Expandability of membrane systems solves community's growth challenge

Homes in Anthem Parkside (Phoenix, Ariz.) are part of a self-contained development which includes its own water and wastewater treatment. (Photo courtesy Del Webb Corp.)

PHOENIX, Ariz., Aug. 15, 2000 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- The expandability of an Arizona community's water and wastewater filtration technology is being used by a large developer during a time of unprecedented growth.

The self-contained development of Anthem, Ariz., complete with its own schools, shopping centers and recreational facilities, relies upon a modular filtration system installed in 1999 for its drinking water and wastewater filtration.

Developer Del Webb has a new contract with Zenon Environmental valued at approximately $5 million, to expand the initial water systems for Anthem.

The Zenon ZeeWeed® membrane system in Anthem Water Campus provides drinking water as well as wastewater treatment to community residents where the wastewater will be 100 percent reused for irrigation and other non-potable uses.

The development of Anthem began in 1998 on desert land outside Phoenix. The goal was to establish a self-sustaining community for young families looking for an alternative to the hustle-bustle and the pressures of city life. Anthem is based upon Sun City, a nationally known community Del Webb Corporation developed for senior citizens.

The water treatment plants in the new community were engineered to allow for future expansion in four phases as the community grows.

The Zenon Environmental ZeeWeed(R) filtration system treats the water and wastewater at the self-contained community Anthem near Phoenix, Ariz. (Photo courtesy Zenon)

Anthem's key criteria in choosing water treatment facilities were effective use of new technology, and expandability. ZeeWeed? Immersed Membrane, a filter used in drinking water treatment, wastewater treatment, water reuse, reverse osmosis pre-treatment and other industrial uses, works by drawing water through the membrane surface under a slight negative vacuum. The membrane modules are combined to form cassettes and immersed in the raw water of the process tank. So, other than pre-screening, no further pre-treatment is required. The membrane system is designed to replace both the clarifier and granular media filters of conventional drinking water and wastewater treatment systems, according to the company. The membranes can function in either the microfiltration or ultrafiltration range, with pore sizes ranging between 0.4 ?m and 0.04 ?m. The slight negative vacuum applied to the membrane saves on energy costs, and membrane fouling is reduced because of the lower pressure involved. The biggest advantage of the system for Anthem is its modularity. As Anthem grows, so can its water treatment system.

The Anthem Water Campus' membrane-based drinking water system, now tripled in size, is nearing completion. The expansion of the wastewater treatment plant is to be completed early 2001 and will allow for reuse of the treated effluent to irrigate the community's golf courses. Subsequent expansion of both drinking water and wastewater capacity will occur as the community continues to grow.

For more information about Anthem, visit www.anthemarizona.com/pkside/index.html. For more information about the filtration technology, visit Zenon's web site www.zenonenv.com. For more information about Del Webb, visit the web site at www.delwebb.com/.