Delphin Water System GmbH & Co.

KG
www.delphin-ws.de

Full Biological Treatment Plants

DELPHIN Water Systems GmbH & Co. KG, located in Hamburg, Germany, is one of
the leading manufacturers of full biological wastewater treatment plants with fixedbed-technology.
Our range of products includes small wastewater treatment plants for usage at
small residential buildings or holiday homes, compact plants, which can be
connected to larger facilities such as camp sites or isolated building areas, and
containerized wastewater treatment plants, which are suitable for the usage at
mobile or temporarily established camp sites.
On this website you'll find actual news from our company, contact details of foreign
distributors and many Information about modern solutions of wastewater
treatment.

DELPHIN wastewater treatment plants - enhancement of the environment

Delphin Water Systems GmbH & Co. KG is an international operating manufacturer

of wastewater treatment plants. It was founded in 2005 by engineers specialized in
wastewater technology. The aim was to design and produce small treatment plants
which reduce time and effort for installation and fulfil the highest requirements of
durability and environmental sustainability.
Our technology is based on several years of work in the field of local wastewater
treatment. During the years of maintaining small treatment plants, we developed
individual wastewater treatment concepts for properties without sewer connections.
We gained a wide experience in installing and operating small treatment plants with
various technologies and tanks.
The basis of all DELPHIN treatment plants is the fixed-bed technology. It
outstandingly adapts to different wastewater conditions. For this reason it is
approved for decades in small treatment plants and in other - not continuously
controlled - local treatment plants.
The office of Delphin Water Systems is located in the South of Hamburg - design
office, production, consulting, sales and marketing are all under the same roof.
Shortest distances and fast solutions are your advantages.

Advantages of the fixed-bed technology

Small treatment plants have to adapt to very

variable loading and inflow. It demands high
adaptability of the system in order to guarantee
adequate purification quality.
In periods of less loading microorganisms, which
are settled on the fixed-bed, capsulate themselves.
That is how they can survive longer starvation
phases without any damage. The only requirement
is to have a minimum of oxygen in the water. If
there is no accruing wastewater for longer period
the control system of the plant can be switched
into holiday mode. This way the aeration of the
fixed-bed is reduced to 10 % of the normal electricity consumption. When getting
back to normal operating conditions the original purification capacity is achieved in
a few days by the fast reactivation of bacteria.
In contrast to activated sludge process or sequencing batch reactor (SBR)
technologies, fixed-bed plants work effectively without expensive separators and
long settling time. The reason for that: the microorganisms come off from the
surface of the fixed-bed in flakes with high specific weight. They settle afterwards
easily in the secondary clarification. The result is optimal settling performance of
the secondary treatment and little amount of solid content in the effluent of the
plant.
A further advantage of the fixed-bed technology is that the wastewater can flow
through the whole treatment plant in gradual free flow. Neither pumps which are
susceptible to failures nor expensive programming and process equipment for
observing treatment and settling phases are necessary. For this reason an overflow
of untreated wastewater into the effluent cannot happen.

How does the fixed-bed technology work?

The fixed-bed technology clarifies the accruing wastewater in three steps:

1.) Mechanical preliminary clarification
In the preliminary treatment the sewage is clarified
from settled and floating materials. By the slow
water flow the suspended solids - with bigger
density than water's - settle at the bottom of the
containers. Substances with smaller density swim
upon and are held back by submersed barriers. The
primary
treatment
is
minimum
two-staged
(2 chambers) to achieve an optimal preliminary
clarification.
2.) Biological clarification
The pre-clarified sewage flows to the fixed-bed tanks in gradual free flow. Here the
wastewater gets biologically purified by microorganisms growing on the submersed

fixed-bed. The fixed-bed consists of plastic units with a high specific surface. The
oxygen needed for the degradation process is brought into the water by membrane
aerators. These aerators are located under the submersed fixed-bed. For this
process a compressor pumps atmospheric air into the aerator. The air is pressed
through the small pores of the membrane and is
distributed in the wastewater as fine bubbles, the
necessary oxygen dissolves in the water. Bringing
the wastewater under the fixed-bed in combination
with the microstructure of the fixed-bed material
provides an optimal mixture of wastewater and
injected air. The microorganisms required for the
degradation of the water substances are already
present in the wastewater. For starting up the plant
it is not necessary to apply starting cultures or any
other additives.
3.) Mechanical secondary clarification
After the biological stage, in the secondary clarifier the treated wastewater is
separated from the excess bacteria which have come off from the fixed-bed. The
excess biomass settles at the bottom of the tank and is pumped periodically into
the primary clarifier. In here, this biomass is stored with the sludge coming from the
primary treatment until transportation.

Clarification of domestic wastewater as a typical field of application

The typical and most common field of application of wastewater treatment by

means of the fixed-bed procedure is the clarification of domestic wastewater or
sewage because of its composition, which provides ideal ambient conditions for the
growth and preservation of micro-organisms.
In terms of sewage treatment, plants with DELPHIN fixed-bed technology are
successfully clarifying domestic wastewater for numerous years now - operating at
smaller
residential
buildings
as
well
as
larger,
solitary

settlements, DELPHIN wastewater treatment plants provide a reliable and

enduring performance of clarification. Because of our wide range of products nearly
all dimensions in the field of decentralized domestic wastewater treatment can be
covered.
From the advantages of our fixed-bed technology profit for example:

Residential buildings and holiday homes with a comparatively low

number of inhabitants. Up to connection sizes of a population equivalent
(PE) of 46 the wastewater treatment solutions which are coming into
operation are small plants type DELPHIN compact, as their clarification
performance is not being affected by periods of minimum stress or
underload.
Commercial parks, housing areas or other larger facilities with
connection sizes up to 640 PE, where domestic wastewater is being
treated by group or compact wastewater treatment plants
type DELPHIN classic and DELPHIN combi.

Working camp sites, research stations or other temporary established

facilities with connection sizes up to 4000 PE, which have to rely on
mobile, portable and robust wastewater treatment systems - like our
containerized wastewater treatment plants DELPHIN container.

Wastewater treatment at biogas plants

In terms of environmental and water protection, the operation of biogas power

plants is more and more being subject to the attention of governmental authorities
and other responsible institutions. In Germany for example, it is not allowed to drain
away run-off rainwater from traffic areas of biogas plants without prior wastewater
treatment. Also, there may be a need for action in case of the possible
contamination of subterranean water by means of silage-leachate.

Wastewater treatment systems with fixed-beds for the growth of micro-organisms,

like our DELPHIN treatment plants, provide huge advantages for the scenarios
mentioned above and are successful clarifying run-off rainwater or contaminated
subterranean water already.
Figure: Flow diagram of run-off rainwater treatment by means of the DELPHIN fixed-bed technology (in
this case: compact wastewater treatment plant DELPHIN combi).

The DELPHIN fixed-bed technology ensures the settling of a capable biofilm, so

the treatment plant is able to adapt to seasonal fluctuating pollution loads and
therefore assures the long-term compliance with prescriptive limits. Thus treated
wastewater can be drained off into inshore waters without hesitation. In addition, a
fixed-bed treatment system requires less space than appropriate constructed
wetlands for wastewater treatment.
According to requirements of the specific project, we offer treatment capacities up
to 70.000 m/year within our wide product range of DELPHIN wastewater
treatment plants. The DELPHIN combi for example serves as a reliable
wastewater treatment solution in the mentioned scenario - featuring a two-staged
biological clarification and pre-assembled in polyethylene tanks, which can also be

installed above-ground if necessary. Alternatively, the whole treatment plant can be

installed into 20'-ISO-containers "ready-to-connect", making it a robust and portable
treatment solution.
DELPHIN compact wastewater treatment plants

Our
compact
sewage
treatment
plants
of
the
series DELPHIN classic and DELPHIN combi are systems for the decentralized
treatment of domestic wastewater for connection sizes above a population
equivalent (PE) of 50. The fully biological clarification of the wastewater is the result
of a purification process by means of a submerged and aerated fixed-bed with
economical compressor technics. Robust fixed-bed technology and minimized
control efforts allow an almost maintenance-free operation of the plants.

Fields of application:

Living: Secluded housing areas, small settlements, apartment buildings

Leisure: Hotel complexes, recreational facilities, camping grounds
Business: Commercial parks, shopping malls, office buildings, schools
and other facilities, of which accruing sewage is similar to domestic
wastewater, such as organically polluted run-off rainwater or silageleachate from biogas power plants.

DELPHIN classic: complete systems for up to 220 PE

Complete compact wastewater treatment plants with a single clarification line for
operation at facilities with connection sizes up to 220 PE. They consist of up to 8
monolithic polyethylene tanks for underground installation. The tanks can also be
installed above ground, if necessary.
Advantages:

Entire wastewater treatment system including primary settlement,

biological treatment stage and secondary settlement. The construction of
on-site primary settlement basins is not required.
Low space requirements and possibility of flexible installation, e. g.
installation of the tanks in a row, parallel or L-shaped
Gradual free flow plant without maintenance-sensitive feeding pumps
Low efforts for operation and maintenance

Compact wastewater treatment plants of the series DELPHIN classic

The compact waste water treatment plants of the DELPHIN classic series are
complete systems incl. the primary settlement tanks.
The plants are available for the three
removal), N (nitrification) and D( denitrification).

treatment

grades C (carbon

For the placement of the aeration compressor two equipment variants are
available:

Standard (SD): for the positioning of the compressor in a weather protected

room, incl. 15 m aeration hose and flexible ductwork
Technical shaft (TS): technical shaft with aeration nozzles for the earth
placement of the compressor next to the biological stage

DELPHIN combi: modular systems for up to 640 PE

Compact wastewater treatment plants with several clarification lines in modular

design which are supposed to be installed behind existent primary settlement
basins at facilities with connection sizes up to 640 PE.
Advantages:

High adaptability due to modular design and different types of

installation
It is possible to enable or disable single clarification lines of the
treatment plant to adapt the plant to varying loadings
Suitable for the retrofitting or expansion of existing cesspits

Compact wastewater treatment plants of the series DELPHIN combi

The compact waste water treatment plants of the DELPHIN combi series are full
biological systems for the installation behind existent primary settlement tanks.
The plants are available for the three
removal), N (nitrification) and D(denitrification).

treatment

grades C (carbon

The inlet to the biological stage of plants with one clarification line can be arranged
according to the peak flow situation and the existing pipe gradient directly from
the primary settlement (variant SD) or with feeding pumps (variant FP) from an
on site pumping shaft respectively from a buffer tank. In plants with several
clarification lines the equal inlet to each line can be arranged through the variant
of feeding pumps (variant FP) or the variant of a distribution chamber (variant
DC).
For the placement of the aeration compressor two equipment variants are
available:
Standard (SD): for the positioning of the compressor in a weather protected
room, incl. 15 m aeration hose and ductwork
Technical shaft (TS): technical shaft with aeration nozzles for the earth
placement of the compressor next to the biological stage

PRODUCTS

Outstanding quality features of DELPHIN wastewater treatment plants

Reliable operation and high endurance

The tanks of the plants are being made out of high-grade polyethylene
(PE) by means of the rotational sintering procedure. The results are
seamless, monolithic tanks with a relatively low value of internal stress,
which have the advantages of high stability, rot resistance and an
impenetrable surface.
Only raw materials of the highest quality are being used for our small
wastewater treatment plants. All those components and parts, which
are in contact with the wastewater, are either made from stainless steel
or high-grade synthetic materials.
In wastewater treatment plants with connection sizes up to a population
equivalent of 50, such as the plants of the series DELPHIN compact,
airlift devices are operating the sludge-return-line, making radial pumps
or other mechanically operated lifting devices unnecessary. Therefore a
contact between the wastewater and electrical components or moving
parts is prevented and there is no necessity for a frequent replacement
of expendable parts. This is one of the reasons why our wastewater
treatment plants are standing out in terms of reliability and low
maintenance efforts.

Excellent wastewater treatment by means of a full biological

clarification procedure

The treatment procedure of a submerged and aerated fixed-bed

ensures an enduring clarification performance, which can be compared
to the self-clarification properties of a river's course. The overgrown
fixed-bed ensures constant discharge values even in periods of load
fluctuation, minimum stress or under load.
The diaphragm aerators for the input of oxygen into the wastewater are
located below the fixed-bed on the bottom of the tank, causing an
increased intermixture of the tank's load and a better dissolving of the
oxygen than in plants, in which the oxygen-input is arranged from
above.
The inlet of the fixed-bed chamber is positioned below and it's outlet
above the chamber. Therefore the wastewater has to flow through the
central biological clarification stage and a minimal treatment grade is
performed even in times of a possible aeration failure.

Customizable to operator's requirements, high usability and an easy

installation procedure

DELPHIN wastewater treatment plants are being pre-assembled to a

large extend and are being delivered in an almost ready-to-connect
state. The comparatively low weight of the plant's modules enables
transportation, placement and installation without the use of heavy
equipment or machinery. The only activities remaining after finishing
the excavation and placement works are the connection of the inlet and
outlet pipes as well as the air hoses and the electrical installation. In
case of the smaller sized plants these works can be done in less than
one day.

By offering a wide range of plant types and accessories our products

can be adapted to meet certain requirements of their respective
operators. A few examples are: the extension of the maximum possible
installation depth, the elevation of the outlet's level by means of airlift
devices, the installation of seepage-elements or the separate
installation of technics onto a wall bracket or into an outdoor switch
cabinet.
A central objective in the design and construction process was to focus
on both usability and maintainability of our plants to ensure the highest
possible endurance. All technical components are easily approachable
and can be replaced without causing collateral damage. The control
device of the plant is user-optimized and features a simple menunavigation as well as detailed feedback information about the operating
conditions or the runtime of components.

Small wastewater treatment plants of the series DELPHIN compact

Small wastewater treatment plants are systems for the decentralized treatment of
domestic wastewater, characterized by their compact type of construction and their
relatively simple installation process. They are basically an appropriate sewage
treatment solution for smaller residential buildings or holiday homes with a
comparatively low number of inhabitants up to a connection size of 50 PE
(population equivalent).
The series DELPHIN compact includes small wastewater treatment plants for
connection sizes from 4 PE up to 46 PE, consisting of one or, according to the
particular plant, several tanks for earth placement. The treatment plants are preassembled to a large extend and therefore can be deployed and installed with little
effort and in a short period of time. They clarify domestic wastewater by means of
the full biological procedure of a submerged and aerated fixed-bed and variants are
available for the treatment grade classes C (carbon removal), N (nitrification) or D
(denitrification).

DELPHIN accessories for small wastewater treatment plants

The following table shows available accessories and optional components for our
small wastewater treatment plants. If you have any questions or the desire for
further information, feel free to contact us - we'll be glad to support you.
If there is no available drainage channel

DELPHIN block seepage elements

Wastewater that is purified in a small sewage treatment plant is discharged into
surface water, e.g. a brook. If this is not possible it is drained away into the
underground via a seepage system.
DELPHIN block seepage elements meet the demands for soils with normal
permeability according to the German standard. With its large holding capacity peak
inflows are buffered and the water can seep slowly through the side walls into the
underground.
DELPHIN block seepage elements consists of several multiblocks which are
interconnected with pipe nozzles. Thereby any lengths of the elements are possible.
One multiblock is used for the distribution of the treated wastewater onto two
elements and has the dimensions 0.28 m x 2.20 m x 0.45 m (width x length x
height).
DELPHIN block seepage elements are designed in accordance with the standard of
DIN 4261-5 on the seepage surface (= lateral surface).
For lifting the outlet water to higher ground levels

Additional airlift pump for treatment plants type DELPHIN compact

With an additional airlift pump the original outlet level of the treatment plant in the
final clarification is raised by 50 cm or by 90 cm. If the discharge point is above the
usual level, with this solution you can avoid applying an expensive and hard to
maintain pump shaft for lifting the outlet water.
This accessory is optionally available for DELPHIN compact wastewater treatment
plants.
Installation at places with high subterranean water level

Buoyancy protection for treatment plants type DELPHIN compact

If the container of a small treatment plant is going to be installed at places with a
high subterranean water level (e.g. ground water, artesian water) and therefore will
be immersed into the water for more than 40 cm, a buoyancy protection must be
attached to the treatment plant.
The DELPHIN compact buoyancy protection consists of galvanized steel tube
profiles and geotextile straps. The straps are being attached after the galvanized
steel tube profiles have been applied to the plant container using the massive eyes,
which are manufactured together with the container itself in one piece.
Extension of the maximum possible installation depth

Extensions for treatment plants type DELPHIN compact

An extension of the maximum installation depth possible can be achieved using
optional dome extensions of 250 mm or 500 mm. In this case, water inlets up to
1.55 m below top ground surface can be connected to the small wastewater
treatment plant without the installation of a pump shaft being necessary. The wide
diameter of the extensions (1000 mm) guarantees a sustainable maintainability.
External technology installation
By default, the technical components of a DELPHIN compact small wastewater
treatment plant are being installed internally via a hooking-in-module located inside
the manhole pit of the tank. In addition, the whole technology can be installed
outside of the plant's tank.

Solution 1: External technology shaft

Technology shaft for the subsurface installation of the hooking-in technology module
outside the treatment plant. The control panel may be installed in any distance to the
wastewater treatment plant indoors or outdoors at a wall. The air hoses enter the
shaft via rubber glands and are connected to hose nozzles at the air distributor. The
air hoses have to be installed inside a protective conduit with the size of DN 100
between shaft and plant.

Solution 2: Wall bracket

Stainless steel wall bracket for indoor installation of compressor, control panel and air
distribution. The bracket is equipped with two shock-proof sockets for the connection
of the compressor and the control panel. The connection of the air hoses takes place
by means of two stainless steel hose nozzles. The scope of delivery contains a green
and a blue hose with a length of 10 m each, four vibration dampers for the
installation between the bracket and the wall plus screws and wall plugs.

Solution 3: Outdoor switch cabinet

Premium steel cabinet for the accommodation of compressor, control panel and air
distribution at outdoor areas. The switch cabinet is equipped with a rain cover, wall
fixations, ventilation grids and external operation and alarm lights. Air hoses are
connected to 2 hose nozzles at the bottom of the cabinet. The air hoses have to be
installed inside a protective conduit with the size of DN 100 between cabinet and
plant. A blue and a green air hose with a length of 10 m each are included in the
scope of delivery.
Mobile wastewater treatment plants for remote locations

The DELPHIN container wastewater treatment plants are fully pre-assembled

systems for the biological purification of domestic wastewater or wastewater of
similar composition. The connection size and the technical equipment of the plants
are adjusted to the specific needs of our customers by our engineering department.

Fields of application

Worker camps of the mining and oil exploration industry

Construction sites
Refugee camps and disaster operation
Research stations
Permafrost regions, deserts and other locations with extreme climate

The basic concept of our containerized treatment plants in the ready-to-operate

installation of the plant inside the ISO container, to allow the fastest possible
installation on site. Plants in one or several 20 and 40 foot ISO containers are
available - also in insulated construction with additional heating for arctic regions or
ventilated and chilled for hot areas.
The internal tanks of the container plants are manufactured entirely out of
wastewater-resistant PE plastic. Beside the simple transport of the plant to any place
in the world, the ISO container also serves to protect the internal self-supporting
tanks and technical installations against external influences. Therefore, even the
most challenging conditions do not affect the service life of the plant. This ensures
repeated fast installation - year in, year out.
Easy to transport
Due to the worldwide harmonized ISO standard for sea containers, our mobile
treatment plants can be moved and transported with all carriers which are able to
handle sea containers.

Easy to set up
Our systems are completely pre-fabricated in our production facility in Hamburg.
After intense testing the plants are packed for road and/or sea transport. Fast
coupling systems and the supplied perfectly fitting installation material like pipes,
hoses and cables allow a fast setup and immediate service after positioning the
container at their place of operation. Plug-and-play!

Easy to operate
The fixed-bed process and the chosen robust technical equipment allow an easy
operation without demand for specialized operation staff. A basic training in our
facility in Hamburg prior to delivery or during set-up on site in coordination with our
detailed manuals allows even non-wastewater experienced technicians to operate
and maintain our systems.

Clean water for your environment

No matter if you want to avoid pollution of your environment or benefit from treated
water for irrigation or service water - DELPHIN container treatment plants are
tailor made solutions for your project and fulfill highest environmental requirements.
It's what's inside that counts!
Below you'll find an explanation of the different modules and treatment stages using
the
example
of
a
mobile
wastewater
treatment
plant DELPHIN container BF250 with extended sludge treatment stage.

Modules: DELPHIN container PT20 - DELPHIN container BF20ST - DELPHIN container ST20

Primary treatment

The primary treatment stage consists of an automatic screen followed by a settlement tank in plants for up to
500 PE or by a drum filter in plants above 500 PE.

Safe removal of solids

Hygienic discharge of dewatered and compacted screenings

Biological stage

The biological stage consists of the submerged and aerated fixed-bed with a flexible aeration hose system for
oxygen entry.

Stable treatment performance also under varying inlet conditions

Easy exchangeable aeration hose via pull-out system without interruption of operation

Secondary clarifier

The secondary clarifier contains a lamella separator and a hopper base for settlement and removal of excess
biomass from the biological stage.

Low suspended solids content (below 25 mg/l) in the outlet without filtration

Homogenized outlet rate by gravity flow through the entire plant

Sludge treatment

The sludge treatment stage receives the settled sludge from the primary treatment and the secondary clarifier.
The sludge is stabilized by oxygenation.

Reduction of odors and fouling processes by aeration

Possibility of easy sludge dewatering with optional filter bag system

Tertiary treatment

By an optional tertiary treatment with filtration, UV treatment and/or a phosphate adsorber system a higher
effluent quality is achieved.

Reuse of treated water in irrigation systems

Safe phosphate removal without chemical precipitation

Containerized WWTP for Siberia

A German supplier of the oil exploration industry approached us with a special challenge: the wastewater of 80
workers on each of two Russian oil drilling camps nearby the Arctic Circle shall be treated with mobile plants in
order to comply with the strict Russian regulations for direct discharge into a natural water body. Additionally the
excess sludge must be stabilized and dewatered inside the plant, because no possibility of a sludge disposal via
vacuum trucks exists at the place of operation.
This task was solved by the engineers of Delphin Water Systems GmbH & Co. KG with modification of the 40 ft.
containerized plant type DELPHIN container XXL and by equipping it with a special insulation and compact
polyethylene tanks. Thus additional space could be generated for the installation of an automatic pretreatment by

means of a curved screen and for the sludge dewatering by a bag filter system. As accessories two prefabricated grease separators and two wastewater lifting stations were designed in insulated double-layer
polyethylene tanks. Thus the set-up and the commissioning of the plants can be arranged by the local
technicians within few hours.
Quality for your project - even at far reaches of the world and under extreme conditions.

DELPHIN container XXL Entrance

DELPHIN container XXL Operating room

Grease separator in double-layer PE tank

Internal view of lifting station