United States-based company Fluence Corporation Limited has secured its first order for a newly designed wastewater treatment technology through a contract with the National Housing Trust (NHT).

The greenfield solution, known as SUBRE, will be built with Fluence’s Jamaican local partner, Engineering and Technology Associates, to serve two new housing developments in the Kingston and Spanish Town areas of Jamaica under the NHT.

The projects will be operated by the National Water Commission and are expected to be commissioned in the third quarter of 2019.

According to Fluence, the solution is available in two configurations: as a retrofit upgrade, and as a new greenfield plant.

The first installation will consist of 12 SUBRE modules stacked three spirals high and will treat up to 370,000 gallons per day (GPD) of domestic wastewater. The second installation will consist of six SUBRE modules and will treat up to 200,000 GPD.

“The treated water will be suitable for non-potable reuse,” the US company said.

Fluence’s SUBRE greenfield solution was selected due to its low energy consumption, high effluent quality, and small footprint, all of which are ideal for remote locations. Once commissioned, the plant will feature low operating costs and will be easy to operate and maintain locally, Fluence said.

“With increased urbanisation, wastewater resource recovery facilities face new challenges. When a conventional wastewater treatment facility has reached its limit, Fluence’s newly launched SUBRE technology solves these challenges. Instead of enlarging current plants and building new basins, SUBRE modules are submerged in existing chambers, improving effluent quality, lowering the use of chemicals, saving energy and operational costs, and enlarging capacity,” Henry Charrabé, managing director and CEO of Fluence, commented.

“In addition, SUBRE technology can be installed in greenfield wastewater treatment plants to reduce the infrastructure needs and operating costs of traditional plants. We’re pleased to introduce our SUBRE line, and to celebrate its launch with the announcement of the sale of two SUBRE greenfield, submerged MABR installations.”

Charrabé noted that while Jamaica represents a new geography for Fluence’s SUBRE technology, the company has been active in the Caribbean with its smart products solutions — Aspiral and Nirobox — for many years.