Dec. 5, 2002 -- Atkins Water, with Orange County Sanitation District, have won the 2002 SARBS (Santa Ana River Basin) award for the novel Atkins-developed SONIX equipment, used to improve anaerobic digestion.
This follows a recent trial to demonstrate the benefits of this innovative product at Orange County Sanitation District in California.
The award was presented in Anaheim, Southern California and forms part of the CWEA (California Water Environment Association) which aims to enhance the education and technology of California's wastewater industry, to promote sound policies which will benefit society, and to protect the quality of our water resources today.
The awards ceremony was attended by various representatives from the water and wastewater industry.
Fiona Hogan, Scientist at Atkins Water, states, "SONIX won the award because of the environmental benefits, resource conservation, the reliability and the efficiency benefits associated with the technology, as well as its unique patented design. Atkins won, in the face of competition, due to their better research, innovation and engineering. We are now taking the next step and applying for the State award, a major achievement if won."
Atkins has developed this highly novel ultrasonic processor, sold under the trade name 'SONIX'. This device is capable of delivering a very intense and highly focused ultrasonic beam into a fluid.
Full scale tests have shown that the cavitation effects caused by this ultrasonic processing can be used to greatly improve the efficiency and operation of traditional wastewater treatment plants.
Atkins has formed a joint venture company called Sonico with Purac Ltd, an established process contracting house based near Birmingham. Sonico will drive the exploitation of the SONIX technology both in the UK and overseas.
