“Imagine a place where waste becomes treasure.” That’s precisely what happens at the Raanana Wastewater Reclamation Plant. This sophisticated center plays a vital role in Raanana. It helps manage water resources responsibly.
Established in 1998-1999, this plant is located amidst the orchards north of the city. From its start in February 1999, it has been dealing with recycling. The Raanana Wastewater Reclamation Plant collects raw sewage decomposes it and transforms it into new resources. These resources are then returned to nature.
Think of the Raanana Wastewater Reclamation Plant as a recycling center. But instead of cans and bottles, it processes wastewater. All of Raanana’s sewage arrives here. The plant uses a sophisticated method called SBR which stands for sequencing batch by reactor. It is a continuous activated sludge process.
In this process, the sewage decomposes with the help of bacteria. This decomposition results in two main products. First, treated wastewater is purified water suitable for irrigation. Second, sludge is transferred to authorized facilities. There it can be used for compost or agricultural fertilizer.
The Raanana Wastewater Reclamation Plant produces very high-quality treated wastewater. It is known as unlimited irrigation of tertiary quality. Bacteria pellets consume organic material in the wastewater. This happens under optimal conditions. Oxygen levels pH and sludge concentration are carefully maintained. These conditions ensure effective decomposition.
After decomposition the sludge pellets are separated from the water. The water becomes purified treated wastewater. This water has very low pollutant concentrations. Surplus sludge is removed for further treatment to maintain optimal conditions. The SBR method carries out all recycling stages in one treatment basin. Traditionally each treatment stage would be in a separate basin.
The Raanana Wastewater Reclamation Plant can treat significant volumes of water. In 2008 the center processed 14000 cubic meters of water per day. In 2010 that amount decreased to 12000 cubic meters. This drop reflected the community’s increased water conservation efforts. Annually the plant transforms about 4.3 million cubic meters of water. It also produces about 5000 tons of sludge. This sludge becomes compost or artificial fertilizer.
A significant portion of the treated wastewater goes to agricultural irrigation. In the summer of 2010 60% of the center’s treated wastewater served this purpose in the Raanana region. The rest went to the Poleg River.
The Raanana Wastewater Reclamation Plant connected to the Sharon Beach Plant in the north in March 2011. Since the winter of 2011 surplus treated wastewater goes to the Sharon Beach Plant. There it is used for agricultural irrigation. This collaboration allows for approximately 80% recycling of Raanana’s treated wastewater.
An upgrade in 2012-2013 expanded the plant. This expansion prepares it for larger wastewater quantities by 2030. It also improved the water quality to a level deemed flowing into the river. The expansion emphasizes energy efficiency and backup systems. This ensures smooth operation even during malfunctions.
The purification process includes physical and biological treatments. Solid waste like sand and gravel is removed first. Liquids then move to basins for bacterial treatment. The plant uses three basins for biological treatment. There is also a fourth basin for sludge. Afterwards disinfection takes place. The treated wastewater is then stored. It goes to the Mei Raanana Water Company Reclamation Plant’s eastern reservoir. From there it is filtered upgrading its quality. It then moves to the western reservoir before being used for irrigation.
The Raanana Wastewater Reclamation Plant operates automatically. A computerized system and the Mei Raanana Water Company team manage it. Backup systems ensure continuous operation. This minimizes environmental damage. The bacterial treatment process is sensitive. Therefore preventing harmful materials from entering the sewage is crucial.
The Raanana Wastewater Reclamation Plant shows how we can transform waste into a valuable resource. It contributes to a sustainable future for Raanana and beyond.