Luxury Island Development: Innovation for Remote Destinations

Fregate Island, Seychelles

When you think of water treatment, what typically “springs” to mind?

We bet it's either irrigation/drinking water filtration or wastewater treatment. While these are the cornerstones of the industry, the world of water and wastewater treatment is remarkably dynamic and diverse.

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Water Treatment Solution for a Luxury Island Retreat

This was recently demonstrated when we were asked to develop a water treatment solution for a luxury island retreat under construction in the Seychelles. In this case, the most readily accessible source of good quality water stemmed from a series of well points dotted around the island.

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Development of Treatment Solution

While the water from the well points was generally fresh and of good quality, the pH was low (acidic) likely due to regional geological composition and vegetation. Given that our clients intended to use this water for the mixing of construction concrete, a treatment solution was needed.

Greenchain Group developed an advanced PLC (Programmable Logic Controller) based circulation system with probe-controlled dosing to raise the pH whilst ensuring that alkalinity and hardness remained within spec. Our Mechatronic Engineer, Calvin Annadale, led the programming and operational logic development in combination with our clients.

This project showcased our flexibility and willingness to provide innovative solutions. It also again highlighted the benefits of our OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) approach to projects with our team clearly understanding the associated components and how to adapt them to new projects.

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Commissioning and Future Plans

In a few weeks, our engineering team will be heading off to commission the system, and start working towards finalizing the layout of phase 2 of the islands water supply.

Expansion to Phase 2: Upgrading Seawater Desalination Facility

This will involve the upgrading of the seawater desalination facility where our Ultrafiltration (UF) technology will be implemented as pre-filtration.

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Benefits of Ultrafiltration (UF) Technology UF will significantly enhance the operational efficiency and lifespan of the desalination unit by:

1. Decreasing the fouling rate of the RO membranes

2. Improving RO feed water quality

3. Decreasing RO maintenance and downtime

4. Reducing chemical usage

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Conclusion and Future Opportunities

We are excited to continue contributing to the success and long-term management of this site. These types of projects also showcase our willingness and ability to deliver on projects outside of South Africa. We encourage you to lean on our expertise no matter where you are based in the world.