Silicon Carbide Membrane Filtration Integration in Municipal Aquatic Infrastructure

Aquacentrum Den Helder operates as a municipal aquatic facility in the Netherlands, managing public swimming infrastructure under strict regulatory requirements for water quality and safety. During the upgrading of its water treatment infrastructure, the facility encountered significant physical limitations. The designated plant room presented severe space constraints and limited access points, complicating the installation of conventional, large-scale filtration equipment. The primary operational goals for the facility included achieving stable water quality, optimizing the equipment footprint, reducing reliance on chemical-intensive water treatment processes, and ensuring long-term operational reliability.

Ceramic Filtration Technology and System Architecture
To address these physical and operational parameters, Aquacentrum Den Helder selected the QlariFlow platform developed by LiqTech. The technical solution comprises five modular filtration systems and two Automated Cleaning in Place (AutoCIP) units, integrating a total of 56 silicon carbide ceramic membranes. Silicon carbide technology provides precise microfiltration capabilities, enabling the effective removal of suspended solids and pathogens. This specific membrane architecture allows for a highly compact system design, delivering the required filtration capacity within a significantly reduced physical footprint compared to traditional sand or glass media filters.

Deployment Phases and Engineering Support
The implementation of the filtration systems is structured in two distinct phases to accommodate facility operations. The initial phase, involving the installation of the first three systems, was completed in January 2026. The remaining two systems are scheduled for integration in August 2026. The project is executed in collaboration with Lotec, an engineering firm specializing in commercial pool and water treatment solutions. Acting as the exclusive distributor for the BENELUX region, Lotec provided the necessary system design, mechanical engineering, and physical integration services required to fit the modular units into the restricted space.

Phillip Myllerup Aslerin, Business Development Director for Pool Systems at LiqTech, explained the technical reasoning behind the deployment: “This project demonstrates how the system can be deployed in complex pool environments where footprint and system accessibility are critical. Our ceramic membrane technology enables a compact and modular system design while maintaining consistent filtration performance and operational stability.”

Addressing the mechanical integration challenges, Raymond Visser, CEO, and Erik Büter, Sustainability Specialist at Lotec, noted: “Facilities such as Aquacentrum Den Helder require solutions that address physical constraints while meeting performance requirements.”

Global Institutional Application and Expansion
The deployment at Aquacentrum Den Helder reflects a broader industrial shift toward integrating advanced membrane filtration in regulated municipal infrastructure. This operational model is being replicated in other institutional environments with similar regulatory and performance standards. In the United States, three identical systems are being integrated at the Weston County School District #1 Aquatic Center in Wyoming, managed by engineering partner Treatment Specialties. Furthermore, an installation of ten systems is underway at the Plumpton Aquatic and Leisure Centre in Victoria, Australia. Delivered with Waterco Limited, this all-electric facility utilizes the ceramic membrane filters to support its target of achieving a 5 Star Green Star certification, demonstrating the technology's measurable impact on energy and material efficiency in commercial aquatic applications.

Edited by an industrial journalist, Lekshman Ramdas, with AI assistance.

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