One of the pillars of sustainable resource use is water management. With the threat of water scarcity looming over cities around the world, TRX has acted proactively by partnering with world leader, Veolia Water Technologies. TRX is home to Southeast Asia’s first fully integrated commercial water reclaim programme, putting the district at the forefront of sustainable resource use in the region.
At the heart of the project is a dedicated wastewater management plant built on site at the district, which lowers its carbon footprint and also lowers the use of materials. Despite its diminutive size - three times smaller than a conventional water treatment plant – the plant will process all the wastewater throughout the district. By employing a loop system, the aim is to repurpose and reduce wastage in resources, while minimizing environmental impact. With a peak capacity to treat 553m3 of waste every hour, the plant will recover and reuse at least 80 percent of the expected 3.8 million cubic metres of sewage generated every year, while removing 95 percent of pollutants.
“Our goal is to achieve at least 50 percent reductions in water usage,” says Dato Azmar.
Technology to the rescue
In order to minimise wastage while ensuring high standards of delivery, the latest technology has been harnessed to detect impending issues before they become an actual problem.
Mohammad Aizuddin Mohammad Ismail, Operations & Maintenance Manager for Veolia, explains how the TRX smart water system extends throughout the water delivery process: “TRX has built a network which consists of all three water management systems: potable water, sewerage and recycled water.
“These lines have been installed with several instruments, such as electromagnetic (EM) flowmeters, KAPTA analysers and level sensors. These instruments assist in early detection of leakages along the line as well as water quality management.”
The data gathered is continuously sent to the Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system installed in the treatment plant and monitored 24/7 by plant operators. The SCADA system is a vital early warning system that can flag up any irregularities - such as changes in pressure and volume that indicate leakages or blockages - so that operators can immediately perform follow-up checks and nip any issues in the bud. This includes physical checks and timely repairs to the affected areas.
“This prevents any use of contaminated water and ensures that users can have an uninterrupted supply of high-quality water at all times,” says Aizuddin.
The system also allows for any additional tests to be carried out as quickly as possible, and this can assist in planning for any plant process interruptions or scheduled upgrades.
High-quality recycled water
As one of the first large-scale commercial plants in Southeast Asia to offer recycled water, being able to consistently maintain the quality of the water is essential to operations. Wastewater and harvested rainwater are collected, processed and sent back out for all non-potable use.
“On the recycled water network, KAPTA analysers have been installed throughout to analyse the water quality. Its role is to indicate the existence of contamination,” Aizuddin explains, adding that this particular smart sensor is being used for the first time in Southeast Asia.
Multiple parameters are measured - such as temperature, chlorine levels, conductivity and pressure - alongside microbiological tests that detect pathogens and monitor any contamination in the water.
“This system is important to tremendously reduce water usage and any interruptions of water services, providing better overall water quality management in TRX. It also helps to improve service, enhance financial performance and reduce energy consumption,” Aizuddin adds.
The result is a continuous supply of recycled water that is able to cater to all the non-potable needs of the whole district. Whether it’s toilet flushing, cooling systems or irrigating the many green plots throughout TRX, it’s nice to know that the water has been treated with care and with as few drops wasted as possible.
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