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TSE WATER POLISHING
Treated Sewage Effluent (TSE) in the Middle East and Gulf Countries
Treated Sewage Effluent (TSE) is a significantly underexploited resource in the Middle East and other Gulf countries, with 40% to 60% being discarded into the sea without utilization.
In the District Cooling Industry, this excess water can be effectively used in two ways. The first method involves the direct usage of TSE without any dilution in the condenser water system. By adding specific water treatment chemicals and performing minor construction and MEP works, the conversion becomes inexpensive, requiring low maintenance and simple operations to protect the condenser water system. These processes are carefully monitored and controlled to ensure that the blown-down water meets the standards set by the Ministry of Environment before being discharged into the surface water network and, eventually, the sea.
We polish treated sewage water using ultra-filtration membranes (0.01 to 0.1 microns) and reverse osmosis membranes to achieve high-quality product water equivalent to drinking quality. This polished water can be used for cooling towers, cement batching plants, high-quality irrigation, and more.
Alternatively, TSE polishing plants can be installed in new or existing facilities where space and power are not an issue. These plants treat TSE water through the process of reverse osmosis to achieve water parameters similar to potable water.
However, the polishing system has drawbacks, primarily due to the large volume of rejected water that must be discharged into either the sewer network or surface water networks. This rejected water needs to be diluted to meet the relevant authority requirements. Additional considerations when using polished water include operational costs (such as electrical costs), servicing, and maintenance expenses.
When using potable or polished water, cooling towers operate on a cycle of concentration (COC) of approximately nine. In contrast, cooling plants using direct TSE operate on a maximum of three cycles before the water is discarded into the sea. Despite the lower COC, using TSE in district cooling is still beneficial for the environment and conserves resources.
Regardless of the method used, the overall TSE water usage per refrigeration ton remains the same. Therefore, TSE is a valuable resource that should be extensively and properly utilized, not just restricted to irrigation.
