Bauer Resources to commercialise Alcoa wastewater treatment technology

Alcoa has partnered with Bauer Resources to commercialise its natural engineered wastewater treatment technology that mimics natural wetlands to sustainably treat wastewater.

Bauer Resources will use the company’s engineered wetlands technology to deploy wastewater treatment systems globally.

Developed at the Alcoa Technology Center, the system imitates natural processes found in wetlands to clean and disinfect process water. It uses 40% less energy than traditional systems and lowers costs by 60%.

The system also does not use chemicals or emit odours associated with conventional tank systems. High-quality treated water can be reused in manufacturing processes or for irrigation.

Alcoa executive vice president and chief technology officer Ray Kilmer said: "Alcoa’s technology, combined with Bauer’s engineering, design and construction expertise, will enable the sustainable treatment of municipal and industrial wastewater, saving money and conserving water."

Bauer Resources executive board member Roman Breuer said: "Our goal is to deploy this proven technology worldwide. Regardless of market, municipal waste water or even a wide range of industrial applications, this technology and partnership can offer a solution."

In 2009, Bauer installed the largest wetlands treatment system in the world for Petroleum Development Oman (PDO) in Nimr, Oman.

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Image: Alcoa’s three-step natural engineered wastewater treatment system. Photo: courtesy of Alcoa Inc.