EU Business and Biodiversity Platform Workstream 2: Innovation for Biodiversity and Business

[Howard Dryden]

EU Business and Biodiversity Platform Workstream 2: Innovation for Biodiversity and Business Water micropollutant treatment innovations from Suez Environnement (constructed wetlands) and Dryden Aqua (Activated Filter Media) – Analysis of the opportunity 22 October 2015   Author: Guy Duke

 

1                  BASIC INFORMATION

1.1             Companies and contact points

(A)   SUEZ ENVIRONNEMENT

Contact: Samuel Martin, Division Manager, Wastewater Treatment & Recovery, Cirsee -Innovation & Business Performance

Email: samuel...@suez-env.com

Web: www.suez-environnement.com

(B)   DRYDEN AQUA

Contact: Howard Dryden, CEO

Email: how...@drydenaqua.com

Web:  www.drydenaqua.com

1.2             Description of the innovation

This analysis addresses two distinct innovations relating to the treatment of micropollutants in water: (A) Constructed wetlands – Suez Environnement, (B) Activated Filter Media – Dryden Aqua.

(A)   SUEZ ENVIRONNEMENT

The ZHART project is a 28 months project (2012-2015) to develop innovative techniques based on nature for processing micropollutants (endocrine disruptors, drug residues, hazardous substances, etc.) with a positive impact on ecological diversity. ZHART (‘Zone Humide Artificielle’ - Artificial Wetland) specifically aims at developing and industrializing such structures at the output of (urban) wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) to convert them into tertiary/ fourth stage waste treatment areas, ensuring the elimination of micropollutants and protecting ecological diversity. This contributes to implementation of the EU Water Framework Directive (WFD) that aims to restore the quality of the aquatic environment by requiring that listed priority substances disappear from the water by 2028. Some of these substances have been shown to jeopardize the survival of ecosystems and/or affect human health.

Public private partnership

ZHART is a private sector initiative but its application is likely to involve partnership with the public sector in many instances.

(B)   DRYDEN AQUA

Dryden Aqua (DA) up-cycle green container glass to manufacture a water filtration media that replaces sand in the treatment of urban and industrial wastewater and drinking water.  DA processes up to 40,000 tonnes per annum of glass and manufacture sufficient filter