Aqua Design

Systems planning,
design & support for
water,
wastewater &
reuse systems

We help utilities and industrial clients turn treatment needs, reuse targets and site constraints into clearer pathways, stronger design decisions and more confident vendor engagement.

Urban water and reuse systems context

Our Solution Portfolio

Explore the main service routes here, then move deeper through each section’s own pathway sections.

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Who we help

Municipal & Districts · Industrial ETP · Built‑Environment · Biosolids

Open sector pathways →
Municipal & Districts

Municipal & Districts

STP+ → TSE for landscaping, cooling make‑up, recharge.

Industrial ETP

Industrial ETP

Cooling/boiler reuse, Batch+ polishing, ZLD brine logic.

Built‑Environment

Built‑Environment

Greywater & landscaping reuse for campuses and districts.

Biosolids land application

Biosolids & Odor Control

Dewater → dry → compost/fertilizer; odor & septicity control.

Planning insights

Short, practical reads for owners and operators, explored further in the individual sections.

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Source control

Source control that protects treatment

For sites where upstream loading, source segregation, and pretreatment discipline can do more for plant stability than another downstream add-on.

Insights
Upstream valuePretreatment and catchment rules can reduce downstream OPEX before heavier treatment steps are set.
What to checkInfluent variability, source segregation points and the operating burden currently being pushed onto the plant.
Planning effectThe most valuable intervention often starts upstream, where a smaller correction prevents a much larger capital response.
ZLD thermal closure

ZLD: linking concentration, thermal finish and final handling

For schemes approaching ZLD, where concentration, thermal finish, and final solids handling have to be planned as one route rather than split into separate decisions.

Insights
System logicUpstream preparation, concentration strategy, thermal finish, and final solids handling need to be read as one connected route, not as isolated equipment choices.
What to checkBrine volume, water quality, heat availability, disposal limits, reuse target, and the practical handling route for residual solids.
Why the end route has to be set earlyThe right ZLD route depends on site conditions, discharge limits, and how far recovery needs to go in practice.
Biosolids market-ready outputs

Biosolids → market-ready outputs

For biosolids programmes where outlet fit, handling needs, and product route need setting before the process route hardens around the wrong result.

Insights
Product fit firstClass-A compost, biofertilizer and organo-mineral routes depend on outlet logic, odor control and market fit together.
What to checkStabilization status, drying path, product standard, storage needs and who the end user or buyer will be.
Why outlet logic comes firstMarketability has to be designed in early. If it is added late, the process route may already be working against the intended outlet.

Cases

Representative pathways explored in more depth through reports, option analysis and pathway documentation.

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STP+ (MBBR + UF)

A reuse-led STP route for sites aiming at cooling make-up and similar non-potable duties, where biological treatment and polishing need to be planned as one package.

Often suits plants moving beyond discharge-only thinking, where residual solids, clarity, and vendor comparison criteria need a firmer basis.

Outcomes
Process summaryA+ TSE route where MBBR provides biological treatment and UF provides polishing for cooling and similar non-potable reuse duties.
Target outcomesLower BOD and TSS, improved final water clarity, and treated water quality better aligned with downstream reuse requirements.
Why this has to be set earlyReuse routes need process criteria, QA/QC alignment, and commissioning checks defined early before vendor comparison begins.

ETP+ (Batch+ → RO)

An industrial recovery route where batch treatment and RO are reviewed together with concentrate build-up, thermal finish, and final handling needs.

Often arises when recovery targets look attractive on paper, but COD reduction, scaling pressure, and disposal limits still need settling as one route.

Outcomes
Process summaryIndustrial reuse pathway combining chemical treatment and membrane recovery, with concentration and downstream handling reviewed as one connected route.
Target outcomesReduced COD and suspended solids ahead of recovery, higher water recovery across the treatment sequence, and a clearer basis for concentrate and final solids management.
Why the route has to stay connectedRecovery targets only make sense when water quality, concentration limits, and downstream handling boundaries are considered together.

Biosolids → compost route

A biosolids route carrying dewatering, drying, composting, odor control, and outlet planning together instead of leaving the end product to the end.

Most relevant when the aim is not only stabilization, but a workable outlet that fits storage, handling, and end-user expectations.

Outcomes
Process summaryDewater → dry → ASP/windrow route, with odor control and outlet planning carried alongside process selection.
Target outcomesReduced moisture, improved stabilization, Class A compost pathway readiness, and a product route aligned with outlet fit and handling requirements.
Why outlet fit cannot waitOutlet viability matters as much as process choice, so market fit needs to be built in early.

Need a clear scope or a vendor decision soon?

Send your feed, constraints, and target outcome. We’ll recommend the best starting pack, and what vendors need to price it confidently.