After numerous online meetings, I was finally able to welcome Yazan Dabas in person to Bremen. Day one was all about meeting face-to-face. For further support, Project Coordinator Karam Koudary from Hamburg Wasser also took part in the discussions. After a short tour of the Bremen-Seehausen sewage treatment plant, we met the other participants of the dialogue. These included specialists in the fields of sludge treatment, municipal wastewater treatment, industrial wastewater treatment, energy generation and the operation of wastewater treatment plants.

 
On the following days, our focus was on sludge dewatering. Our preliminary discussions had shown that the sludge treatment concept of the South Amman wastewater treatment plant needed optimising at some points. This mainly concerned the aggregates used for dewatering. One of our goals in the area of energy optimisation of wastewater treatment plants is to prepare a feasibility study for improved sludge dewatering at the South Amman wastewater treatment plant.

 
Together with our staff, we shared ideas about advantages and disadvantages at the different machines, and compared operating strategies and approaches with each other. On site, we were able to see all the aggregates we had been talking about optimising actually in operation. Yazan Dabas gained some very deep insights into the performance and the optimal application areas of the various aggregates. For our part, we received more and more detailed information about the local challenges in Jordan. This enabled us to gain a clearer picture for our return visit in autumn 2022. It provided a very solid foundation for the feasibility study that is to follow.

Of course, it was not only about sludge dewatering. Yazan Dabas took the opportunity to exchange ideas in other areas of hanseWasser as well. Whether it was laboratory analysis, sewer inspection or the history of wastewater treatment in Bremen – the entire week was characterised by intensive knowledge sharing.

 
Personally, two things struck me very much. First of all, in all the focused discussion there was always an opportunity to think outside the box. Participants automatically explained questions raised on other topics on the spur of the moment, such as discussing what is the best type of pump for sand traps, and shared data sheets. They also discussed how to deal with prolonged heat waves, and shared their experiences. Secondly, we also took the time for personal meetings and joint activities in order to move beyond conducting the partnership on a purely formal level. I am already looking forward to our planned return visits to Amman and Madaba in autumn 2022 and spring 2023.