Flanders’ wastewater treatment company, Aquafin, has chosen to upgrade the Antwerp, Belgium area Schilde Wastewater Treatment Plant by means of a unique combined solution of GE’s ZeeLung membrane aerated biofilm reactor (MABR) and ZeeWeed membrane bioreactor (MBR) technologies. The plant was originally designed for the treatment of 28,000 population equivalents (both hydraulic and biologic capacity) and will be the first in Europe to use the new MABR technology. The actual load has, however, gradually increased to 35,000 population equivalents. Therefore, in 2015, biological treatment capacity was increased by extending membrane capacity of the MBR (so it can handle more flow) and installing post-denitrification sand filters on the effluent of the conventional activated sludge system.
