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ABB Drives for Water & Wastewater

ALWAYS FLOWING. NEVER STILL.

Water utilities depend on reliable solutions. ABB's ACQ580 variable frequency drives are engineered for demanding pump applications, featuring intelligent pump control, cavitation detection, and debris prevention. By optimizing pump performance, ABB VFDs reduce energy consumption, minimize downtime, and lower operational costs—all with easy commissioning and built-in redundancy. Whether managing municipal supplies or treatment facilities, ABB delivers the reliability your community depends on.

UN predictions indicate that by 2030, the demand for water will be 40% higher than the available supply. Emerging trends in the water industry, such as digital transformation, sustainable water management, and climate change adaptation, are driving the development of innovative solutions to address global water challenges.

ABB is at the forefront of driving innovation in the water sector, adhering to high industry and regulatory standards for safe, high-quality water production, distribution, and treatment. Our advanced technologies enable informed decision-making and efficient operations, extending asset lifetimes.

ACQ580-01

Wall-mounted VFD designed for W/WW industry, 1-100 Hp @ 230V, 1-350 Hp @ 460V and 2-250 Hp @ 600V. Available as either UL Type 1 (IP21) or UL Type 12 (IP55).

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ACQ580-04

Drive modules designed for installation into existing enclosures for the W/WW industry 400 to 700 Hp @ 460V, Available as either UL Type Open (IP00) or (IP21).
 

ACQ580 4X

The ACQ580 UL Type 4X is a 1-30 HP variable frequency drive purpose-built for harsh water and wastewater environments. Fully sealed with exceptional corrosion resistance to ammonia, chlorine, and industry biocides, it withstands rain, salt spray, extreme temperatures, and UV exposure. Optional fused disconnect and 100 kA SCCR rating simplify installation.

Ideal for lift stations, booster pumps, clarifiers, and treatment applications where reliability in challenging outdoor conditions is critical.

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ACQ580-PC/PD

ACQ580 offered with either an input disconnect (ACQ580-PD) or an input circuit breaker (ACQ580-PC). Both include fuses and are available in power ranges from 1 to 25 Hp at 208/230V, 1 to 60 Hp at 460V, and 2 to 30 Hp at 575V. as either UL Type 1 (IP21) or UL Type 12 (IP55).

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ACQ580 Ultra Low Harmonic Drives 

ABB's Ultra-Low Harmonic drives for water and wastewater come in wall mount or module formats. Both deliver unity power factor and 3% or less THDi, meeting IEEE 519 standards while remaining generator friendly. Wall-mounted units (5-150 HP @ 460V) are available in UL Type 1 (IP21) or UL Type 12 (IP55). Modular units (200-400 HP @ 460V) are available in UL Type Open (IP00) or IP21, offering flexibility for demanding applications.
 

ACQ580 Performance Package

The ACQ580-0P and ACQ580-3P are pre-engineered, enclosed drive packages for water and wastewater applications, available in standard VFD (1-700 HP) or Ultra-Low Harmonic (ULH) configurations (5-400 HP). Both feature a slim-footprint UL Type 1/12 (NEMA) enclosure with minimal clearance requirements, fitting tight electrical rooms and enabling easy retrofits.

Each includes conformally coated circuit boards, 65kA SCCR circuit breaker, Hand-Off-Auto control panel, control power transformer, integrated fans and filters, and multiple cable entry/exit options.

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Overcome the Challenges of Harmonics

Water and wastewater utilities often struggle with harmonic distortion and power quality issues that can damage equipment and reduce system efficiency. ABB's ACQ580, particularly the ultra-low harmonic (ULH) variant, delivers superior power quality performance by achieving total harmonic distortion below 3% and unity power factor, helping facilities meet IEEE 519 harmonic standards without requiring external harmonic mitigation equipment.

Beyond harmonics, the ACQ580 is engineered to ride through poor power quality conditions such as voltage sags and voltage imbalance, and operates seamlessly on either primary utility power or emergency generators without auxiliary controls. This resilience protects critical pump systems from utility disruptions while improving overall plant reliability and performance.

Comprehensive Active Power Management: Handling Real-World Electrical Challenges

ABB's ULH drives deliver comprehensive power management through active IGBT rectification and integrated LCL filtering. They maintain nominal motor voltage during low-voltage supply conditions by boosting the DC bus—critical during generator operation where passive 18-Pulse drives fail.

ULH drives remain IEEE 519-2014 compliant even with 3% input voltage imbalance, compared to 18-Pulse performance degrading 50% at just 2% imbalance. They actively maintain near-unity power factor across the entire load range, eliminating demand charges and system strain.

Finally, ULH achieves 3% Total Harmonic Current Distortion with near-sinusoidal input current, minimizing stress on generators and electrical equipment while providing consistent compliance regardless of supply conditions.

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ULH Drives and Standby Generator Sizing

ABB's Ultra Low Harmonic (ULH) drives reduce harmonic current distortion to just 3% compared to traditional 18-Pulse drives at 5%, dramatically decreasing the harmonic stress on standby generators. Since generators have high source impedance (~20%), excessive harmonics from conventional drives cause voltage surging, winding overheating, and instability.

The ULH drive's active IGBT rectifier produces near-sinusoidal input current that eliminates this distortion burden, allowing facility operators to specify smaller, less expensive generator capacity.


Additionally, ULH drives maintain stable performance under real-world generator conditions where 18-Pulse drives fail. ULH remains IEEE 519-2014 compliant with up to 3% voltage imbalance and actively maintains motor voltage during generator sag, preventing motor overheating and overload issues. These capabilities enable reliable power delivery during outages while reducing generator sizing and capital costs.
 

ULH Active Front End: The Only Technology to Combat Harmonics

ABB's Ultra Low Harmonic (ULH) Active Front End drives represent a generational advancement over traditional 18-Pulse technology. While 18-Pulse drives use passive transformer-based architecture with multiple diode bridges, ULH drives employ active IGBT rectifiers with integrated LCL filters for real-time harmonic control. This fundamental difference delivers superior harmonic performance; ULH achieves 3% Total Harmonic Current Distortion compared to 18-Pulse's 5%, and remains compliant with IEEE 519-2014 standards across all operating conditions, even with voltage imbalance and partial loads where 18-Pulse performance degrades. ULH drives also achieve 97% efficiency, compared to 95% for 18-Pulse, generating significantly less heat and reducing HVAC costs.

Beyond performance metrics, ULH drives offer substantial practical advantages that lower total cost of ownership. The elimination of phase-shifting transformers, balancing reactors, multiple cooling fans, and nine interconnecting power cables results in a compact, wall-mountable design that is 75% smaller and significantly lighter than 18-Pulse units.

This simplified architecture reduces components from dozens to just essentials, cutting maintenance complexity, spare parts inventory, and mean time to repair. For Water & Wastewater applications requiring generator compatibility, system resilience, and retrofit flexibility, ULH drives deliver superior reliability, easier installation, and lower operational costs.


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Prevention is Better Than a Cure for the Symptoms

Harmonics waste energy, damage equipment, and threaten process reliability—with excessive distortion increasing line losses by up to 16% and forcing expensive equipment oversizing. Learn how ABB's ultra-low harmonic drives reduce THD to 3% while cutting capital and operational costs.

Discover why active front end technology is the solution for water and wastewater facilities operating in demanding environments, delivering <3% THD and ensuring mission-critical reliability.

Your Funding Starts with ABB

ABB is the first VFD manufacturer to earn NEMA's Make It American® product-level certification, setting the industry standard for domestic content and American manufacturing excellence. Manufactured at our New Berlin, Wisconsin facility, our certified drives meet rigorous federal requirements for critical infrastructure projects, ensuring your municipal and water systems are powered by equipment that supports the American supply chain.

Why it matters:

• First and only VFD manufacturer with NEMA Make It American® certification
• Manufactured in the USA with domestic supply chain resilience
• Meets federal requirements for critical infrastructure funding
• Supports American jobs and local sourcing commitments

When you choose ABB, you're choosing American-made quality backed by federal compliance.
 

Build confidence in your water operations

Download ABB’s new playbook to help you identify and defeat the enemies that interrupt your water/wastewater operation and learn how you can:

•    Reduce operational headaches due to poor utility power
•    Boost generator stability and prevent nuisance tripping
•    Avoid breaks, spills, and bursts that risk licenses and permits
•    Extend asset life in extreme environments
•    And more…

Gain valuable insights into how our, designed for your industry, Variable Frequency Drives (VFDs) can improve your pump and blower processes and protect aging assets.

ACQ580 Complete Portfolio Catalog

ABB's ACQ580 Complete Product Family offers comprehensive solutions from compact wall-mounted drives to robust packaged systems. Find the right power rating, enclosure style, and harmonic performance—with integrated pump control and proven reliability. Browse options from 1 HP to 700 HP.

Understanding Harmonics in Water and Wastewater Facilities—And How to Address Them

Understand what harmonics are, why they threaten your water infrastructure, how they inflate costs—and the proven technology that eliminates the problem. Learn why ULH VFDs outperform traditional mitigation solutions for water and wastewater applications.

Energy Efficiency Calculator 

Upgrade from fixed-speed motors to variable speed operation and discover real cost savings. ABB's Energy Savings Calculator shows you annual energy reduction, payback time, and CO₂ impact. Get personalized results instantly—then connect with an ABB expert to make it happen.

Key steps to lower energy consumption in water utilities

Water and wastewater utilities can reduce energy consumption and improve operational efficiency by optimizing motor-driven applications, adopting high-efficiency technologies such as variable speed drives, and identifying opportunities for energy savings across their operations.

With the water sector accounting for approximately 4% of the world's electricity consumption, effective energy management is becoming increasingly important as organizations face rising energy costs, growing demand, and sustainability targets. Implementing these strategies helps improve process performance, lower operating expenses, reduce carbon emissions, strengthen system resilience, and support progress toward long-term Net Zero and sustainability objectives.

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Key steps to ensure efficient water utility operations

Using data to improve process and efficiency for process managers focuses on how leveraging operational data can help organizations make smarter, faster decisions that drive productivity and performance. By collecting and analyzing real-time information from equipment, processes, and control systems, process managers can identify inefficiencies, reduce downtime, optimize resource usage, and improve overall operational reliability.

Data-driven insights enable managers to uncover trends, predict potential issues before they occur, and continuously refine workflows to enhance efficiency and reduce costs.

Ultimately, using data as a strategic tool helps process managers improve process performance, support sustainability goals, and achieve better business outcomes through informed decision-making.

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Key steps to prevent downtime for water utilities

Water and wastewater treatment facilities face increasing pressure to maintain reliable operations, control costs, and meet growing demand while minimizing disruptions.

A proactive approach to operations and maintenance can help managers improve asset performance, reduce unplanned downtime, and strengthen overall system resilience. By implementing effective maintenance planning, asset monitoring, and lifecycle management strategies, organizations can identify potential issues before they lead to failures, extend equipment life, and optimize process performance.

Leveraging technologies such as drives, PLCs, and condition monitoring solutions enables utilities to improve reliability, lower maintenance costs, and ensure consistent, efficient service delivery throughout the water and wastewater treatment cycle.

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Get In Touch With Our Team

Ready to optimize your water and wastewater systems?

Our team of ABB drive experts is here to help you find the right solution for your application—whether you need reliable variable frequency drives for challenging pump environments, ultra-low harmonic performance for power quality, or a complete packaged drive system. We understand the demands of water utilities and treatment facilities, and we're committed to delivering solutions that perform when it matters most.

Industry Experience You Can Trust: 

From lift stations and booster pumps to clarifiers and treatment systems, ABB has engineered drives specifically for the water and wastewater industry. Our expertise spans harsh outdoor environments, demanding chemical exposure, energy efficiency optimization, and seamless emergency generator integration. Whether you're specifying new equipment or upgrading existing systems, we have the right technology and support to streamline your project.

Let's connect.

Fill out the form and we'll connect you with a specialist who understands your industry's unique challenges. Fast response. Expert guidance. Proven results. Let's design for confidence together.