AQUACLEAR wins the Neptun State Prize: Innovation for the 4th purification stage

The fourth purification stage is an important and challenging step for modern water treatment. Micropollutants and pesticides can hardly be removed from wastewater using conventional processes. Innovative solutions are needed. This is exactly where our DONAU PAC® AQUACLEAR for the fourth purification stage comes in, which has now also been awarded the Neptun State Prize for Water.
 
 

The Neptun State Prize honors Austria's best water projects

The Neptun State Prize is an important award in the field of water and has been awarded since 1999. Since 1999, it has honored projects that deal with the sustainable use and protection of water as a resource. The prize is awarded in various categories, including WATER EDUCATION, WATER RESEARCH and WATER CREATIVE.

We are particularly pleased that our DONAU PAC® AQUACLEAR, the all-in-one product for the fourth purification stage, was awarded first place in the Water RESEARCH category. The award shows us that innovation in water purification is rewarded and that AQUACLEAR addresses exactly where solutions are urgently needed.

DONAU PAC® AQUACLEAR for the fourth cleaning stage

WithDONAU PAC® AQUACLEAR, we have developed a product specifically for the requirements of the fourth purification stage. It enables the efficient removal of micropollutants, such as pharmaceutical residues, hormonal substances or pesticides, from wastewater. It therefore makes an active contribution to water protection.
 
 

How does DONAU PAC® AQUACLEAR work?

DONAU PAC® AQUACLEAR combines the effect of powdered activated carbon with the function of a precipitant for phosphate elimination in one product. This means that organic trace substances such as pharmaceutical residues or pesticides can be removed and phosphate reliably precipitated at the same time. Dosing can be integrated directly into existing wastewater treatment processes - without additional technical effort or modifications.
 
 

Advantages of DONAU PAC® AQUACLEAR for wastewater treatment plants 

DThe demands on wastewater treatment plants are increasing. DONAU PAC® AQUACLEAR offers a solution that can be easily integrated into existing processes and offers a number of advantages:

• All-in-one product: AQUACLEAR combines activated carbon and precipitant in one solution.

• Simple integration: Dosing can be easily integrated into existing systems.

• Highly effective: Our product reliably removes micropollutants such as medicines, pesticides and hormonal substances.

• Also for smaller plants: It is designed so that it can be used in small and medium-sized wastewater treatment plants in particular without great effort.

• Contribution to future sustainability: AQUACLEAR helps to meet future water treatment requirements, such as the new EU municipal wastewater directive.

What is the fourth treatment stage?

Conventional wastewater treatment takes place in three successive or combined treatment stages: mechanical, biological and chemical. Coarse contaminants, organic substances and nutrients such as phosphorus and nitrogen can be removed. More stubborn micropollutants, such as pharmaceutical residues, pesticides or hormonal substances, can hardly be removed from the water in these stages.

This is where the fourth purification stage comes in. It is intended to supplement existing processes with a further purification stage in order to also remove these substances that are difficult to break down.

Read also: Wastewater treatment simply explained: the 4 purification stages

The EU Urban Wastewater Directive requires a fourth treatment stage

The Urban Wastewater Directive (KARL for short) regulates how urban wastewater may be treated and discharged back into the environment in Europe. The KARL has been revised in recent months. One major innovation is the mandatory introduction of the fourth treatment stage for wastewater treatment plants. This is intended to remove harmful trace substances from wastewater in an even more targeted manner in future in order to reduce risks to public health and the environment.

The changes primarily affect large plants and those that discharge into sensitive bodies of water.

DONAU PAC® AQUACLEAR for small and medium-sized wastewater treatment plants

Our goal is to provide people and the environment with clean water by supporting small and medium-sized wastewater treatment plants in optimizing their purification performance in the course of revising the KARL - be it by meeting local requirements, voluntary measures or forward-looking adaptations to possible future guidelines.

With DONAU PAC® AQUACLEAR, we offer an economical and efficient solution for this: it can be integrated into existing processes without any additional structural measures and combines the removal of phosphate and micropollutants in one easy-to-dose product.

We support larger wastewater treatment plants that rely on activated carbon filters with customized solutions and the technical expertise of Donau Carbon.
 
 

Conclusion: DONAU PAC® AQUACLEAR for the fourth purification stage

DONAU PAC® AQUACLEAR provides a solution that helps small and medium-sized wastewater treatment plants in particular to meet the upcoming requirements of the EU Urban Wastewater Directive. The award of the Neptun State Prize for Water confirms that we are on the right track and that we have wastewater treatment solutions for future-proof and sustainable water management. The fourth treatment stage is here and we are delighted to be actively involved in shaping this path to cleaner water.