Partners - MBR-TRAIN
Process optimisation and fouling control in membrane bioreactors for wastewater and drinking water treatment

At the end of 2004 Aquafin was responsible for the operation of 202 wastewater treatment plants, 832 pumping stations and 3,810 km of pipelines. Since its foundation the company has built 101 new wastewater treatment plants and has renovated 39 existing plants. In order to transport the wastewater to the treatment plants Aquafin built 593 pumping stations and constructed 2,630 km of pipelines. At the end of 2004, Aquafin had 688 employees.

On 25 April 2005 it was exactly fifteen years since the Flemish Region founded Aquafin nv to speed up the work of treating domestic wastewater in Flanders. Aquafin`s task package was specified as follows: design and implementation of projects from the imposed investment programmes, financing and operation of the cross-municipal wastewater treatment infrastructure in Flanders and expansion of know-how. The government retained authority over the planning of investment projects and the municipalities remained responsible for their own sewerage system (with associated problems such as infiltration, water flooding, connected ditches, etc.). It was possible to record short-term results due to the transfer and rapid accumulation of know-how. In the meantime the treatment capacity in Flanders has doubled compared to 1990. The waste load from 3.8 million inhabitants of Flanders, including connected industry, is now sanitized thanks to the joint efforts of Aquafin and the municipalities.