The Largest Water Reclamation Plant in Barbados

Over 600 homes in the southern part of Barbados enter 200 m3 of wastewater into a  low energy, high quality effluent, water reclamation plant on site daily. This quiet, no  odor plant was designed using MBR technology, chosen for its ultrafiltration  capabilities and simultaneous nitrification-denitrification processes. The Ecohesion  team, with its design, achieves TSS of <3 mg/L, BOD5 <2 mg/L and total nitrogen  concentrations of 1.5 mg/L, significant decreases when compared to the influent  concentrations of 8250mg/L, 155 mg/L and 76.5mg/L respectively. 

Site: 600 Home Community, Barbados  

Challenge: High freshwater requirements to supply the community along with a  negative environmental impact from large volumes of sewage water going to ground.  

Solution: 15% reduction in freshwater consumption through high quality reuse water  from the plant for irrigation, toilet flushing, water features and aquaponics. 

Capacity: 180,000 US GPD 

Technology: Membrane Bioreactor (MBR) Technology 

Service: Retrofit, Operation & Maintenance 

The membrane bioreactor technology not only treats sewage but ensures compliance  with the Barbados Environmental Protection Department. (EPD). Through the use of  six membranes in Phase 1, the plant guarantees reuse water production of 90 000 US  GPD. This addition of an MBR system to the community, eliminated the dependency  on freshwater resources for toilet flushing, irrigation and water features like ponds  and fountains. 

One-Step Further 

An added robust and effective application of reuse water is the aquaponics system  designed at this plant. Barbados’ food import bill continues to rise steadily reaching  heights of over $300 million yearly for 90% of all domestically consumed food. By the  time the food reaches the island, healthy fruits and vegetables have lost much of their  nutritional value. Through aquaponics, the most nutritious food for your family and  community is produced by putting fish to work, literally. It just so happens that fish  eating and producing waste creates the perfect fertilizer for growing lots of plants, the  same way mother nature does. The compact natural ecosystem requires significantly  less water consumption than soil-based agriculture, no added pesticides, or fertilizers,  capitalizing on the benefits of offered by reuse water.