GE secures Italian wastewater treatment contract

GE has secured a contract from Costruzioni Dondi, a engineering, procurement and construction firm, to supply its LEAPmbr membrane bioreactor (MBR) wastewater-treatment technology for ASI Messina’s plant upgrade project in Italy.

Under the terms of the ASI project GE’s equipment will be shipped in phases, beginning in September 2012. Commercial operation is expected by the second quarter of 2013.

The ASI Messina plant is located about 35km from the city of Messina, and is an upgrade of an existing installation in Giammoro.

Costruzioni Dondi technical director Alessandro Rondina said that the ASI Messina plant will treat wastewater generated by two municipalities and by local industrial sites associated to the ASI Messina Consortium.

"By using GE’s LEAPmbr technology, ASI Messina will be able to reach the high effluent qualities imposed by the local authority and will have the possibilities to reuse the treated wastewater for industrial needs," Rondina added.

GE claims that the LEAPmbr technology enables water/wastewater treatment facilities to address water quality issues, while lowering energy costs and increasing overall productivity.

The LEAPmbr technology will enable ASI Messina plant to control pollution and help protect the environment through water reuse, coast preservation and low energy consumption.

Costruzioni Dondi CEO Alberto Dondi said, "The ability of GE’s technology to reach high treatment levels in a very confined space while providing the lowest energy consumption among all advanced technologies today were key reasons that led to us selecting GE for this important project."

Upon completion, the new plant will be able to treat a yearly average flow of 21,000m³ per day, with daily peaks of up to 40,000m³ per day.

The ASI Messina plant is expected to be commercially online by the second quarter of 2013.