Acre WWTP

Circular Economy at its Best

  • Chaggai David Newman
  • January 14, 2025
  • BlueGen Water®

BlueGen Water implemented advanced activated sludge technology to significantly reduce levels of biochemical organic matter, total suspended solids (TSS), nitrogen, and phosphorus. The process integrates a raw wastewater pretreatment stage with fine screening and grit removal, followed by primary sedimentation to reduce organic and solids content. A biological treatment sequence further processes the wastewater in anaerobic, anoxic, and aeration tanks, with a final tertiary treatment through gravity sand filtration that produces high-quality irrigation-standard effluent.

Acre WWTP – Circular Economy at its Best

  • Client: Four Western Galilee Municipalities and Regional Councils
  • Type: Municipal
  • Segment: Municipalities and local utilities
  • Location: Acre Area, Western Galilee, Israel
  • Capacity: 36,000 m³/d
  • Type of Contract: 25-year BOT (Build-Operate-Transfer) Project
  • Solution: Wastewater treatment and reuse
  • Tech solution: Activated sludge, biological treatment, Anaerobic digestion
  • Scope: Design, construction, operation and maintenance

BlueGen Water®

Acre WWTP – Circular Economy at its Best

Project Overview:

The Acre WWTP, situated near the historic city of Acre in Western Galilee, serves as a vital facility for wastewater collection and treatment for surrounding municipalities and councils. This plant’s upgrade has increased its capacity to 36,000 m³/day, marking it as one of Israel’s largest wastewater treatment facilities. The expansion enables uninterrupted operation while incorporating efficient designs that allow for long-term, sustainable treatment processes, meeting both local demands and environmental standards.

 Bluegen Water Solution:

BlueGen Water implemented advanced activated sludge technology to significantly reduce levels of biochemical organic matter, total suspended solids (TSS), nitrogen, and phosphorus. The process integrates a raw wastewater pretreatment stage with fine screening and grit removal, followed by primary sedimentation to reduce organic and solids content. A biological treatment sequence further processes the wastewater in anaerobic, anoxic, and aeration tanks, with a final tertiary treatment through gravity sand filtration that produces high-quality irrigation-standard effluent.

The sludge digestion process has been optimized by converting mesophilic digesters into thermophilic ones, significantly reducing the required digestion time. Additionally, the solid content has been increased from 4-5% to 7-8%. This enhancement results in high-quality Class A sludge that can be distributed directly to fields, eliminating the need for additional processing at external composting plants. Methane gas generated during digestion is used to produce electricity, while the residual heat from the generator is utilized to heat the anaerobic digester, creating a closed-loop, clean energy process.

Process Flow Diagram

Key Features and Innovations:

Sustainable Effluent Reuse

Provides high-quality effluent for unrestricted agricultural irrigation, reducing dependence on potable water.

Innovative Sludge Management

BlueGen Water shortened digestion times, increased solids concentration, and harnessed methane gas from sludge digestion, generating power and heat for operational efficiency.

Low Operational Costs (OPEX)

Incorporates surface filtration through disc filters for a cost-effective treatment process.

Efficient Sludge Treatment

Reduces the volume of excess sludge, minimizing disposal requirements and environmental impact.