WATER TREATMENT
The oxygen alternative
Anue Water Technologies is offering an alternative to traditional water treatment chemicals . We spoke with general manager Greg Bock
Turbulent times have created serious challenges for suppliers in many markets . They have also created opportunities for companies offering disruptive technologies that address changing needs as well . One such company is Anue Water Technologies , whose oxygen and ozone systems are taking on traditional chemicals in the water treatment market .
“ Anue has had tremendous growth recently because we have been able to double our footprint with our sales personnel and our channel partners . We went from 11 companies to 22 and we currently have about 125 channel partner boots on the ground in both the industrial and the municipal marketplace ,” says Greg Bock , VP of operations and general manager . The company was founded in Oceanside , California , in 2006 by two engineers who were focused on fats , oils and grease as challenges in wastewater treatment . From there they developed an understanding of hydrogen sulphide ( H 2
S ) gas and how to resolve the issues it raises by using oxygen and ozone rather than chemicals .
Anue relocated its headquarters to the suburbs of Atlanta in 2016 when water treatment industry veteran Paul Turgeon joined as CEO . This also offered some advantages in terms of the lower cost of operating a business in Georgia . Because of this move , a position opened up for Bock , who lived nearby , He joined in 2017 .
Originally coming from an equipment background , Bock had moved into sales . He now has 37 years of experience in chemical sales for boilers , cooling towers , chillers , effluent clarification , wastewater coagulants and polymers at the former Betz Laboratories , which is
Anue sends its MDUs to sites for proof-of-concept work
now part of GE . During his time there , he twice won the company ’ s highest internal award , the ‘ High Flying Eagle ’.
“ Hands-on work with the end user is something that solves issues ,” Bock says . “ If you provide a solution , the sales will work out . Work hard , tell the truth , solve problems and people will buy from you .”
Oxygen & ozone
In Anue ’ s system , oxygen is taken from ambient air concentrated to about 93 % purity . Using flow meters , pressure gauges and PLCs , the right amount can then be injected into the force main . Bock believes that this capability is unique to Anue in the municipal wastewater treatment market .
If requested , ozone can be generated as a side stream from the oxygen . It is injected directly into the wastewater in the lift station – where calcium nitrate , the main chemical against which Anue ’ s systems compete , does not actually do any work - while oxygen is injected into the force main in order to keep the bacteria in an aerobic state while it travels to the end point of the force main .
In addition to well-washers and geomembrane carbon-infused filtration systems , which can be used to scrub and remove odours , the company has three main systems on offer :
• Phantom , a small system with an integrated ozone generator for use in the lift station
• FORSe 2 , an oxygen generator that is used in the force main
• FORSe 5 , which combines the other two , taking its name from O 2 and O 3
Oxygen and ozone are attractive to municipal and industrial companies for a number of reasons . The main one over the years is that they want to be more environment-friendly . H 2
S gas has been treated with chemicals for many years and the chemistry works but its limitations have become apparent in recent years .
Calcium nitrate provides an oxygen source for the bacteria where Anue generates pure oxygen to keep them in an aerobic state , in which they are not generating H 2
S gas . Moreover ,
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