Tackling the challenge of emerging pollutants in wastewater in the Prairies: a novel granular sludge-dynamic membrane bioreactor system

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Novel wastewater treatment technologies are needed to address the weaknesses of current techniques, and ensure the sustainability of wastewater treatment in the future. In the context of circular economy, conventional wastewater treatment technologies are no longer adequate because of high energy demand, large sludge production, green-house gas (GHG) emissions, inability to remove emerging pollutants (such as microplastics and antibiotics), and poor cold-temperature performance. On the other hand, wastewater can be a valuable resource if technologies were available to cost-effectively extract the water resources, nutrients, and energy contained in it. In recognition of the challenges and opportunities in wastewater, the City of Regina has been seeking future-ready wastewater management strategies that can bring co-benefits. In this project, we will develop a novel granular sludge-dynamic membrane bioreactor (GS-DMBR) system for wastewater treatment in the Canadian Prairies climate. The removal of representative emerging pollutants (such as microplastics) will be optimized; resource recovery (such as clean water resources) will also be explored. Insights in the governing mechanisms will be established by using numerical and statistical tools. The system configuration and operating scheme will be improved based on the wastewater quality and seasonality variations. We think the novel GS-DMBR technology will consume less energy, produce less sludge, emit less GHGs, and remove emerging pollutants more effectively in the Canadian context. The outcomes will not only benefit the partners, the City of Regina and QuantWave Technologies Inc., but also shed light onto sustainable wastewater management in Canada and internationally.