Discover Econet's Expertise

From the Aviation Sector to the Water Industry

This spring in Latvia, the container-based wastewater treatment plant designed by Project Engineer Severi Lintula started with promising results.

According to Severi, moments like these—seeing the fruits of persistent design work come to life during implementation—are the most rewarding moments in his job. As an expert in chemical and electrochemical processes, his path to the water industry opened somewhat by chance.

What initially sparked your interest in the water industry?

“In my previous role in the aviation sector, I was responsible for developing the company’s electrochemical surface treatment plant’s wastewater treatment. I also managed the company’s well-equipped laboratory, which allowed me to familiarise myself with the design and implementation of various wastewater treatment processes involving cyanide and heavy metals. When the pandemic hit the aviation industry, I ended up at Econet by chance in the spring of 2021. I was surprised at how much of my accumulated knowledge was beneficial in this field.”

What is your area of special expertise?

“I am wholly a technical expert. My speciality is in chemical and electrochemical processes, and I have also become familiar with biological processes, ion exchange, and filtration processes. Besides designing conventionally erected wastewater treatment systems, I particularly focus on designing containerised, portable plants. Furthermore, new projects always bring new technologies and solutions.”

Could you share a recent project or achievement you are particularly proud of?

“The biological containerised wastewater treatment plant I designed was recently launched in Latvia with good results. These small, portable container plants appeal to customers due to their minimal bureaucracy and rapid implementation. A month ago, there was just an empty plot, and now we are moving on to continuous operation.

I am conducting a Factory Acceptance Test for an electrocoagulator I developed, a new Econet technology. Electrocoagulation allows for a significant reduction of the use of liquid coagulation chemicals, or even chemical-free treatment. Traditionally, the process has used too much energy, suffered from safety issues, and required the addition of salt to the wastewater. Our device addresses all these challenges with entirely new solutions. The coming months will be exciting as we see what the device can achieve in industrial use.”

What is Econet like as a workplace community?

“At Econet, all employees are experts in their fields, so there is tremendous expertise in a small group. Our work community is very immediate and close-knit. We care about our colleagues and offer help in tough situations. For me, it was an obvious choice to invite colleagues to my wedding.”

What makes Econet unique as an employer in the water industry?

“Econet combines high expertise with an extremely agile organisation. We are a larger player than our size suggests and can serve extremely diverse customers.”

What is the most rewarding part of your job?

“Seeing the fruits of my labour come to life during implementation.”

How do you see your work impacting the water industry’s future and sustainable development?

“Econet is at the forefront of trends in the water industry. Especially for countries that are still developing their water supply infrastructure, our solutions define the daily water supply, environment, and livelihoods of millions of people.”

What are the biggest challenges and opportunities in the water industry in the future?

“The depletion of water resources, sulphates, nutrient recycling, and microplastics. The need to recycle water, utilise saline water, and simultaneously increase energy efficiency is a challenging combination. We must continuously find new balances between these in a changing world.

Sulphate emissions have increasingly come to the forefront as an environmental issue. Sulphate is chemically one of the most challenging substances to handle in wastewater. New solutions are urgently needed to recover, utilize, and dispose of sulphate fractions.

Currently, the utilisation of valuable nutrients that end up in sewage sludge or atrophying water bodies is one of the biggest unresolved issues affecting water supply and the entire planet’s nutrient cycle.

Lastly, the treatment of microplastics is still at the research stage, and producing industrial-scale solutions will be a challenge to be addressed over the next decade.”

In which direction do you hope to see Econet develop in the future?

“I would like to see Econet comfortably operating at both extremes of the water industry: as a reliable supplier of traditional processes and a trailblazer driving innovation. New and radical solutions need a reliable technological base while delivering the best possible traditional drinking water plant requires knowledge of the latest technology in the field. These capabilities continuously support and develop each other.”

Econet supports professional development and the growth of expertise

Econet recognised the value of the previous generation of engineers’ expertise early on and conducted a comprehensive program to transfer expertise to the younger generation. Severi also participated in facilitated mentoring.

>> Read more: every bit of the decades-long expertise and experience was carefully preserved.

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