Active Water Sciences, LLC (AWS)

Founded in March 2009, AWS management includes the developers of this technology as well as experts in commercialization and product development, business leaders and experienced IP developers.

History:

As a result of the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001 the Air Force Institute for Operational Health (AFIOH) and Sam Houston State University (SHSU) formed a cooperative agreement to develop a portable and easily adaptable water treatment system that could handle various water/wastewater streams and remove any biological or chemical agents in the water supply.

Researchers developed a biological wastewater treatment system with high cleaning efficiency and small, modular size. Awarded six patents, the technology resulting from the collaboration addresses the wastewater needs of both the military and civilian sectors.

PCDworks, a technology innovation firm specializing in the development and commercialization of breakthrough products, adapted the design for manufacturing and deployment to target markets. As a result of PCDworks efforts, the AWS system is now completely autonomous and can be monitored, diagnosed and controlled via the internet for up to six months at a time.

Today:

Founded in 2009, Active Water Sciences (AWS) is the exclusive manufacturer and distributor and licensor of treatment systems based on the biological treatment process. AWS is dedicated to providing solutions to treating municipal, industrial, agricultural waste streams.

The Water Phoenix is a portable wastewater treatment system that uses a proprietary bacterial consortium and advanced design to treat up to 15 gallons-per-minute of wastewater in a portable, semi-autonomous system. The AWS system is typically delivered in standard 20foot shipping containers, although custom solutions can be built for unique needs.

Industries that can benefit from AWS products include petrochemical, military, disaster cleanup, nation building and municipalities.

System Overview

The typical AWS treatment system is comprised of 3 units:

• Treatment Unit
  Provides bacterial processing of wastewater, sediment removal, and effluent processing
• Control Unit
  Houses control system, bacterial resupply system, power supply
• Buffer Unit (optional)
  Provides surge protection and pre-processing of waste

AWS sells stock systems which process 1200 gallons per day (GPD), 25,000 gpd, and 50,000 gpd. Additionally, there are unlimited custom configurations and solutions to meet unique flow rates and characteristics.

Bacteria Consortium

• Core AWS technology is proprietary bacteria consortium
• Resilient to dynamic and harsh conditions by mimicking biofilms found within nature
• Each organism provides specific function
• Consortium work together for optimal performance
• Customizable for industrial, agricultural, and chemical waste flows
• Flow design

Flow Design

• Advanced media maximizes the exposure of the wastewater to bacteria
• Directional flow control influences the fluid velocity and direction
• High efficiency aeration enhances bacteria performance and solid suspension
• Fluid surface manipulation removes floating debris
• Solid waste handling manages large particulates
• Simple sludge removal methods reduces maintenance requirements

Control System

• Proprietary control system
• Mounted industrial touchscreen computer
• Easy to use interface for operators
• Control algorithms for autonomous operation
• Real time data and controls for each tank and component
• phones home for remote monitor and control
• Local and remote alarms

Performance Data

• COD reduction consistently greater than 50%, often greater than 70%
• Recent improvements have reduced BOD to less than 20 mg/L

AWS treatment systems can handle almost any municipal wastewater flow rate or water quality. Here are just a few of the many places where portable wastewater treatment provides significant benefits.

Military

The AWS Water Phoenix system addresses the challenge of wastewater treatment for international military bases and forward deployed camps. Our easy-to-use system comes in a variety of configurations and requires little expertise to maintain and repair.

National Building/Humanitarian Efforts

In developing countries, processing human generated waste prior to its reintroduction to groundwater sources is crucial. The AWS system can be configured to run from solar panels and deploy to any location, including those without a reliable power supply.

Disaster Relief

The portability, rapid start up, and ability to run 'off the grid' make our products an ideal solution for disaster relief efforts. AWS offers overnight startup capability, meaning wastewater treatment efforts can be operational within 48 hours of a disaster. The rugged nature of our product's construction allows it to be deployed in almost any environment.

Municipal

The AWS system can easily handle large amounts of waste and offers the ability to scale up as populations grow, making it a perfect solution for localized wastewater treatment. Using the AWS system, even remote areas with no access to municipal water supplies or sewage systems can process their own wastewater, saving millions in infrastructure costs. Additionally, units can be leased for temporary processing of municipal wastewater streams during major plant renovations and maintenance.