment train depends on what the wastewater contains, the quantity of wastewater, the quality of the water, and the purpose for which the water will be used.

For its containerized reclaimed water technologies, QILEE has identified two technologies: Membrane Bioreactor (MBR) and Ultrafiltration plus Reverse Osmosis (UF+RO). According to its published system information, these are built-in wastewater treatment strategies that transform wastewater into reusable water.

MBR and UF+RO have different treatment functions. MBR treatment is a combination of biological treatment and membrane separation, while UF+RO is a membrane separation-based treatment option that may yield higher-quality water for appropriate reuse applications.

What matters for a buyer is to start the process with the water-quality requirement, not the technology name.

5. Deploy Water Systems Where Infrastructure Is Limited

Not all communities have centralized wastewater systems. Treatment systems may be required to be located near the wastewater source for remote facilities, decentralized facilities, industrial facilities, or other projects.

A containerized reclaimed water system can meet this type of requirement by moving the treatment equipment to the site, rather than relying completely on a large centralized system.

QILEE classifies its reclaimed-water systems as appropriate for remote facilities, scenic areas, industrial applications, municipal applications, and decentralized applications. Systems are pre-engineered and flexible for quick installation and ease of use.

This can be important when project location and infrastructure play a significant role in project planning and when the containerized format can be considered.

6. Build a More Flexible Water Reuse Strategy

Water needs may vary. As a facility grows, relocates, or changes its treatment requirements, its water treatment needs can also change.

It's better to have modular treatment equipment than to have one fixed configuration that will be used for each project. QILEE's systems are described as modular and customizable, with configurations to be used in municipal, industrial, remote, and other situations. Another key aspect of the system design is relocation and reuse, which the company emphasizes.
This flexibility is beneficial if the treatment requirements are not likely to be consistent over the life of a project.

When buying, it's important to remember that you aren't just buying the equipment; you're buying the flexibility and performance it offers. Think about the system's water quality, capacity, available space, intended reuse application, and future changes at the site.

What to Check Before Choosing a Water Reclaim System

Prior to choosing equipment, gather the information that will dictate the treatment configuration:

Working from these factors makes it easier to compare treatments based on the actual project requirements, rather than picking a treatment because it is an advanced technology.

QILEE's containerized water treatment systems are examples of how treatment processes, smart controls, and containerized construction can be combined into an integrated water treatment system for facilities that are considering modular treatment and reuse.

Conclusion

Treating wastewater to produce potable water is feasible when the project requires it and the treated water meets the necessary quality standards. The value is not solely dependent on a single technology. It is the result of integrating the right treatment process and the right system design into the space, location, operating needs, and the objective for reuse of the system.

Reclaimed water systems that are containerized contribute to greater flexibility by being built in modules, with built-in treatment processes and smart monitoring. That combination can facilitate the integration of water reuse into water treatment processes for industrial, municipal, remote, and decentralized projects.

The first place to look is in the wastewater itself. Know its features and the intended reuse and then choose the treatment configuration according to those requirements.