SATTURN receives a prestigious international award from Chile

During his visit to the Zlín Region, the Ambassador of the Republic of Chile, H.E. Patricio Utreras, presented the Strait of Magellan Award to SATTURN HOLEŠOV. The company became the only recipient in the Czech Republicof this prestigious award for innovations and discoveries with a global impact. The award marked the 500th anniversary of the first circumnavigation of the globe by the expedition of Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan.

The Chilean delegation’s official visit began at SATTURN HOLEŠOV’s headquarters, where the ENCELADUS project and its potential contribution to wastewater treatment and water retention in Chile were presented.

The Strait of Magellan Award for the ENCELADUS innovation project, focused on wastewater treatment and water retention in the landscape, was accepted by Managing Director Jaromír Tomšů at Holešov Castle on Tuesday, 7 September 2021.

The ceremony concluded the Chilean ambassador’s three-day visit to the Zlín Region. On Monday he met Regional Governor Radim Holiš, Deputy Governor Radek Doležel, Speaker of the Czech Chamber of Deputies Radek Vondráček, Pavel Kulička, Head of the regional authority’s Environmental Risk Assessment Department, and Bohdana Lavrovičová, Director of the Contact Centre for Eastern Markets at the Regional Chamber of Commerce. He was accompanied by his wife Brenda Iriarte, Embassy First Secretary Carlos Gajardo and his wife Natallia Bykhautsava.

At Holešov Castle, the delegation met other prominent Czech representatives, including H.E. Josef Hlobil, Czech Ambassador to Chile and Bolivia; Senate President Miloš Vystrčil; Member of the European Parliament Michaela Šojdrová; Deputy Environment Minister Vladimír Mana; Deputy Industry and Trade Minister Petr Očko; Member of Parliament Ondřej Benešík; and other distinguished guests.

Fundación Imagen de Chile selected the ENCELADUS project as the Czech winner of this prestigious competition, which commemorates the spirit of Magellan’s exploration 500 years ago by recognising today’s innovators around the world. The foundation described ENCELADUS and its potential positive global impact as an example of the same exploratory and innovative spirit that inspired Magellan’s expedition.

The ENCELADUS project and its positive environmental and economic impact worldwide demonstrate the importance of innovative approaches. Many words were spoken at the ceremony, but they shared one idea: nothing is more precious than water, which we must protect, and projects like this deserve support. The Strait of Magellan Award will help the project expand both domestically and internationally.

What is ENCELADUS?

ENCELADUS is a telemetry system incorporating technologies for remote monitoring and control of networks of domestic wastewater treatment plants, remote water meter readings, reservoir monitoring and pumping, measurement of water properties, treatment control and related processes. This unique system addresses wastewater treatment in sparsely developed areasunsuited to conventional municipal treatment plants or centralised sewerage. Wastewater is treated where it is generated, then reused or returned to nature. Treatment plant networks are monitored and controlled remotely around the clock from a central service facility. The system immediately flags unusual operating states at individual plants and enables a rapid response.

The telemetry system includes a control unit that monitors treatment plant states by reading installed sensors. Common sensors detect an open plant cover and measure air pressure to indicate correct blower operation. A sludge probe automatically measures sludge level and quality in the activation tank. It replaces manual sampling and assessment of biological sludge, meaning that a settling test is not required.

ENCELADUS was created in 2008 and underwent intensive development and testing over the following 13 years. By mid-2021, municipal networks in the Czech Republic had 584 treatment plants installed and operating successfully, with a further 656 installations planned for the following year. SATTURN HOLEŠOV is setting nationwide trends in decentralised wastewater treatment with telemetry control for rural and outlying urban areas where centralised sewerage is inefficient. The project has received awards including Visionary 2019, Innovation of the Year 2019, eGovernment The Best 2020 and the International Innovation Award, recognising its technological, social and economic contribution to the environment and water management.

Why are treatment plant networks not more widespread in the Czech Republic?

Wider acceptance of ENCELADUS and cost-effective water management and retention came only with the climatic conditions of recent years, when the government had to address extreme drought. Before then, the approach was not accepted at a systemic level by the environment and agriculture sectors. Preconceptions among some officials responsible for approving or rejecting construction were a major obstacle. Mayors wishing to implement projects faced a deadlock: on one side, a grant from the State Environmental Fund with a completion deadline; on the other, a refusal from the permitting authorities.

Domestic treatment plants can offer reductions in public capital expenditure often reaching 65% compared with conventional centralised sewerage, at comparable operating costs. Municipalities considering this approach can assess functionality and ease of use at completed installations. Their representatives can then choose between the established technological standard and modern technology that allows future improvements in automation and user convenience without replacing an outdated treatment plant.