Natural water treatment at the highest level
A lot has happened since plant- and soil-based wastewater treatment systems were rediscovered in Germany in the 1980s. Whereas wastewater treatment used to require an area of 10 m² per inhabitant, compact filters using less than 1 m² per inhabitant are now possible.
The modern systems are state of the art. Most systems already meet the higher requirements of German wastewater regulations for treatment facility size classes 2 or 3 (meaning 5 000 PE or 10 000 PE respectively). This means very good degradation of organic substances and extensive nitrogen oxidation without the supply of external energy. The mostly vertically perfused soil filters are therefore an excellent and ecological alternative when energy efficiency is particularly important.
AKUT has been testing nature-based solutions since the 1990s and has further developed them in numerous research projects. Starting with two-stage “hybrid” constructed wetlands consisting of vertical filters and downstream horizontal filters, through to actively aerated soil filters and combinations. AKUT is a founding member of Global Wetland Technology (GWT). This association enables the worldwide use and dissemination of leading technologies in this sector.
No matter where and what kind of water you want to treat: let us develop a customized, nature-based solution for your application.
Since 1998 we use our knowledge in the fields of urban water management, waste management, energy generation and efficiency, eco-friendly production and climate protection as a contribution to international development cooperation.
Benefit from broad experience in several of AKUT`s fields of competence:
Surface waters in transition
Dealing with landscape and water has undergone a significant transition over the last decades.
Since the European Water Framework Directive has entered into force, water bodies must be restored into a “good status”, i.e. they shall differ only slightly from their natural states. AKUT has made innovative contributions in this field, for example when improving the linear patency of running waters of the stream Nonnenfließ using wooden constructions or by increasing nutrient retention from diffuse sources in the catchment area of the lake Schwielochsee with use of wetland technology.
Not least water treatment for swiming ponds in wetland systems (closed cycles) as well as the achievement of bathing water quality in public waters (open waters) under the EU Bathing Water Directive play an important role. For both, AKUT has developed standalone solutions for modern watershed development concepts.
AKUT develops customized solutions in cooperation with regional and local partners such as architects, landscape architects or water maintenance associations.
Modern supply and environmental technology
A building shall have a long life. Using renewable energy the applied technology must operate economically and without major interventions for a long period of time.
The main focus of our engineers is on the rational use of energy and water. With innovative approaches and creativity, we follow new paths in the ecological and sustainable planning and rehabilitation of buildings. We keep ourselves up to date on technological innovations and think outside the box.
The sooner our specialists are included in the building design, the more effective and economical are our solutions. The first stages of planning determine the course of future sustainability of a building.
As a result of successful implementation of pioneering solutions AKUT has been repeatedly awarded with the prize “Climate Protection Partner Berlin” (Klimaschutz Partner Berlin).
A HEART FOR THE SPONGE CITY – RAINWATER MANAGEMENT & REDUCING HYDRAULIC STRESS ON SEWERS
With the increasingly drastic effects of climate change, a paradigm shift has taken place: away from the rapid drainage of rainwater in settlements – towards adaptation to the natural water cycle. Internationally, there is talk of sponge city concepts or sustainable urban drainage systems (SUDS). In combination with green infrastructure or nature-based solutions (NBS), rainwater management is intended to provide additional ecosystem services and multifunctional benefits.
We support you in managing rainwater on site. This includes the treatment, temporary storage, use, infiltration, and evaporation of runoff water. In doing so, we seek to strike a balance between flood protection, ecological goals, economic interests, and land use requirements.
In numerous construction projects, we use innovative methods and technologies to implement concepts adapted to local conditions. In addition to “classic” green roofs, troughs, and infiltration ditches, these include combined systems such as green retention roofs and trough-infiltration ditch elements, wetlands, smart cisterns, tree infiltration ditches, green facades, and roadside retention filter strips.
Our rainwater concepts and property planning cover everything from individual plots of land to extensive development plans.
Treating wastewater with smart technologies
Standardized wastewater disposal was yesterday. Today, innovative, case-specific, cost-effective and energy-efficient methods for wastewater treatment are needed.
In addition to conventional processes AKUT focuses on the SBR technology, natural processes (constructed wetlands) as well as specific processes for industrial wastewater.
Benefit from our experience in e.g. upgrading of waste stabilisation ponds to SBR ponds, in the treatment of combined sewage using constructed wetland systems that do not require pre-treatment and therefore avoid accumulation of sludge, in the anaerobic treatment of highly concentrated industrial effluents with biogas production and its conversion into electric energy, in the reclamation and re-use of the effluent of sewage treatment plants and in the re-use of grey water after separation of flow streams and partial flow treatment (eco sanitation).