Wastewater Treatment Technologies & Process Development

As an independent research and transfer institute, we support sewage treatment plant operators in process adjustments or process conversions. Our scientifically based methods and proven analysis tools ensure objective and reliable support for all optimisation processes.

With the adoption of the EU Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive (UWWTD), we have specifically expanded our service portfolio to support its implementation. An important tool is the dynamic modeling of wastewater treatment plants using the established simulation software SIMBA#. This approach enables precise, plant-specific analysis and the development of tailored solutions to meet the directive’s stringent requirements.A comprehensive overview of our full range of services is available here.

We support municipalities, water associations, and industrial partners through research, development, and consulting services across the entire wastewater sector. We model drainage systems and optimize them hydraulically and with respect to pollutant loads using advanced sewer network control concepts. By strategically influencing flow and load management within the sewer system, we actively shape the boundary conditions for downstream wastewater treatment plant operation. 

We develop and test innovative biological, chemical, and advanced treatment processes, for example for micropollutant removal within the framework of quaternary treatment. We no longer view wastewater treatment plants solely as facilities for pollution removal, but increasingly as key sites for the recovery of valuable resources.

Sewage treatment plants, upstream drainage systems and conveyed wastewater greatly depending on the boundary conditions. We carefully consider and evaluate these specific aspects and develop tailor-made solutions for municipal sewage treatment plants, industry and agriculture.

In addition to technological solutions, we advise our partners on regulatory compliance, efficiency enhancement, and quality assurance, enabling economically sound and legally compliant operations. Our goal is to make wastewater technology future-proof and sustainable, thereby promoting the protection of the environment and water resources.

With the revision of the EU Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive (UWWTD), the legal framework has been fundamentally updated, introducing for the first time explicit requirements for the monitoring and reporting of greenhouse gas emissions. For operators, this means critically reviewing existing structures and implementing forward-looking solutions.

However, preparing greenhouse gas inventories and continuously refining them can be complex and pose significant challenges. We support this process from the collection and processing of relevant data, through the application of appropriate emission factors, to the preparation and evaluation of the emission inventory. This provides operators with a reliable basis for decision-making that ensures compliance with regulatory requirements while securing the sustainable operation of their facilities.