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Proceedings of the MSTU, vol.1, No.1, 1998
pp.169-170
Research Cooperation. Sanitary Engineering Cooperation between Oulu and Murmansk
1 2 E. Lakso , A. Ivanitsky
1 Laboratory of Hydraulics of the Oulu University
Laboratory of Industrial Ecology of the MSTU Scientific-Research Centre
Abstract. Sanitary engineering is a highly capital demanding area. Technical solutions in different cases depend on local conditions; for example, the quality of raw water and wastewater receiving watercourse. Of course, the theoretical background is always the same independent of the place. Without knowing the local conditions the research cooperation is not very useful. The best results are possible to get when persons from both countries participate in the work and work together.
1. Introduction
In the sanitary engineering it is possible to distinguish the following parts: drinking water treatment and distribution, wastewater collection and treatment. Every part must be correctly designed and work according to the plan. If, for example, water distribution system is highly corrosive, it deteriorates drinking water quality and causes leakages. Although the water treatment processes are improved to get more suitable water for consumers by removing iron from water more effectively, the total situation is not getting better almost at all. In that case water quality must be changed so that it will prevent corrosion inside pipes. In the long run the most corrosive parts of the distribution network will be reconstructed. Possible correction measures must be concentrated in the right places. Therefore, the knowledge of local conditions is necessary.
2. Schooling cooperation
In the cooperation between Oulu and Murmansk good theoretical background can be obtained at the sanitary engineering courses in the University of Oulu. Arctic Civil Engineering programme is organized for the second time in autumn 1997. The whole programme contains 18 credit units. Sanitary engineering course is a part of the total programme. Participants from foreign countries can take part also in other sanitary engineering courses that are mainly for Finnish students.
The Murmansk State Technical University (MSTU) is willing to establish the Infrastructure Centre. The sanitary engineering is one important part of it. Of course, theoretical studies and research are useful in the sanitary engineering area, but it is necessary already from the beginning to work in close cooperation with water companies and other sanitary engineering organizations. These put forward some practical problems, which become the subject of research of the university. During the cooperation the water companies can also finance research works that are useful for them. After graduating some of the students can go to work in these companies and they will know the working conditions beforehand.
3. Research cooperation
The visiting professor of the University of Oulu has been carrying out research work in the Murmansk University and «Murmanvodokanal» for about two months. Before this preliminary information had been collected during last summer. A researcher from the MSTU had visited a number of the main offices of the water companies in the Kola area. He got knowledge of the treatment processes of drinking water and wastewater, and so on.
At the beginning of the visiting professor's work the problems in the sanitary engineering area were discovered during the fieldtrips to the water and wastewater treatment plants and pumping stations of «Murmanvodokanal» and other similar water companies in the Kola area. Persons from the administration and lower levels of the water companies, the Murmansk University and the visiting professor from the University of Oulu participated in those fieldtrips, during which it was possible to see the problems and to discuss them. At the same time material for further work and cooperation was collected.
After the fieldtrips the work of the report, that covers the present situation in sanitary engineering area and the proposals of improving measures was started. This report gives good background for research cooperation between the universities and the water companies. Perhaps, the most difficult problem is the corrosion of drinking and wastewater pipes.
Lakso E., Ivanitsky A. Research cooperation. Sanitary engineering cooperation...
At the end of two months' working period of the visiting professor a technical seminar will be held, where there will be lectures and evaluations of the possibilities of technical improvements. Persons from «Murmanvodokanal» and other water companies and students from the Murmansk University will take part in this seminar. Problems under discussion are as follows:
- better drinking water treatment in the existing treatment plants mainly by developing flocculation before contact filters;
- prevention of deteriorating of drinking water in distribution pipes mainly by decreasing pipes corrosion;
- decrease of leakages both from water and wastewater lines and also inside houses;
- development of the wastewater treatment system in the town of Murmansk;
- improvement of the operation of small wastewater treatment plants;
- automatization of pumping stations.
Although local conditions in the Murmansk area differ quite a lot from the Oulu area some experience, perhaps, may be taken from Oulu. The mechanical treatment plant of Murmansk has been under construction for more than ten years. We know from the experience that using mechanical treatment does not give so much help to the water pollution control. At the beginning of the 1970's the Oulu town had the purpose to build a mechanical treatment plant, but just before the construction the mechanical process was changed to chemical. Similarly, technically it is quite easy to change the mechanical treatment plant of Murmansk into chemical.
After the seminar at the beginning of November research works and studies will continue in the University of Oulu. The preparation of the above mentioned report will continue. According to the timetable it will be ready at the end of this year. The visiting researcher will continue his postgraduate studies. Treatment of iron, manganese and humus containing ground water has been for many years an important research area of the water laboratory in the University of Oulu. Next year this research area will most probably get more resources. Also the visiting researcher (a postgraduate student) from the MSTU will participate in this work.
The purpose of the ground water research project is to develop simple and reliable biological and chemical processes to get high quality drinking water. In the Kola area many small communities need solution to get good drinking water. Therefore, the development of ground water technology is of interest also in the Kola area. In that research area a lot of important knowledge has already been got. Thus, it is partly the question of transportation of the knowledge.
Next spring the persons from «Murmanvodokanal» and the Murmansk University will most likely make the fieldtrip to Finnish drinking and wastewater treatment plants. In that case it will be good opportunity to compare the solutions and make possible development planning. Also the report covering the above-mentioned topics is at that time ready and under discussion.
4. Future cooperation prospects
«Laboratory of Industrial Ecology» in the MSTU belongs to «Scientific-Research Department» of the University. This laboratory has carried out, for example, the following research projects:
- developing of nitrification-denitrification technology in wastewater treatment process at the protein product factory;
- determination of optimal conditions for biological treatment of phenol polluted wastewater from fish processing industry;
- developing the technology of wastewater treatment from food industry using fiber containing biotank;
- developing physical-chemical technology for the treatment of oil and fat containing wastewater. Practical scientific work and research of this laboratory in many areas can cooperate with the «Water Laboratory» in the University of Oulu. Both laboratories, for example, research and develop wastewater treatment technology. From such point of view there are a lot of good prospects for future cooperation in sanitary engineering and industrial ecology fields. The first step of this work is joint supervising of the postgraduate student by persons from both laboratories.
