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Klaro makes small wastewater treatment plants for a single user to 5,000 users. The Klaro’s system uses microbes in sludge to break down pollutants dissolved in wastewater.
Globally, 80% of wastewater flows back into the ecosystem without being treated or reused, according to United Nations’ water agency, UN Water.
Thus, about 1.8 billion people drink water contaminated with faeces, putting them at risk of contracting cholera, dysentery, typhoid and polio, says UN Water.
UN Water says wastewater must not be discarded or ignored.
In addition, it says wastewater will help meet growing water demand as cities expand, help in producing energy and support agriculture.
The UN agency says that the availability of safe and sufficient water supplies is linked to how wastewater is managed.
“Increased amounts of untreated sewage, combined with agricultural runoff and industrial discharge, have degraded water quality and contaminated water resources around the world,” UN Water says.
Klaro points at the high cost of building and connecting to public sewerage as the cause of inadequate or non-existent wastewater treatment.
“Klaro offers comparatively inexpensive decentralised wastewater solutions that help to maintain the purity of the important resource water,” the firm said.
In addition, the wastewater treatment system by Klaro has optional extensions for direct reuse of water, for example in irrigation.
Klaro celebrates delivery of 100,000 small treatment plants worldwide
The firm said domestic and industrial wastewater treatment is a core duty to ensure viable water use. Also, this will ensure prosperity and good health of mankind, it added.
“With 100,000 small treatment plants delivered, Klaro has solidified its position as the European market leader in the field of decentralised wastewater treatment systems,” the firm said. “The company has been supplying successful on-site solutions for wastewater treatment worldwide for 20 years.”
These onsite or standalone wastewater treatment devices are useful where connections to sewerage are unavailable or are unaffordable.
Klaro’s small treatment plants use a biological process.
The microorganisms in the sludge carry out the actual treatment work by breaking down the pollutants dissolved in the water.
Components of Klaro small treatment plants are designed to be easily assembled. Also, they easily fit in tanks of any shape or material.
Mr Tobias Pankse, commercial director, Klaro, said the firm has the perfect small wastewater treatment plant for any application from one user to 5,000 users.
“Our flexible fully biological treatment process enables more than 675,000 users in over 70 countries worldwide to treat their wastewater,” he said.
For two decades, Klaro has been making wastewater treatment plants and separators for residential, commercial and industrial use. It works from its factory in Bayreuth, Germany.
Has Klaro worked in Kenya?
The firm has completed installing its wastewater treatment systems in four places. The systems are in use at an apartment block in Kiambu, a school in Kajiado and two residential estates in Nairobi.
The biggest project is the wastewater treatment plant at Sathya Sai School in Kajiado. It cleans 63,000 litres of wastewater daily. In addition, Klaro says it designed the system in a way to handle additional students who could join the school.
Second biggest project is the apartment block in Kiambu opened in 2017. With 200 residents, the plant cleans 30,000 litres of wastewater daily.
The cleaned wastewater is passed into a small river next to the property.
Klaro said the treated water fulfills quality levels set by National Environment Management Authority. In addition, the chlorination of the water is necessary, the firm added.
In addition, Klaro has installed its wastewater treatment plants in two residential estates in Nairobi. One is used by 40 residents and the other by 30.
Also, Klaro has incomplete work to put wastewater treatment plants in a number of residential houses in Nairobi. The wastewater treatment plants the firm is installing will each serve between 10 and 17 people.
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