International Wastewater Symposium by Huber  01-Oct-2002

More than 200 visitors who came not only from Germany and the adjoining states but also from the USA, South Africa and Japan, followed the presentations and had a lively discussion.

"Water - The Essence of Life But Elusive to Many" :
This statement of the World Bank describes the problematic situation of potable water supply and wastewater disposal in many countries, that was the motto of the International Wastewater Symposium which took place at the "Europa-Halle" in Berching, Bavaria, on 26 September 2002 on the occasion of Mr. Hans Huber's 60th birthday.

As the managing director of the company he has meanwhile dedicated 35 years of his working life to drinking water and sewage treatment, developing the former regionally operating company into an international group company that exports the machines and plants manufactured in modern production facilities into more than 50 countries, with the name HUBER representing excellent quality and continuous innovation. Whoever inquires who is the driving force behind such a successful development will get the same answer: Mr. Hans Huber. It was therefore only natural that especially new and innovative approaches to solutions for water treatment were brought to discussion on the occasion of this International Wastewater Symposium.

Mr. Hans Huber opening the symposium

More than 200 national and international guests   Renowned scientists and professors from Germany, Japan, the Czech Republic and Morocco reported about the situation in different countries or presented fields of application and development perspectives of alternative wastewater treatment concepts. More than 200 visitors who came not only from Germany and the adjoining states but also from the USA, South Africa and Japan, followed the presentations and had a lively discussion. The symposium was divided into two parts. The first part - "Future of wastewater treatment - technical, ecological, economic aspects" - was presented by Prof. Dr.-Ing. Bode. The second part dealt with the subject of "Decentralized wastewater treatment - a vision for the future or an ecological and economical necessity?" and was presented by Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Peter Wilderer from the Technical University of Munich.   Prof. Dr.-Ing. Bode presenting the subject "Future of wastewater treatment"   In his welcome address, the Vice Minister of the State of Bavaria, Mr. Hans Spitzner, underlined the enormous importance of German and Bavarian companies in the environmental technology sector and especially the exemplary role of the Hans Huber AG as a medium-sized business based in Bavaria that has developed into a Global Player, which is an achievement Mr. Spitzner as the Vice Minister in the Ministry of Economy is particularly proud of. >> read welcome adress text (9 KB, PDF) The Vice Minister of the State of Bavaria, Mr. Hans Spitzner, explaining in his welcome address the importance of "water" from the economic and political perspective The first contribution was presented by Prof. Dr. of Eng. Yoshimasa Watanabe from Japan who reported results of numerous tests investigating under different conditions the operation principle of rotating biological contactors and membrane bioreactors, and the significant increase of the efficiency of membrane bioreactors by means of preceding precipitation and sedimentation. >> download presentation text (250 KB, PDF)   Prof. Dr. of Eng. Watanabe reporting about "Solid/liquid separation - an important first step of wastewater treatment" Prof. Dr. Sc. Wanner reporting about "Wastewater treatment in East Europe"   Prof. Dr. Sc. Jiri Wanner from the Prague Institute of Chemical Technology explained the potentials of and obstacles to wastewater treatment in Eastern Europe. He appealed to manage the problems in these countries by cooperation both on the interstate and interfirm/inter-university level. What is demanded is not a short-term engagement but long-term relationships. In this connection Professor Wanner referred to the HUBER CS subsidiary that was established in the Czech Republic more than 10 years ago and has since then processed numerous wastewater treatment projects. >> download presentation text (275 KB, PDF) Fresh thinking was brought to discussion by Prof. Dr. Dr. K.-U. Rudolph who reported that so-called Alternative Water Systems (AWS) would be the only feasible concepts in many regions of the world. Although AWS are not always as comfortable, they save nevertheless money and natural resources. Examples of AWS are stormwater reuse, greywater treatment or separation toilets. >> download presentation text (German, 31 KB, PDF)   "Alternative water systems" were presented by Prof. Dr. Dr. Rudolph

Dr. Wilderer reporting about "Eco-industrial parks in Asia"   Dr. Martin Wilderer, Hans Huber AG, reported about the special role of eco-industrial parks in South East Asia. Investigations in countries like China, Malayia, India or Indonesia found that, although partly considerable problems occur with realization of environmental projects, such industrial parks are interesting projects for German environmental technology. >> download presentation text (95 KB, PDF) A panel discussion about "Wastewater - different countries, identical goals" followed the presentations.

Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c.Wilderer reporting about "Decentralized wastewater treatment and reuse"   Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Peter A. Wilderer opened the second part of the symposium, presenting a new concept for a worldwide economic water management. His central message was that the centralized systems for water supply and wastewater disposal applied in industrialized countries come up against limiting factors in rapidly growing developing countries, where new concepts are required to solve water problems, whether rural or urban. Such alternative concepts are decentralized systems which treat the wastewater at source, eliminating long transportation ways and offering completely new treatment methods for the different individual wastewater flows. >> download presentation text (411 KB, PDF) Details of innovative technology for decentralized wastewater treatment were the subject of Prof. Dr.-Ing. Ralf Otterpohl from the Technical University of Hamburg-Harburg. He underlined the advantages of systems that treat different flows individually, in contrast to centralized systems which treat the combined flows diluting them with huge amounts of fresh water. That is why only decentralized treatment allows economical reuse of water and other valuable material. >> download presentation text (199 KB, PDF)      Prof. Dr.-Ing. Otterpohl explaining his concept of "Wastewater separation, treatment and reuse"

Prof. Dr. Dohmann presenting detailed "Perspectives for membrane technology"   Prof. Dr. Max Dohmann (RWTH Aachen) explained the chances the new membrane technology offers for industrial and municipal wastewater treatment. Although there is still a lot of further development work to do, Professor Dohmann is convinced that membrane technology will become extremely important in the course of the next 10 years. >> download presentation text (676 KB, PDF) Prof. Dr. Ahmed Zaidi from the University of Rabat, Morocco showed the necessity and chances of decentralized sanitation and reuse from the point of a country with water shortage and explained the high priority the water issue has in Morocco. Concepts with expensive sewer systems and centralized sewage treatment plants are not suitable to solve the problems of countries like Morocco. What they need are intelligent decentralized solutions. >> download presentation text (49 KB, PDF)     Prof. Dr. Zaidi explained the "Necessity and chances of decentralized sanitation and reuse from the point of a country with water shortage"

How to realize decentralized treatment in practice was explained by Dr.-Ing. Oliver Christ, Hans Huber AG. He presented several solutions, including micro screening, septic sludge treatment and a complete treatment plant with integrated membrane bioreactor. >> download presentation text (1.2 MB, PDF) Dr.-Ing. Christ presented "Machine solutions for decentralized wastewater treatment" As a contrast to the extensive technical discussion and information provided, Abbot Gregor Hanke of the Plankstetten Monastery contributed a few aspects for thought. The central message of his presentation was that man has of course a very special responsibility to safeguard the creation but frequently does hardly show a sense of this responsibility. >> download presentation text (28 KB, PDF)     Abbot Hanke speaking about "Safeguarding the Creation"   Mr. Karl-Josef Huber took the audience on a journey through the development of the HUBER company, showing it's way from a small coppersmithy to a global player in wastewater technology.    Karl-Josef Huber, who has managed the Hans Huber AG since 1969 together with his brother, eventually took the audience on a journey through the years from 1786 to these days. He described the company's development from the small coppersmith shop into a regional business and finally internationally operating company against the background of the parallel development of wastewater technology, global development and world history. Finally, Karl-Josef Huber expressed his most sincere thanks to his brother for the extent of his involvement in the company, together with the very best wishes for the future, which would hopefully remain dedicated to the company's development. >> download presentation text (German, 29 KB, PDF)

If you wish to receive further information on the reports and presentation of the symposium feel free to contact our marketing division via phone +49 8462 201-382, fax +49 8462 201-389 or email marketing@huber.de.