Page 26 - enewsletter_7th

Operation & Upgrade

In fact, the pervasive malodor at the plant can generally be classified as inorganic gaseous products and high-
ly volatile organic compounds. The former is the result of biological activity that occurs in the sewage while the lat-
ter stems from the industrial wastes in sewers. Currently, there are two de-odor systems within the plant that copes
with the unpleasant scent by lowering its concentration, minimizing its impact on the surrounding neighborhood.
The upgrade and expansion work will see more technological solutions introduced against the stench in the near fu-
ture, with some of the short-term and mid-term measures already taken to improve the air emission standards.
Duringthewastewatertreatmentprocedure,allthecomponentsfoundinsewage,bestknownassludge,willgothroughadewatering
process,reducingtheamountofwaterinittoaslittleas27%.ThedewateredresidualswillthenbesenttoeitherMacaoRefuseInciner-
ation Plant or reclamation areas while the water is discharged back to the sea. The upgrade and expansion work also includes a new
technology called “Membrane Bioreactor” that enables the processed sewage to be reused for gardening, toilet-flushing and so on.
The plant upgrade and expansion is in its final phase, awaiting for the government’s approval. Besides, given the wastewa-
ter treatment plant incompatibly situated in a residential area, the green space created earlier last year has not only served
the environmental purpose but also bring ecological benefits such as microclimate improvement, binding dust and tox-

23 ic particles and thermal-insulation, significantly diminishing the plant’s negative impact on the nearby neighborhood.