[     Business case listing ](/en/case-studies "  Business case listing")



 

 

 

### THE PROBLEM

Andrea Aliscioni COO Milan Water Service, MM SpA, reveals ’*The main characteristics of Nosedo Plant is the **big volume of water treated that is reused** for agriculture; Nosedo WWTP is one of the best examples of water reuse in Europe. Our challenge is to guarantee every time **the best condition for the water reuse.***‘  
That is why wastewater is treated ‘*not only according to environmental directives, but also for the possibility to have a **circular use of the water*****’** explains Francesca Pizza, process manager at Nosedo WWTP.

###   
THE ACTION

Hubgrade Performance is a holistic digital solution composed of asuite of intelligent software solutions for real-time optimization of process performance. It provides a state-of-the-art auto-pilot to optimize the whole wastewater system, including sewer network and treatment plant.  
Hubgrade Performance focuses on real-time automated optimization of the consumption of energy and chemicals, biological and hydraulic capacity enhancement, stable operation and compliance of wastewater treatment plants and sewer networks.



 

 

 



###   
CLIENT BENEFITS

**Why Hubgrade Performance: deciding factors**

- Having a system that can integrate the operation of the sewer system and the WWTP.
- Obtain significant total average operational savings from reduced energy consumption, chemical consumption and sludge production.
- Better handling of the large biological load variations together with a better process overview and less manual adjustments.
- Achieve more hydraulic capacity of the biological process, giving a better handling of wet weather situations.
- Future plans include the possibility of expanding the solution to also cover the whole Milan city sewer system

**Additional client benefits**

- SMART Bio-P: Introduction of significant biological phosphorus removal in existing process volumes in a WWTP not designed for it

One of the most significant challenges WWTPs have to face is, according to Francesca Pizza, **gaining as much control as possible of the biochemical process**. With 40% of the total plant energy consumption, it is ‘the most demanding \[process\] from an energy point of view’.  
Hubgrade Performance allows ‘*Operators \[to\] have an instrument to make real time decisions on the process*’ Francesca Pizza, process manager in Nosedo WWTP says.



 

 

 



###   
KEY FIGURES

- **OPEX savings (approx. 630k€/year):**  
     ○ Energy savings:  
     - Biology: 25% red.  
      *- 0.431 -> 0.323 kWh/kg CODrem considering the sum of the consumption of the following sections:  
     - Aeration  
     - Mixing  
     - Return activated sludge  
     - NO3-recirculation*  
     - Grit Chamber aeration:9% red.  
     ○ Chemical savings:  
     - P-precipitation, FeCl3: 80% red.  
     - *3.01 -> 0.69 kg FeCl3/kg Prem*  
     ○ Chemical sludge production:  
     - *126 tSS/year red. due to less precipitant*
- Increased hydraulic capacity during wet weather: 20 - 30%
- Stable operation, less manual adjustment

The Plant package for OPEX savings at Nosedo WWTP (1,250,000 PE) includes the following features:

- DO & Nitrogen Removal
- Mixer (denitrification tank)
- Air Supply, Blowers
- Return Activated Sludge
- Solids Retention Time
- Standby (biological lines)
- P-precipitation
- Grit Chamber Aeration
- NO3-recirculation

The following additional features will further support the enhancement of the hydraulic capacity:

- Stormwater Mode with Rain Gauge / Sewer Measurements
- Max. Flow, inlet biology



 

 

 



‘Hubgrade Performance [...] boosts our performance by increasing the hydraulic capacity during wet weather. It is a smart solution with a high effect.’  
 

 

Andrea Aliscioni

 

COO Milan Water Service

 

 

 

 

 





 

 

### *THE CLIENT*

*Nosedo Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) is Milan’s main wastewater treatment plant. It has a capacity of 1,250,000 PE with full nitrification and denitrification and is the largest plant in Europe having up to the 70% effluent fully for agricultural purposes.*

- *432.000 m3 treated a day*
- *5 m3/s treated during dry weather*
- *15 m3/s during rainy events*
- *60% to 70% of the treated water is directed to agriculture*



 

 

 

 

 

 





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