Background
For most of its history, the small village of Stara Baška on the island of Krk relied on collected rainwater, which was sometimes below drinking standards. In 2009, the municipal company Ponikve d.o.o. signed a contract with the company 3 M d.o.o. for the supply and installation of a desalination plant to produce drinking water.
Challenges
To find additional water supply capacities for Stara Baška, the municipal company Ponikve d.o.o. began conducting water research works in 1999. As a result, a well 114 meters deep was constructed in the summer of 2003. Trial pumping conducted in August 2003 established the well’s capacity at 10 L/s.
Given the fact that this is brackish water with salinity ranging from 3000 to 3500 mg/L, it is necessary to desalinate the water to reduce the mineral content to permissible levels according to the regulation (N.N. 182/04).
Based on the water research reports, project documentation was prepared, and the necessary permits were obtained. In 2009, the construction of the Stara Baška water supply system began. 3 M d.o.o. participated in the construction of the water treatment system with a 3M BW desalination unit and a 3MPM4 drinking water disinfection unit as integral components.
Solutions
The plant consists of two 3M BW units for brackish water desalination using reverse osmosis. One unit can supply 480 m³/d, and the other 120 m³/d of drinking water. During the summer, both units operate simultaneously, while in the winter, only the smaller unit operates. The units are housed in a facility that includes a brackish water reservoir, a drinking water reservoir, and a machine room.
Results
The plant produces 600,000 liters of drinking water per day to meet the needs of the village of Stara Baška.
Contact 3 M, an experienced and professional company with over 30 years of experience in desalination and water treatment, to learn more about how growing island resorts and communities can thrive despite climate change.
