Xylem, a global leader in water technology, has introduced its new Dissolved Air Flotation (DAF) products and services specifically for the South African market, aiming to address intricate water challenges.
The company showcased its DAF equipment and related services at an event held at Xylem Africa’s Kempton Park headquarters in Johannesburg. These offerings are designed to provide effective wastewater treatment solutions for various industries, including mining, municipalities, agriculture, aquaculture, food & beverage, paper & pulp, chemical manufacturing, and pharmaceuticals.
DAF technology serves as an essential component for pre-treatment and separating solids within larger wastewater systems. It can function independently for solid separation or work alongside biological, filtration, or water reuse systems to meet specific compliance and recycling goals. Its compact, modular design allows for installation in tight spaces. Xylem also provides flexible DAF rental options for smaller or seasonal projects.
Chetan Mistry, Xylem WSS (AMETI) Strategy and Marketing Manager, expressed enthusiasm about delivering advanced DAF solutions to local clients. He noted that these solutions have been very successful in other markets, praised for their compact design and easy deployment, supported by Xylem’s skilled technicians. Mistry highlighted that South African organizations, both private and public, can now utilize DAF to broaden their water treatment and recycling options.
Xylem’s DAF systems use Hellbender™ pumps to release microscopic air bubbles that, following appropriate coagulation and flocculation, attach to suspended and destabilised colloidal particles, enabling their separation from the water phase which can be skimmed away.
The DAF technique efficiently removes Total Suspended Solids (TSS), Fats, Oils, and Greases (FOG), and particulate-associated biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) from wastewater streams. These systems offer an effective solution for a wide range of applications, including:
- Thickening of biosolids
- Product recovery from wastewater
- Treatment of industrial wastewater to meet site discharge limits
- Polishing of biological treatment effluent (algae and phosphorus removal)
- Pretreatment to reduce loading on downstream biological treatment systems
- Clarification of biosolids downstream of aerobic and anaerobic treatment
- Removal of fats, oils, and greases (FOG)
- Temporary treatment of biosolids during harvest seasons
- Removal of metals and fines
- Recovery of proteins from slaughterhouse wastewater
DAF systems are also remarkably compact, often requiring significantly less footprint and depth than conventional sedimentation tanks, depending on design and loading rates. Its combination of convenient sizes and broad applications makes it attractive to numerous industries that clean water for reuse, extract materials from water, or prepare water for compliant discharge into the environment.
Bringing DAF’s advantages to Africa
Xylem’s DAF solutions and services enable more producers to manage wastewater strategically without excessive investment in wastewater infrastructure.
As part of a phased and modular treatment strategy, DAF is often deployed as an entry point into integrated wastewater and reuse solutions, enabling future expansion with biological treatment, filtration, and advanced polishing technologies
Xylem’s DAF units provide efficient wastewater pre-treatment and solids separation with:
- Three DAF models: RT-50, RT-100, RT-240 (100-1000 GPM flows)
- Durable stainless-steel construction
- Integrated flocculation tube for enhanced separation
- Pre-wired control panel for quick setup
- Continuous support throughout rental terms
- Simple operation following site integration, safety review, and commissioning (connection to process lines and 460VAC power required)
From running pilots and proofs of concepts for wastewater management plans, to enhancing the efficiency of established treatment systems, and upgrading to cutting-edge treatment methodologies: Xylem Africa and DAF help South African industries and municipalities solve water for all.
Xylem Africa and its partners deliver permanent and rental DAF solutions, calibrated to a customer’s requirements and operations, says Mistry.
“Xylem’s expert staff and our experienced partners customise each solution as required. We deliver and manage components such as mixer tanks, weir tanks, pumps, and conveyors, as well as catwalks and accessories. Our skilled technicians can support on-site staff or run the process on behalf of our customers.”
Water is humanity’s most essential resource. As water stress and costs increase, organisations are intensifying their strategies to ensure supply and compliance. For many, though, this prospect was out of reach because of the cost and cumbersome ownership of industrialised water treatment options.
Backed by Xylem’s engineering expertise and service capability, dissolved air flotation expands flexible, resilient options for wastewater pre-treatment and reuse within integrated water management strategies.
