Sustainability is of paramount importance in the water and sewerage industry. It is based on a simple principle: Everything that we need for our survival and well-being depends, either directly or indirectly, on our natural environment.
Established since 1994, Indah Water has set its own roadmap to provide long-term sustainable sewerage services in Malaysia. They are committed to delivering the highest quality services to meet all environmental regulations and contribute to environmental sustainability.
What are the two bi-products of sewage treatment?
In general, sewage treatment produces two streams of waste: effluent discharged from sewage treatment plants (STPs) and sludge, a semisolid mass consisting of organic and inorganic material from the primary sewage.
IWK’s Regional Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) in Klang Valley generate approximately 200 tonnes biosolids per day which are currently disposed of to landfills.
Biosolids recycling initiative for the production of Black Soldier Fly Larvae
These biosolids contain pathogenic organisms, and depending on the type of wastewater treated (municipal or industrial), it may contain chemicals such as heavy metals and organic contaminants. Therefore, extensive treatment of sewage sludge is necessary to eliminate or reduce those contaminants.
The IWK ‘Black Soldier Fly Larvae’ project seeks to reuse treated biosolids as feed to Black Soldier Fly Larvae and reduce the disposal of biosolids to landfill.
In order to achieve its aspirations towards a circular economy, Indah Water Konsortium formed a partnership with a local company, Menum Industries Sdn Bhd, to manage the biosolids produced at IWK's sewage treatment plants in a sustainable manner.
The Black Soldier Fly Larvae, grown on feedstock of these biosolids mixed with other organic waste, can be harvested to produce full-fat protein meal; a sought-after feed meal for aquaculture industries especially ornamental fish farming. Menum Industries has the technical know-hows and facilities to produce these Black Soldier Fly Larvae that feed on a mixture containing IWK’s biosolids. Reusing biosolids to create valuable and sustainable nutrient sources will undoubtedly be a game changer for IWK as the business ramps up its green initiatives.
100% recycling of biosolids by 2030
This initiative is in line with the Green Technology Malaysia (GTMP) target, which is to achieve 100% recycling of biosolids by 2030 and will result in GreenHouse Gas (GHG) emission reduction of about 11,500 metric tonne CO2e per year.
Along with this project, IWK is also looking to maximise reuse options in sludge management, and increasing its capacity to make fertiliser pellets for non-crop plants.
Water reclamation initiative
Additionally, IWK has also embarked on a water reclamation initiative whereby wastewater treated from IWK’s sewage treatment plant will go through additional processing in order to be repurposed for non-potable uses. Through this initiative, water operators will have more options for obtaining non-potable water sources, which can help to preserve the nation's clean water resources, ease pressure on water sources, and promote circular economy practises.
As early as 2015, IWK has taken steps to start small-scale projects with the local authorities to reuse treated effluent to water landscape crops.
All of these initiatives will surely pave the way forward as IWK looks for new ways to manage their processes and downstream by-products in a sustainable way.
Interested to know more about IWK's initiatives? Visit their website or social media pages: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Tik Tok.
