Water Treatment & Production

Increasing sanitation has a tremendous impact on the environment and human life expectancy. Many microbiological processes are involved in wastewater treatment and microbiologists and process engineers try to steer these interactions in order to treat the very complex mix of chemicals and materials dissolved and suspended in industrial wastewater and sewage. Furthermore, microorganisms play an important role in the production and distribution of safe drinking water and high quality process water as well.

CMET researchers study microbiological interactions (activated sludge) in aerobic, anoxic and anaerobic conditions, and further develop biological nutrient en micropollutant management strategies in different matrices. The Water Treatment and Production Group has a strong experience in engineering microbial processes in lab- and pilot-scale reactor set-ups for wastewater treatment, and developed a large drinking water distribution pilot (3 x 100m piping) which is open for applied research with the Flemish and international drinking water utilities.

To cope with the current challenges of climate change and water scarcity, CMET contributes to the further integration of non-traditional water sources in the industrial and municipal water production process, such as the effluent of wastewater treatment plants. We collaborate with other research groups in several water reuse projects, constantly striving for biostable and microbially safe water production. For example, using flow cytometric fingerprinting, CMET researchers develop innovative (online) monitoring tools to safeguard the membrane integrity in membrane filtration plants and water reuse projects, in close collaboration with the water industry and technology providers.