Veolia - Water Technologies & Solutions

Demystifying PFAS: A Beginner’s FAQ Guide

watertechnologies.com — Tue, 12 Nov 2024 18:35:21 +0000

Demystifying PFAS: A Beginner’s FAQ Guide watertechnolog… Tue, 11/12/2024 - 13:35

Per- and Poly-Fluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS), often called “forever chemicals,” are a class of thousands of human-made compounds that persist in the environment. They don’t break down naturally, which means that once they’re in our water or soil, they pose challenges to both environmental health and regulations. PFAS are found in everything from non-stick cookware to firefighting foam, and their prevalence has led to widespread contamination concerns.

Legislators have developed a focus on PFAS, drafting regulations to curb their impact. Initiatives like the EPA’s proposal to limit PFAS in drinking water are just one of the many steps being taken to address this growing issue. Yet, even as new rules emerge, many manufacturers and municipal water systems face significant financial, technical, and compliance uncertainty — especially since PFAS are so varied and can be challenging to treat.

Veolia is at the forefront of the fight against PFAS in drinking water in the United States and Europe and is working on solutions to address other major pollutants in other regions of the world, leveraging its extensive expertise to address this critical challenge.

To date, Veolia, the largest private operator of water services in the United States, has treated more than 2.1 billion gallons (7.9 billion liters) of drinking water. The treatment has reduced levels below regulatory thresholds across more than 30 sites in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, with dozens more projects underway. The U.S. operations represent a valuable source of expertise that can be applied in regions worldwide where regulations are evolving.

Effective PFAS treatment is vital, and Veolia has conducted almost 10,000 water sample analyses in the U.S. over the past five years to determine and implement the best treatment options based on water chemistry, physical site constraints, and lifecycle costs.

Veolia’s new BeyondPFAS offering provides a comprehensive approach to PFAS management, from detection to treatment, giving our customers peace of mind that they have fully complied with regulations and not passed on these “forever chemicals” to their communities. To help you understand PFAS better, we’ve compiled answers to some of the most frequently asked questions. This guide should provide clarity on these forever chemicals, why they matter, and the steps you can take to manage their impact.

For processes that use media to adsorb PFAS chemicals, where does the PFAS or contaminant go after it has been captured?

In procedures that utilize media to remove PFAS chemicals, the captured PFAS or other pollutants are collected and contained within the adsorbent media. The effectiveness depends on the type of material used. For instance, in granular activated carbon (GAC) filtration and ion exchange resin (IXR), the PFAS adheres to the filtration media. Once the media is saturated, it is either incinerated at high temperatures to treat the PFAS, regenerated to remove the PFAS for reuse of the media, or taken to a licensed landfill for disposal. In reverse osmosis (RO), the concentrated water stream, known as RO reject, is further treated or disposed of in an environmentally approved manner.

Are any technologies capable of destroying these contaminants without disposing of them in landfills or incinerators?

Typically, disposal of spent carbon media or ion exchange resin involves processing PFAS in a high-temperature incinerator or disposal in a licensed landfill. Regenerating carbon media using a kiln allows for recycling, while novel on-site resin regeneration processes are being explored for certain applications. RO requires suitable disposal of the concentrate, which can include further treatment and adherence to regulatory standards.

What does Veolia do if a landfill or disposal company refuses to take PFAS?

If a landfill refuses to accept waste containing PFAS, it is often because the landfill is not designed or licensed to receive hazardous substances. In such cases, Veolia helps connect the waste owner with a licensed disposal facility that can properly handle the waste, which may include incineration.

What is the most promising technology for PFAS treatment in the short and long term?

PFAS treatment involves separation, capture, and disposal. In the short term, RO and nanofiltration are effective for separation, while activated carbon and ion exchange are effective for capture. For disposal, the best available technology is high-temperature incineration, or a suitably licensed hazardous waste landfill. In the future, additional solutions may include advanced separation methods using gas bubbles (e.g. foam fractionation) and/or novel adsorbents that are more selective and cost-effective.

What is the most challenging aspect of tackling PFAS from drinking water?

The complexity of PFAS chemistry makes treatment difficult. Conventional water purification methods are not sufficient for PFAS removal. Only specialized techniques like carbon adsorption, ion exchange, nanofiltration, and RO are effective. The diversity of PFAS compounds and the evolving regulatory requirements add further challenges to achieving comprehensive removal.

Ultimately, managing the impact of PFAS requires a comprehensive approach involving scientific innovation, regulatory compliance, and collective responsibility. The best treatment solutions commonly use multiple technologies in a series to take advantage of each technology’s key strengths and work collectively to treat PFAS.

If you have more in-depth questions about PFAS or need help navigating treatment solutions, reach out to Veolia. Our team of experts is ready to assist with tailored advice and cutting-edge solutions to address PFAS challenges effectively.

Contact a PFAS expert

Read PFAS Disclaimer

innovation

PFAS

John Peichel

Our Blog Has a New Home

rylee.lay@veolia.com — Fri, 11 Jul 2025 03:36:20 +0000

Our Blog Has a New Home rylee.lay@veolia.com Thu, 07/10/2025 - 23:36

We're excited to announce that the Veolia | Water Tech corporate blog is moving! This transition marks an evolution in our brand identity, as we step forward more directly as Veolia—the water technology experts.

Don't worry, all the content you've come to enjoy, learn from, and love will still be right there in our new home. You can still expect to find the same valuable insights and expertise, with content consistently focused on innovation, sustainability, and ecological transformation. We'll continue offering technical know-how, industry/application/product expertise, and give you a look into our unique employee culture.

We're committed to bringing you engaging content to help you stay ahead in water technology. Explore our new corporate blog here!

Veolia

The Blogger Team

How Grasim Industries Created a Zero Liquid Discharge Benchmark in Water-Scarce Nagda, India

rylee.lay@veolia.com — Thu, 24 Apr 2025 16:34:02 +0000

How Grasim Industries Created a Zero Liquid Discharge Benchmark in Water-Scarce Nagda, India rylee.lay@veolia.com Thu, 04/24/2025 - 12:34

Water stress is an escalating issue in India, where nearly 70% of surface water is considered unfit for consumption and demand continues to outpace supply. In central India, seasonal droughts and inconsistent rainfall have placed even greater pressure on industrial operations that depend on stable water access. For manufacturers like Grasim Industries, this created an urgent need to rethink water use — not just to protect the business, but to safeguard shared community resources.

When Grasim Industries set out to revamp its water management strategy at its Nagda facility, it wasn’t just about keeping operations running — it was about setting a new global benchmark. Located in a drought-prone region of Madhya Pradesh, the viscose staple fiber (VSF) plant faced a growing challenge: rising water demand, unreliable supply and increasing pressure to reduce environmental impact.

Veolia helped turn that challenge into a model of industrial sustainability. Together, Grasim and Veolia implemented a first-of-its-kind zero liquid discharge (ZLD) system for the VSF industry, achieving a 98% recovery rate and cutting operational costs. Just as important, the plant now contributes recycled water and usable byproducts that support local communities, agriculture and the environment.

Grasim’s Nagda facility has operated since 1954. Water usage increased from 5.66 billion liters to 36.8 billion liters as the company expanded into sectors like cement, sponge iron and chemicals. Limited rainfall and reliance on the Chambal River pushed the plant to the edge, forcing shutdowns during peak summer months.

To break this cycle, Grasim focused on reducing its freshwater intake by adopting an aggressive strategy rooted in the principles of reduce, reuse and recycle. Membrane-based treatment, water storage capacity of 30 billion liters, and a commitment to UN SDG 6 helped transform the site into one of the world’s lowest water consumers in the VSF sector.

A clear set of goals

Grasim set out with a comprehensive set of water management goals: achieve ZLD compliance, reduce dependence on freshwater, recover valuable resources and create an energy-efficient, low-maintenance, highly automated system. It also needed to meet stringent quality benchmarks — including a treated water TDS level below 200 ppm — while minimizing its physical footprint and labor requirements.

In 2019, Grasim invited top-tier membrane technology providers to co-develop a new treatment system tailored for viscose effluent. Veolia’s deep experience in industrial water recycling, backed by a global track record, made it the clear choice.

“Although we contemplated handling the project internally, the learning curve and time constraints led us to prefer a globally reputed and established vendor. We didn’t want to go with untested players. Veolia’s track record with nearly 200 plants worldwide instilled confidence in our choice,” said Suresh Kodali, senior vice president of production at Grasim. “During the design phase, our experts and Veolia collaborated closely, addressing equipment construction, operating parameters, chemical usage, dosage patterns, recovery techniques and membrane selection. This collaboration resulted in the creation of a pioneering recycling plant, marking a significant milestone in our industry.”

Innovation that pays off

The plant’s recovery system centers on a multi-step process that includes Veolia’s patented clarifier, high-pH reverse osmosis (RO) and thermal treatment. These technologies work in tandem to treat and recycle nearly every drop of water on site.

One major innovation was handling sodium sulfate, a benign but abundant byproduct of viscose production. Rather than discarding it, Veolia and Grasim developed a system to extract and repurpose the salt for resale, creating a new revenue stream that offsets up to 50% of chemical production costs. The system also cut back significantly on energy use and eliminated acid feed, removing nearly 190,000 liters of acid annually while shrinking the site’s overall environmental footprint.

All told, the Nagda plant reduced water consumption by more than 75.7 million liters per year and achieved operational savings exceeding $100,000 annually.

Local and global impact

Grasim’s Nagda plant now recycles more than 98% of its water, supplies water for local agriculture and municipal use, and discharges almost nothing into the environment. The project has earned accolades, including the Golden Peacock Award for Sustainability in 2020, and is being considered a model for Grasim’s six other VSF plants. More broadly, the project highlights how industries facing water scarcity can partner with Veolia to deploy reliable, scalable solutions. With more than 25 ZLD projects completed across India and 500 installations nationwide, Veolia brings proven technology and hands-on support to help clients conserve water, reduce pollution and enhance operational efficiency.

Contact our specialists to learn how Veolia can help make your operations more sustainable, efficient and resilient.

sustainable water reuse

wastewater

environment

Ambarish Shastri

National Engineers Week: Celebrating Veolia's Expertise in Addressing PFAS

rylee.lay@veolia.com — Mon, 17 Feb 2025 14:22:45 +0000

National Engineers Week: Celebrating Veolia's Expertise in Addressing PFAS rylee.lay@veolia.com Mon, 02/17/2025 - 09:22

Veolia's engineers are the brilliant minds behind our groundbreaking technologies and innovative solutions. On this National Engineers Week, we’re shining a spotlight on some of our engineers who work tirelessly to combat per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). PFAS are a group of synthetic chemicals that are resistant to heat, water, and oil. They are often referred to as "forever chemicals" because they do not break down easily in the environment.

Veolia has treated 24 billion gallons of water for PFAS worldwide and is committed to safely handling and disposing of contaminates in accordance with EPA-recommended methods. Our end-to-end PFAS management suite of solutions, BeyondPFAS, is designed to support organizations at every step of the process. We have decades of experience implementing and operating technologies that are scientifically proven and tailored to each project.

Our talented engineers developed these innovative solutions with a safer, cleaner future in mind, which aligns with Veolia’s GreenUp initiative and this year’s Engineers Week theme: “Design Your Future.” We wanted to learn more about what drives these dedicated experts, so we sat down with a few (Carol Walczyk, Elaine Towe, John Peichel, Seamus McDonald and Sophie Lindegaard) to learn more about how they tackle the PFAS challenge and inspire the next generation of engineers to find innovative and sustainable solutions.

What inspired you to become an engineer?

Carol: My grandfather and father were engineers, and my mom would have been an engineer, given the opportunity. My parents strongly encouraged me and my brothers to study engineering as a great basis for any career, but I am the only one who stayed in the engineering world. I loved solving problems, and communicating about them in ways that even non-engineers could understand. My dad spent his entire career working in the New York City water and wastewater utility, so it was a natural progression into environmental engineering for me. I am also proud that both of my children are successful engineers.
Elaine: I always loved science and math in school. My Dad was a Ph.D. chemist and when I applied to universities, he said "why not try engineering?" And that was it. I loved it from day one. I loved and still love the practical nature of being an engineer - solving real problems using sound principles and approaches. We help keep the people and our communities safe and there is great pride in doing this important work.
John: Growing up on a farm in Minnesota, I enjoyed working with machines and was always fascinated by how things work and loved building and fixing things.My hands-on experience and interest in science inspired me to pursue a degree in mechanical engineering. During my studies, engaging in lab projects shifted my focus, ultimately leading me to earn a degree in Physics and gain Chemistry lab experience. This path led to my first role as an Applications Engineer at Osmonics.
Seamus: I studied physics because I was curious about the universe and wanted to know more about how things in everyday life worked. Engineering seemed like a great way to apply that knowledge!
Sophie: When I was young, I wanted to have a job which was operational and impactful. As I was good at Maths and Physics, engineering was a good fit. I am educated as an Agricultural Engineer but it was a postgraduate program in Water Treatment in Spain that drove me to a career in the environmental field. Today I realized that I have been lucky to "fall" in the fascinating and gratifying environmental industry.

What role do you play at Veolia to combat PFAS?

Carol: As a leader of the engineering team supporting facility operations across North America, and as a past leader of the water quality and compliance team, I support Veolia teams around the world for tracking PFAS regulations, identifying appropriate treatment, and evaluating and supporting innovative technologies. I also work extensively with professional organizations such as AWWA to develop and share knowledge on this topic across the various industries we work in.
Elaine: I am a Subject Matter Expert working in North American Services. One of my key areas of expertise is the treatment of PFAS. I provide technical guidance to our sales, commercial, and field teams regarding PFAS treatment using granular activated carbon (GAC), Ion Exchange, and reverse osmosis (RO) for our mobile solutions, including the determination of any necessary pretreatment to ensure successful operation. I am also deeply involved with applying our LEAPfas product to opportunities - both capital and mobile. Our LEAPfas product consists of pressurized vessels with unique design features that enable operating cost savings and enhance the safety of operators.
John: At Veolia, I am the Growth Initiative Leader for PFAS in the Water Tech Zone. My role involves leading and coordinating our activities along with researching and optimizing PFAS treatment technologies. As part of a cross-functional team at Veolia, I collaborate closely with colleagues and work with our customers to develop and implement innovative solutions for PFAS remediation.
Seamus: I help customers understand what PFAS are, some methods for detecting them, what certain reporting and detection limits are, and how to treat water containing PFAS from their municipal water supply, particularly using reverse osmosis.
Sophie: As Innovation Project Manager, I work at finding the best solutions to treat PFAS in water, wastewater and biosolids. I organize different programs of tests on our proprietary micropollutant technologies in order to evaluate their performance for PFAS treatment. My other mission is to investigate the emerging technologies able to achieve full degradation of the PFAS, i.e. mineralization.

What are the most common challenges that engineers in our industry face? What are some challenges that you are facing in your current role?

Carol: Regulations are evolving in a different way than they did early in my career, being driven by public concern and media exposure that often outpaces the development of effective technologies to meet them. Engineers are trained to rely on well-proven science, and to communicate with the public once a problem is completely solved, but we often don’t have that luxury now. Working in the operations sector, we need to be transparent with the public about the challenges we are all facing together. We also have tremendous workforce needs in both engineering and operations, with many of our experienced professionals approaching retirement and more demand than ever for talented staff.
Elaine: Engineers play a critical role in the design and development of technical solutions for those in need. They must ensure safety above all else and see that a robust, practical solution is put in place, which can sometimes be tough as there are inherently pressures to minimize costs and increase the speed of implementation. In my role, this is something that I always try to keep balanced - to consider everyone's perspective to come up with the best solution for our customers, without compromising on technical design.
John: Engineers in the environmental sector often face challenges such as rapidly evolving regulations, the complexity of contaminant mixtures, and the need for cost-effective solutions that can be scaled up. In my current role, one of the biggest challenges is staying ahead of the curve with emerging PFAS compounds and understanding their behavior in different environmental contexts. Additionally, balancing the technical aspects of treatment with economic and social considerations is a constant challenge, as we strive to deliver solutions that are not only effective but also cost-effective and sustainable.
Seamus: With regulations constantly evolving, emerging contaminants will become an important topic of discussion. Understanding what these contaminants are, how to detect them, and how to manage them is a full time job. This is the type of expertise our customers look to us for.
Sophie: A big challenge for me is to efficiently follow all the R&D and the start-up developments on PFAS treatment because there are so many developments in that field that it is easy to be overwhelmed by them. But I can rely on Veolia's network to keep updated.

What are some of the most promising emerging technologies for PFAS remediation that engineers are developing?

Carol: The strong and urgent interest in PFAS mitigation has led to tremendous innovation in this space. For water, tried-and-true treatments such as GAC, anion exchange and RO continue to be the most effective options available to us, but there are many promising technologies to optimize those processes, concentrate waste streams to manageable volumes, and provide safe disposal of those waste streams. These include foam fractionation, high recovery RO, and high temperature incineration.
Elaine: We are in exciting times! There is ongoing work on emerging technologies for PFAS treatment for separation (i.e. flotation), capture (i.e. novel adsorbents), and destruction (i.e. foam fractionation, plasma, catalytic electrochemical oxidation and sonolysis), as well as advancements in analytical testing. Many of these technologies are in various stages of development and commercialization, such as bench or pilot testing. As we continue to collect data (i.e.total cost of ownership, scalability, ease of operation), this will help guide us on how to determine the optimum technology for each application.
John: For treatment, our own LEAPfas capture solution and high-recovery RO options are key technologies in PFAS treatment but also in enabling new technologies like advanced oxidation processes, such as electrochemical oxidation and plasma, which have shown potential in breaking down PFAS molecules. These technologies, combined with innovative approaches like thermal treatment and bioremediation, offer hope for more effective and sustainable PFAS management.
Seamus: There are many promising emerging technologies for PFAS remediation. Although it is not an emerging technology, reverse osmosis can be used as a pre-treatment step to concentrate PFAS before applying more intensive treatment methods like electrochemical oxidation or supercritical water oxidation. Alternatively, it can serve as a polishing step after other treatment methods to ensure the highest possible removal rates
Sophie: Besides the common technologies used to separate the PFAS from a specific matrix, I see some concentration technologies like foam-fractionation as very promising for decreasing the volume of residues for disposal or full degradation. Our job is to investigate and find the most optimized technology among the many solutions. For full degradation, the technologies are not completely mature but my shortlisting would be from advanced oxidation processes to incineration processes.

What advice would you give to young people interested in pursuing an engineering career to help solve environmental challenges like PFAS contamination?

Carol: Don’t be deterred from engineering if you don’t think you’re a math and science whiz. We are problem solvers, and math and science are just among the tools we use. Look into your local STEM programs and organizations such as the Society of Women Engineers, or reach out to an engineer you know, to help you understand the wide variety of things that engineers really do.
Elaine: I would say if you are passionate about protecting our environment, for not only ourselves but for future generations, and you like solving problems, this field of work may be for you. PFAS treatment is an emerging field, where we are all learning together; both within our teams and overall as a water treatment industry. We need bright, creative minds, who can collaborate together to tackle these important challenges!
John: My advice to aspiring engineers is to cultivate a strong foundation in the sciences and stay curious about the world around you. Embrace interdisciplinary learning, as solving complex environmental challenges requires knowledge from various fields. Seek out internships and hands-on experiences (like lab studies and field pilots) to apply your skills in real-world settings. Most importantly, remain passionate and persistent. The path to innovation is often challenging, but your efforts can lead to meaningful change. Remember, engineering is not just about building things—it's about building a better future for our planet and its inhabitants.
Seamus: Do research in your field of interest. There are always ways to create or improve upon methods for handling environmental challenges!
Sophie: I would recommend getting a robust knowledge in chemistry and engineering matters, to do internships in environmental companies and to join Veolia!

Read PFAS Disclaimer

engineers

Veolia

PFAS

Veolia | Water Tech

Sievers Boron Ultra Brings Unmatched Control to Microelectronics Manufacturing

rylee.lay@veolia.com — Thu, 13 Feb 2025 14:03:18 +0000

Sievers Boron Ultra Brings Unmatched Control to Microelectronics Manufacturing rylee.lay@veolia.com Thu, 02/13/2025 - 09:03

The Sievers Instruments portfolio has expanded once again to meet the stringent demands of the microelectronics industry. The market for manufacturing microelectronics is expected to grow to $934.4 billion by 2032, up from $509.7 billion in 2023. As semiconductor devices grow smaller and more intricate, the need for ultrapure water (UPW) as a critical resource will continue to grow, too.

The new Sievers Boron Ultra Online UPW Analyzer, the latest generation of the Sievers Boron analyzer product line, is the only real-time online boron analyzer on the market that monitors boron in UPW to the single parts per trillion (ppt), exceeding International Roadmap for Devices and Systems (IRDS) specifications of 50 ppt.

Semiconductor manufacturing is an exacting process where even trace amounts of contaminants can lead to significant defects and reduced product yields. Water, which interacts with products at nearly every stage of production, represents a major source of potential contamination. The Sievers Boron Ultra analyzer offers real-time, continuous boron measurements, giving process engineers the data they need to safeguard product integrity and optimize their water management systems.

By detecting boron at single ppt levels, the analyzer provides the most proactive ion exchange process monitoring possible— delivering critical insights since boron breakthrough precedes that of silica and other ionic contamination as ion exchange resins approach exhaustion. This allows manufacturers to optimize their resin management methods, reducing raw material waste, extending resin life, and minimizing operational costs.

The Sievers Boron Ultra sets a new standard for boron detection in ultrapure water systems. Key improvements over its predecessor include:

Enhanced sensitivity and speed: Increased sensitivity from 15 ppt down to 10 ppt boron, and increased data resolution with the new sample frequency of up to 20 real-time data points per hour, allowing for rapid response to potential issues.
Ease of use: Simplified setup and intuitive diagnostics reduce maintenance requirements, making it more user-friendly for operators.
Flexible applications: Capable of measuring boron levels in both primary and polish loops, the analyzer ensures compliance with stringent boron specifications and supports process optimization efforts.
Regulatory compliance: The Sievers Boron Ultra holds CE, UKCA, ETL, UL Std. 61010-1, and CSA 22.2 No. 61010-1 safety certifications and an IP 45 rating, aligning with rigorous worldwide standards.

The Sievers Boron Ultra is a keystone in modern UPW quality management programs. By offering unparalleled real-time detection capabilities, the analyzer helps manufacturers proactively manage ion exchange processes and prevent ionic contamination events, safeguard downstream processes, and increase product yields. Its advanced technology enables smarter decision-making, ensuring optimal water quality and process efficiency.

With decades of experience in ultrapure water analysis, Sievers continues to lead the industry in innovation and reliability. The Boron Ultra Analyzer builds on this legacy, providing the microelectronics industry with the tools needed to meet today’s stringent purity demands and tomorrow’s emerging challenges.

Contact us for more information about the Sievers Boron Ultra UPW Analyzer and how it can enhance your ultrapure water systems.

semiconductor

analytical instruments

Veolia

product innovation

Isidro Sanchez

Celebrating Women and Girls in Science: Inspiring the Next Generation at Veolia

rylee.lay@veolia.com — Tue, 11 Feb 2025 15:23:24 +0000

Celebrating Women and Girls in Science: Inspiring the Next Generation at Veolia rylee.lay@veolia.com Tue, 02/11/2025 - 10:23

Every year on February 11th, the United Nations recognizes the International Day of Women and Girls in Science. This important day shines a light on the persistent barriers women and girls face globally within STEM fields, while also celebrating their incredible achievements and resilience. At Veolia, we believe in fostering a future where everyone has the opportunity to explore their passion for science. This year, we wanted to do something special to mark the occasion: we decided to go straight to the source of inspiration – the young girls themselves.

We reached out to the daughters and nieces of our Veolia employees, eager to hear their perspectives. We wanted to learn more about their curiosity for science, what inventions they would create to help the planet, and how we can encourage other girls to develop an interest in science.

Check out this video as we celebrate the next generation of women in STEM and reaffirm our commitment to creating a more inclusive and equitable future for everyone.

inside veolia

United Nations

Veolia

Veolia | Water Tech

Veolia Cares: Providing Time for New Moms

watertechnologies.com — Tue, 04 Feb 2025 22:42:42 +0000

Veolia Cares: Providing Time for New Moms watertechnolog… Tue, 02/04/2025 - 17:42

In 2023, we launched Veolia Cares, our benefits program designed for over 218,000 employees globally. To highlight its positive impact, we are reflecting on how this program has benefited our team members in various ways.

Veolia’s comprehensive benefits package considers economic, environmental, commercial, social, and societal issues. This program is a testament to our belief that the professional and personal well-being of our employees is crucial to their commitment and to our collective success in meeting the challenges of ecological transformation.

Among those benefits that our employees have access to is our maternity leave policy.

Our commitment to new mothers

At Veolia, we understand the joy that comes from adding to your family, and that spending time together in the early days of a child’s life is crucial. Starting the first day of employment, Veolia Cares offers:

10 weeks of paid parental leave at 100% basic pay for the primary caregiver
One week of paid parental leave at 100% basic pay for the secondary caregiver
Adoption leave that matches our maternity and paternity leave benefits
Support extends to families experiencing loss, with benefits available in cases of miscarriage, stillbirth, or neonatal death after 24 weeks of pregnancy. In some regions, support may be provided earlier.

Veolia voices

Our maternity leave benefit has made a meaningful difference in the lives of employees around the world. It allows them to cherish precious moments with their growing families before returning to work.

Nakia Borgella, a Lease Accounting Administrator with nearly two years at Veolia, found the experience transformative. Initially nervous about taking maternity leave as a first-time mother, Nakia’s concerns were quickly addressed by our supportive HR team.

“Veolia Cares is amazing and has quite literally changed my views on what benefits from a company look like,” she said. “I have never experienced such true care before.

“I anticipated only having a couple of weeks off and not being paid fully, but Veolia Cares exceeded my expectations, and I’m forever grateful.”

Kendall Jennett, a Lead Account Manager who has been with Veolia for eight years, called the benefit “a blessing” that allowed her to adjust physically and mentally without the pressure of rushing back to work.

“Ten weeks fully paid is a financial relief when welcoming a new child into the world,” Kendall said. “It's one thing not to have to worry about” during an already challenging time.

Join our team

The foundation of Veolia’s success lies in our greatest asset — our people. Through Veolia Cares, we offer more than standard benefits. We invest in families, foster inclusive workplaces, and build stronger communities. Our commitment encompasses a holistic approach to employee well-being.

Ready to join a company where your family’s needs are understood and supported? Explore career opportunities at Veolia and join our mission to create a positive environmental impact while being supported every step of the way.

volunteer

veolia cares

benefits

maternity

Veolia | Water Tech

Leading India’s Water Treatment Revolution Through Innovation

rylee.lay@veolia.com — Mon, 27 Jan 2025 16:57:09 +0000

Leading India’s Water Treatment Revolution Through Innovation rylee.lay@veolia.com Mon, 01/27/2025 - 11:57

As India’s population surges past 1.4 billion, the nation faces a mounting water crisis that threatens both urban and rural communities. Some 35 million people in India lack access to safe drinking water, while more than half the population — 678 million people — don’t have access to proper sanitation facilities. These challenges are compounded by extreme water stress, widespread surface water contamination, and infrastructure gaps that leave millions without reliable piped water connections.

With the Indian government’s ambitious goal of providing tap water connections to every household, the pressure to find and implement effective solutions has never been greater. The Mumbai metropolitan region has emerged as a pioneer in this transformation, breaking the country’s records in handling massive sewage treatment plants, thanks in part to Veolia | Water Tech’ membrane bioreactor (MBR) technology.

The region’s achievements include India’s first greenfield sewage treatment plant (STP) in Worli, boasting a capacity of 500 million liters per day (MLD). This groundbreaking facility is complemented by another landmark project in Bandra, where a 360 MLD plant represents the country’s second-largest STP installation.

These facilities exemplify how innovative technology can address the pressing needs of rapidly growing urban centers. The Worli and Bandra installations demonstrate the successful implementation of large-scale water treatment solutions even in densely populated metropolitan areas where space comes at a premium.

Maximizing impact through process intensification

Mumbai’s water treatment initiatives succeed because they maximize treatment capacity while minimizing spatial and environmental impact. The Rashtriya Chemicals & Fertilizers (RCF) facility in Chembur, where a 22 MLD plant has transformed water accessibility for approximately 30,000 families in the surrounding area, illustrates this approach.

By implementing advanced MBR technology, these facilities achieve several critical objectives:

Dramatic reduction in land footprint compared to conventional treatment methods
Superior quality treated water suitable for industrial reuse
Reduced pressure on municipal water supplies
Enhanced operational efficiency and reliability

Expanding access to clean water

The impact of these technological innovations extends far beyond industrial applications. By enabling the reuse of treated water for industrial purposes, these facilities free up precious potable water resources for community use. In the case of the RCF plant alone, this approach has made an additional 22 MLD of fresh water available for domestic use.

This success has catalyzed a shift in mindset regarding water reuse across various sectors. IT campuses near Mumbai have embraced similar solutions, demonstrating how advanced treatment technologies can be scaled and adapted for different applications while maintaining high-performance standards.

As climate change continues to impact water resources globally, Mumbai’s approach to water treatment offers valuable lessons for other growing urban centers. The city’s success in implementing advanced treatment technologies while managing space constraints and meeting stringent quality requirements provides a blueprint for sustainable urban water management.

The initiatives in Mumbai demonstrate how innovative solutions can help bridge the gap between growing water demands and limited resources. As other cities across India and beyond face similar challenges, Mumbai’s experience proves that with the right technology and approach, it’s possible to transform water treatment challenges into opportunities for sustainable development.

Your partner in urban water treatment innovation

Veolia brings unparalleled expertise to India’s water treatment challenges. In fact, Veolia introduced the ZeeWeed 1500 in 2011 with the help of Hindustan Dorr Oliver while deploying a 27 MLD plant in Dahej, India. With a proven track record of successful implementations across the Mumbai region, our experts continue to pioneer solutions that transform urban water management and expand access to clean water.

Our work in Mumbai exemplifies Veolia’s commitment to ecological transformation and sustainable development, which is highlighted in our GreenUp initiative. From India’s largest STP in Worli to innovative applications in IT campuses, Veolia’s technologies are helping reshape how cities approach water treatment and reuse. More than 30 major installations across the Mumbai region showcase our ability to adapt and scale solutions for diverse needs.

Contact our experts to learn how our groundbreaking solutions and services can help your municipality or organization achieve its water treatment goals while building a more sustainable future.

Zeeweed

Greenup

membrane bioreactor

Girish Kale

Waterside Chats: Meet Commercial Manager, Equipment Services Doen Gayle

watertechnologies.com — Wed, 22 Jan 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Waterside Chats: Meet Commercial Manager, Equipment Services Doen Gayle watertechnolog… Wed, 01/22/2025 - 08:00

Every day, across the globe, our people are working to solve some of the world’s toughest water challenges. They are passionate, innovative, and dedicated to doing the right thing for our customers and for our planet.

He talks about why he enjoys working at Veolia and the opportunities he has to give back to his community.

Watch below for more.

Employees

Waterside chat

resources

company culture

Veolia | Water Tech

Celebrating One Year of Veolia Cares: Community Impact Through Volunteering

watertechnologies.com — Thu, 05 Dec 2024 20:53:31 +0000

Celebrating One Year of Veolia Cares: Community Impact Through Volunteering watertechnolog… Thu, 12/05/2024 - 15:53

As we expand the impact of Veolia Cares, our global employee benefits program, we’re proud to highlight a benefit that has already been making a difference beyond the workplace — a Volunteer’s Day for all employees. This benefit supports our employees’ passions and underscores our commitment to creating a positive impact within our communities across the globe.

Dec. 5 marks International Volunteer Day, established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1985 to honor the spirit of volunteerism at local, national, and international levels. On this day, volunteers are celebrated worldwide for their efforts to promote people-led solutions to our shared challenges. At Veolia, we see this spirit reflected in our employees, whose dedication to environmental transformation extends naturally into their communities.

Supporting our employees to support their communities

Through Volunteer’s Day, every Veolia employee worldwide has the opportunity to choose one day each year to volunteer for a socially beneficial charity or nonprofit they care about. Whether it’s participating in river clean-up efforts, supporting water conservation initiatives, or even efforts away from water, this benefit gives our employees the chance to contribute directly to the communities and organizations they are passionate about and be compensated for those efforts.

The volunteer initiative aligns perfectly with Veolia’s core values of ecological transformation, community engagement, and collective action. It is also an opportunity for our employees to grow personally, experience different perspectives, and create stronger bonds both within and outside of our organization. We know that enabling our teams to give back is an investment in the community and in their own sense of fulfillment and connection.

Veolia voices

The Volunteer Day benefit has allowed Veolia employees to strengthen their community roots and create positive change. Brinnae Woods, a Senior Lab Technician who has been with Veolia for six years, has used this opportunity to contribute to her community by promoting STEM education. She embodies the spirit of giving back through her impactful work.

“(Volunteer Day) made it possible for me to interact with students during the daytime,” she said. “I love talking to and interacting with youth to promote STEM, however, that can be hard when it is outside of school hours. Being able to connect directly through schools during instructional hours helped.

“I loved it. Service is important to me, so being able to not only serve, but to have my company’s support and backing to do so, made it all the better.”

Veolia Cares benefits our communities and enriches the lives of our employees. By providing opportunities for meaningful engagement and support for causes close to their hearts, we’re fostering a culture of giving back and making a difference.

“It gives us the opportunity to show others, including younger generations, what we do and maybe spark a flame in them to look further into the sciences as they grow,” Brinnae said.

Join us and make an impact

At Veolia, we recognize that our employees are our greatest resource, and their passion drives our success. Veolia Cares is just one example of how we support our employees — in both their professional growth and desire to make a positive impact on the world. By adding Volunteer’s Day as part of our global benefits, we empower every member of our team to take action for the causes closest to their hearts.

If you’re looking for a workplace that values your contributions inside and outside the office, consider joining Veolia. Explore our current job opportunities and join a company that is committed to environmental and social transformation.

volunteer

veolia cares

sustainability

benefits

Veolia | Water Tech

What Manufacturers Need to Know About Regulatory Changes to Endotoxin Testing

watertechnologies.com — Mon, 02 Dec 2024 20:35:49 +0000

What Manufacturers Need to Know About Regulatory Changes to Endotoxin Testing watertechnolog… Mon, 12/02/2024 - 15:35

Product safety is paramount in pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturing. Among the most critical safety measures is bacterial endotoxin testing (BET), which detects potentially dangerous contaminants that could cause severe reactions in patients. These endotoxins, which are components of bacterial cell walls, can trigger fevers and life-threatening conditions if they enter the bloodstream through contaminated medical products.

Every injectable medication, implantable medical device, and many other healthcare products must undergo rigorous endotoxin testing before reaching patients. For half a century, the industry has relied on a remarkable natural solution for detecting these contaminants: the blood of horseshoe crabs. This blood contains limulus amebocyte lysate (LAL), which has an extraordinary ability to detect even minute traces of bacterial endotoxins. The sensitivity and reliability of LAL testing have made it the gold standard in pharmaceutical quality control, protecting countless patients from harmful contamination.

Before LAL, manufacturers relied on rabbit pyrogen testing, which was less precise and raised significant ethical concerns. The discovery of LAL’s capabilities revolutionized the field, offering unprecedented sensitivity and reliability in detecting bacterial endotoxins. This breakthrough has protected patient safety for decades, setting the foundation for modern pharmaceutical quality control.

Now, a significant change is transforming the standards for how manufacturers can approach this vital testing. The U.S. Pharmacopeia (USP) Microbiology Expert Committee has approved Chapter <86>, Bacterial Endotoxins Test Using Recombinant Reagents, marking a new era in endotoxin testing. This change, which will be officially implemented in May 2025, opens the door for synthetic alternatives to achieve the same high standards of safety while addressing sustainability concerns about horseshoe crab populations.

This development marks a pivotal moment where advanced technology meets environmental responsibility, all while maintaining the rigorous safety standards that patients depend on. For manufacturers, it offers new opportunities to modernize their testing processes while contributing to conservation efforts and expanding their use of more sustainable methods and materials.

A move to synthetic alternatives

The quest for sustainable alternatives to LAL testing has led to two significant innovations over the past two decades: recombinant Factor C (rFC) and recombinant cascade reagents (rCR). Both methods eliminate the need for horseshoe crab blood while aiming to maintain the same high standards of endotoxin detection.

rFC was introduced about 20 years ago as the first synthetic alternative. It uses a cloned version of Factor C, the first enzyme in the horseshoe crab’s blood clotting mechanism. The newer rCR method takes this concept further by incorporating all the mechanisms involved in the blood clotting reaction which mimics the chromogenic method, compared to rFC’s single mechanism approach.

However, the widespread adoption of these synthetic alternatives has been limited by the requirement for extensive validation testing — a rigorous process that can take anywhere from six months to two years. While this validation requirement ensures safety and efficacy, it often deters companies from making the switch, with an estimated 95% of manufacturers continuing to use traditional LAL testing.

The approval of USP Chapter <86> is an important step in removing this barrier. By adding techniques that use synthetic reagents to the current compendial tests — meaning the use of recombinant reagents will be recognized as standard approaches — manufacturers can adopt these procedures as alternative methods. This change maintains the industry’s commitment to safety while significantly reducing the time and resources needed to implement sustainable testing methods.

For manufacturers, this means they can now choose between traditional LAL testing and synthetic alternatives based on their specific needs and sustainability goals rather than being deterred by the validation process. An evaluation showing the suitability of methods for specific products, such as testing for interferences, will be adequate. This approach harmonizes with guidelines outlined in <85>. This change aligns with growing industry initiatives to reduce dependence on animal-derived products while maintaining the highest standards of product safety.

Sievers’ analyzers are ready

As manufacturers prepare for USP Chapter <86>, technology solutions are evolving to meet both traditional and emerging needs. The Sievers Eclipse automated endotoxin detection platform exemplifies adaptability, supporting both conventional LAL testing and synthetic alternatives while significantly reducing reagent consumption.

The platform’s innovative design addresses the industry’s persistent challenges: the time-intensive and error prone nature of traditional testing methods. While conventional 96-well plate testing requires nearly an hour of setup time and manual pipetting, the Eclipse platform reduces this to less than 10 minutes through automation. The elevated efficiency comes from its advanced microfluidic system, which automates sample distribution and standard curves, requiring less than 30 pipetting steps compared to the traditional 200+.

Perhaps most significantly, the Eclipse platform achieves these improvements using 90% less reagent than traditional methods. This dramatic reduction applies whether using conventional LAL or synthetic alternatives, making it a valuable tool for manufacturers focused on both sustainability and efficiency.

Veolia maintains a dedicated Sievers team specializing in endotoxin testing applications. This team provides comprehensive support for implementation, method development, and ongoing testing needs, helping manufacturers optimize their processes regardless of which testing method they choose to employ. Reach out to the Sievers team to learn how our experts can support your endotoxin testing needs.

Endotoxin Testing

Sievers Eclipse

Regulatory

Hayden Skalski

How Dominion Energy Reached 5-year Water Reduction Goal in 18 Months

watertechnologies.com — Thu, 21 Nov 2024 19:25:20 +0000

How Dominion Energy Reached 5-year Water Reduction Goal in 18 Months watertechnolog… Thu, 11/21/2024 - 14:25

As the world grapples with increasing environmental challenges, power companies are under pressure to reduce resource consumption while maintaining efficient operations. In the United States, the power sector has been at the forefront of efforts to decrease its environmental impact, with significant efforts to reduce stack emissions and effluent contamination in recent years. However, water usage remains a critical concern, particularly for thermal power plants with large water demand for steam generation and cooling systems.

Dominion Energy, a major player in the U.S. energy sector, has been addressing this challenge head-on. In its 2022 Sustainability Report, the company committed to a 50% water intake reduction by 2030. One facility that plays a crucial role in meeting this target is the Surry Power Station.

The Surry Power Station is a dual-unit nuclear power plant located in Southeastern Virginia, on the south bank of the James River across from historic Jamestown. Each unit features a three-loop Westinghouse pressurized water reactor, collectively capable of supplying 1,676 megawatts (MW) to the grid — about 15% of the electricity Dominion Energy customers receive.

The Surry station consistently achieves high capacity factors, especially during peak summer months. In 2016, it reached an impressive 99.5% capacity, followed by over 98% in 2017. Surry Units 1 & 2 have recently been approved for a license extension to operate for up to 80 years, past 2050, underscoring their role in Dominion Energy’s long-term clean, reliable power generation strategy.

The water challenge

Despite its efficiency in power generation, the Surry power station faced a significant challenge in water consumption. The station had used reverse osmosis (RO) technology for water purification for approximately 50 years. The evolution in RO systems over those 50 years is akin to computer advancements — technological improvements have made RO far more effective, even though it still typically results in a substantial amount of wastewater. Chemical treatment advancement have also been made that enable RO membranes to operate more efficiently, discharging less water concentrate.

Recognizing the opportunity to reduce water usage, Dominion Energy set out to identify options for improving the efficiency of the plant’s water systems. The RO system’s concentrate stream offered significant potential for water savings.

Dominion Energy partnered with Veolia | Water Tech to address this challenge and develop a solution that would bring ecological transformation. Initially, the team considered implementing a small-scale pilot project that would act as a mini RO concentrate recovery system. However, when the team evaluated various chemical treatment options, it became clear that a more straightforward, cost-effective solution was possible.

The team reworked its approach to keep as close as possible to the original RO unit footprint by modifying the existing system and introducing an antiscalant. This innovative approach allowed Dominion Energy to increase the recovery rate in the RO process, effectively reducing the amount of wastewater produced without the need for additional equipment.

A quick resolution to a long-term goal

The project moved swiftly from conception to implementation. It took about 18 months to demonstrate the concept’s viability from the initial pitch through full-scale installation, including a pilot phase. This timeline is particularly impressive considering the rigorous safety and regulatory standards that govern nuclear power plants.

The results were remarkable. The RO concentrate recovery system reduced the Surry station’s annual water draw from the Upper Potomac Aquifer by approximately 13.9 million gallons. This single project would have met Dominion Energy’s company-wide five-year water reduction goal in just a year and a half.

The success at the Surry power station has opened doors for similar water-saving initiatives across Dominion Energy’s operations and the company is now exploring opportunities to implement similar solutions at other nuclear plants and facilities outside of nuclear power generation.

How Veolia partners with power providers

As a leader in water and wastewater solutions for the power industry, Veolia designs and delivers optimized solutions for various types of power plants, including combined cycle, coal-powered, nuclear, and renewables.

Veolia’s approach is built on a deep understanding of the unique challenges faced by power generation facilities. From steam generation and cooling systems to emission control and wastewater management, Veolia provides cutting-edge equipment, chemical solutions, and digital asset performance management tools. These integrated solutions ensure that power companies can guarantee continuous and sustainable production, optimize resources, reduce environmental impact, and protect their assets.

Learn more about how Veolia’s experts and innovative solutions can help provide an ecological transformation for your operations.

Dominion Energy

energy

power plants

water

Stacy Willis & Chris Dye

How Sustainable Mining is Changing the Outlook in Latin America

watertechnologies.com — Fri, 01 Nov 2024 13:29:26 +0000

How Sustainable Mining is Changing the Outlook in Latin America watertechnolog… Fri, 11/01/2024 - 09:29

In recent years, the mining industry has undergone a significant shift, placing sustainability at the forefront of its operations. This trend is particularly evident in Latin America, where natural resource projects have become essential drivers of economic growth.

A recent Mining survey by BNAmericas¹ of 200 executives and directors from major mining companies in the region revealed a striking change in priorities. While operational optimization has been the top choice for most of the surveyed executives, environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices have now emerged as a top concern regarding strategic focus.

This heightened emphasis on ESG is driven by a convergence of factors. Regulatory pressure from governments implementing stricter environmental and social regulations is compelling mining companies to adapt their practices. Local communities are increasingly vocal about the environmental and social impacts of mining operations, pushing companies to be more responsible neighbors. What’s more, public perception of mining in Latin America has improved, according to the Brújula Minera survey ², which reports 64% of respondents believe mining is a positive for their country. The perception is even higher in Chile (83%), a key market for both lithium and copper mining.

On a global scale, shareholders, activist investors, and even employees are demanding that mining companies align with global sustainability goals. Additionally, mining companies are recognizing that sustainable practices can lead to operational efficiencies, cost savings, and improved long-term viability.

As the industry evolves, two minerals have taken center stage in Latin America’s mining sector: copper and lithium. Both are crucial for the global transition to clean energy and electric vehicles. However, their extraction poses significant environmental challenges that must be addressed to meet ESG goals and ensure sustainable operations.

Veolia | Water Tech can help address ESG challenges prevalent in the mining industry impactfully and holistically. Sustainable solutions are baked into Veolia’s DNA. Its new strategic program, GreenUp, sets specific ecological objectives aimed at making Veolia the champion of decarbonization, depollution and regeneration of natural resources.

Why we need sustainable practices

As mining companies in Latin America strive to meet their ESG goals, they face several environmental challenges, particularly in water management, dust control and decarbonization efforts. These issues are especially pronounced in the extraction of copper and lithium, two minerals critical to the clean energy transition.

Copper mining, while essential for electrical applications, requires substantial amounts of water in its extraction process. Moreover, copper mining generates considerable dust, which can be hazardous to workers’ health and impact nearby communities.

Lithium, another crucial element for battery production, presents its own set of challenges. In Latin America, lithium is often found in brine deposits, which traditionally required extensive evaporation ponds for extraction. This method is not only time-consuming but also water-intensive, conflicting with sustainability goals.

Water management has become a critical focus area for mining operations. In some regions, such as Chile, mining companies are no longer permitted to use freshwater from rivers for their operations. Instead, they must rely on desalination plants or other alternative sources. However, emerging technologies can help create an ecological transformation so mining can continue sustainably in the region.

Solutions in action

A major copper mining company in Latin America faced significant challenges with dust emissions at its remote location. Traditional dust control methods required enormous amounts of water, a scarce and expensive resource in the area. Four years ago, the company implemented a cutting-edge chemical program to address this issue. The solution involved a three-pronged approach: applying specialized chemicals at dust emission points, providing on-site field services to ensure the correct dosage, and implementing digital monitoring systems to measure dust concentration in real time.

The results were remarkable. The mining company recorded water savings of more than 1 million cubic meters annually, translating to approximately $4 million in cost savings per year. This innovative approach significantly reduced water consumption and improved air quality for workers and nearby communities, demonstrating that environmental stewardship and economic benefits can go hand in hand.

Another prominent mining corporation needed to improve the energy efficiency of its water desalination plant. The company implemented a chemical program to reduce membrane fouling, thereby enhancing the plant’s energy efficiency. Additionally, a tailor-made solution was developed to control corrosion in desalinated seawater pipelines. Again, the digital monitoring piece of the solution plays a relevant role to ensure overall program performance, asset protection, total cost of operation reduction and safety risks minimization. These combined efforts led to a reduction of 2,600 tons of conventional chemical usage annually. The ripple effects were substantial: less chemical transport was needed, plastic packaging was reduced, and overall water and energy consumption decreased.

As regulations become more stringent and societal pressure for environmentally responsible practices intensifies, mining companies must continue to innovate. The future of sustainable mining lies in embracing technologies that not only meet but exceed regulatory standards.

Long-term partnerships between mining companies and technology providers will be crucial in driving this innovation forward. These collaborations can lead to the development of bespoke solutions that address specific challenges faced by each mining operation. For instance, in lithium extraction, new technologies are being developed that can reduce the production process time from the conventional 12-24 months , on conventional mining methods that rely on solar evaporation, to hours while also increasing yield from 50-60% to up to 90%.

As the industry moves forward, the focus will likely shift towards even more efficient water management, further reductions in carbon emissions, and increased transparency in ESG reporting.

Veolia’s role in sustainable mining

Veolia’s approach focuses on building long-term relationships with mining companies to drive continuous improvement in sustainability and operational efficiency. At the heart of Veolia’s strategy is the Value Generation Program (VGP), a comprehensive framework to help our client’s meet not only business goals, but also sustainability ones. Through the VGP, we encourage assertive and proactive communication, ensure the health and safety of work teams, establish key performance indicators for asset protection targets, establish “value projects” to drive ecological footprint and total cost of operation reduction. Once every project is completed and value certified by the Customers, Veolia rewards the teams involved to recognize and stimulate their commitment with the ecological transformation. This process ensures that Veolia remains closely aligned with its clients’ evolving needs and challenges, allowing for the development of tailored solutions that address both immediate concerns and long-term sustainability goals.

Veolia’s technologies and solutions span a wide range of critical areas in mining operations. In water management, Veolia’s expertise has been instrumental in helping mining companies reduce their water footprint. In 2023 alone, Veolia’s efforts in Latin America helped the mining companies to reduce water consumption by an impressive 16 million cubic meters. This significant reduction conserves a precious resource and helps mining operations comply with increasingly stringent regulations on freshwater usage.

To encourage and recognize sustainable practices, Veolia has implemented customer reward programs. These awards, such as “Proof Not Promises” and “Return on Environment,” acknowledge mining companies that successfully implement solutions that deliver both business impact and environmental benefits. This approach incentivizes sustainable practices and creates a momentum for continuous improvement and innovation.

Veolia’s commitment to the mining industry extends to cutting-edge technologies like direct lithium extraction (DLE) and direct lithium conversion (DLC). These technologies are set to revolutionize lithium production, drastically reducing extraction times and increasing yields while minimizing environmental impact.

As the demand for lithium continues to grow with the rise of electric vehicles and renewable energy storage, Veolia’s expertise in this area positions it as a crucial player in the sustainable development of this critical resource.

REFERENCES

¹ “Mining Survey 2023: ESG and Optimization at the forefront. BNAmericas, August 2023.. Accessed date as of September 2024

² “Brújula Minera LATAM 2024. Opinión Pública hacia la minería. Informes Brújula Minera LATAM” Accessed date as of September 2024

mining

Latin America

sustainability

Lithium

DLE

Mauro Cruz

Waterside Chats: Meet Director of Manufacturing Doris Ho

watertechnologies.com — Tue, 29 Oct 2024 20:18:45 +0000

Waterside Chats: Meet Director of Manufacturing Doris Ho watertechnolog… Tue, 10/29/2024 - 16:18

We’re shining a spotlight on some of these talented individuals, so they can share more about their current roles and the personal career journeys that brought them to where they are today. In the latest video of our “Waterside Chats” series, we caught up with Director of Manufacturing, Chemical Division, Doris Ho, who shares how her background and different experiences have helped her become a better manager and support her team.

She explains what impacts her customers most and how her team works to address client needs and expectations on a daily basis.

Watch below for more.

Waterside chat

Employee

company culture

Veolia | Water Tech

How Ion Exchange Creates the Demineralized Water Many Industries Need

watertechnologies.com — Thu, 17 Oct 2024 18:37:16 +0000

How Ion Exchange Creates the Demineralized Water Many Industries Need watertechnolog… Thu, 10/17/2024 - 14:37

In the scorching heat of a Texas summer, the last thing on most people’s minds is water purity. Yet, behind the scenes, ultra-pure water plays a crucial role in keeping the lights on and the air conditioning running. Many industries require demineralized water, a key component in various mechanical processes, especially in power generation.

Demineralized water means almost all mineral ions are removed, such as sodium, calcium, iron, and chloride. This purification process is achieved through advanced technologies like ion exchange, which effectively strips away these impurities, leaving water in its purest form. As a result, demineralized water can help improve efficiency because the minerals that interfere with heat transfer have been removed, and the frequency and cost of maintenance have been reduced. Demineralized water can also prevent buildup and corrosion in boilers and turbines, extending the life of these critical and expensive pieces of equipment.

Beyond power generation, demineralized water is a silent hero in many other industries. In the semiconductor industry, it’s used to clean silicon wafers. Pharmaceutical companies rely on it for drug manufacturing and equipment cleaning. Even your local car wash might use demineralized water for a spot-free rinse.

As industries evolve and the demand for energy grows, the need for efficient, reliable sources of demineralized water becomes even more critical.

Meeting demand in North Texas

The North Texas region, home to the bustling Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, faces unique challenges when it comes to power generation and distribution. The demand for reliable, consistent power has never been higher due to an expanding population and temperatures soaring in the summer months.

Since the unprecedented winter freeze of 2021, which left nearly 10 million Texans in the dark, power plants in the state have been under increased pressure to operate at full capacity year-round. This mandate, aimed at preventing future grid failures, has intensified the need for efficient, dependable water treatment solutions. After all, more power generation means a greater demand for purified water.

Recognizing this critical need, Veolia | Water Tech has stepped up to the plate. Our service center in Arlington is now equipped with state-of-the-art ion exchange capabilities. This upgrade positions Veolia as the only company with three such facilities in Texas, significantly enhancing our ability to serve the North Texas region.

Adding ion exchange capabilities allows Veolia to handle increased capacity and expand into new markets, including automotive, pulp and paper, and ammonia plants. With Veolia’s customized solutions, we can tailor our water treatment processes to meet the specific needs of various industries. By optimizing water usage and treatment processes, we’re helping industries in North Texas reduce their environmental footprint while meeting their operational needs.

Your partner in sustainable water solutions

With decades of experience and a global presence, Veolia brings unparalleled knowledge and capabilities to every project we undertake. Our approach goes beyond just treating water – we’re committed to creating sustainable, long-term solutions that benefit both our clients and the environment.

As the climate continues to change and water becomes an increasingly precious resource, having a reliable partner in water management is more crucial than ever. Whether you’re facing immediate water treatment challenges or looking to optimize your long-term resource management strategy, Veolia is here to help.

Our GreenUp campaign seeks to solve these challenges while prioritizing sustainability so we can decarbonize, depollute, and regenerate natural resources for our clients. Together, we can create an ecological transformation, solving your water challenges and unlocking new possibilities for your operations. Reach out to our experts to discover how our ion exchange capabilities and global expertise can support your goals.

Arlington

Texas

ion exchange

sustainable water

service center

David Chaudoin

Celebrating One Year of Veolia Cares: Spotlight on Paternity Benefits

watertechnologies.com — Wed, 16 Oct 2024 16:10:08 +0000

Celebrating One Year of Veolia Cares: Spotlight on Paternity Benefits watertechnolog… Wed, 10/16/2024 - 12:10

As we mark the first anniversary of Veolia Cares, our global employee benefits program, we’re proud to reflect on the positive impact it has had on our 218,000 employees worldwide. Veolia Cares represents our commitment to ensuring a common base level of social protection for all Veolia employees, regardless of their location or local legal requirements.

Through this program, we consider economic, environmental, commercial, social, and societal issues as we build a comprehensive benefits package. This program is a testament to our belief that the professional and personal well-being of our employees is crucial to their commitment and to our collective success in meeting the challenges of ecological transformation.

Among those benefits that our employees have access to is our industry-leading paternity leave.

Our commitment to new fathers

At Veolia, we understand the importance of those first precious weeks with a newborn. That’s why our paternity leave policy goes above and beyond:

10 weeks of paid parental leave at 100% basic pay for the primary caregiver
One week of paid parental leave at 100% basic pay for the secondary caregiver

These benefits far exceed many industry standards and government programs, allowing our employees to focus on what matters most during this critical time.

Veolia voices

Our parental leave benefit has resonated with employees around the world who have been able to spend time with and appreciate their growing families before returning to work.

Drew Desembrana, Sales Manager for Services in Ontario, Canada, has been with Veolia for nine years and seen the evolution of employee benefits. Veolia’s parental leave far exceeds the minimum provided through Canadian government assistance programs alone, allowing Drew to focus on his newborn daughter and support his wife by sharing childcare responsibilities around their home before his smooth transition back to work.

“In North American culture, mothers have traditionally been solely responsible for caring for young children. Veolia Cares’ comprehensive parental leave benefits help fathers like myself take an active role in early childcare,” Drew said.

In India, Preetam Swami, Lead Customer Service Management Specialist, echoed those sentiments. Preetam has been with Veolia for more than six years and recently became a father. He found the Veolia Cares process to be remarkably smooth, from enrolling his spouse in health insurance to hospital admission and discharge.

“The paternity benefit during childbirth was a much-needed break to celebrate this personal milestone and extend emotional support to my spouse and family,” Preetam said. “I sincerely appreciate the efforts and close coordination of our insurance partner and Veolia HR team. Due to this, I was single-handedly able to manage the entire process and came home safely with my baby and wife.”

Join our team

At Veolia, our employees are the driving force behind our performance and development. Veolia Cares is just one way we demonstrate our commitment to their well-being, both professionally and personally. This program complements our other achievements in social performance, including our 89% employee engagement rate and our employee shareholding policy, which has made our workforce Veolia’s largest shareholder group.

If you’re looking to join a company that genuinely values its employees and provides comprehensive support for all aspects of their lives, we invite you to explore the opportunities at Veolia. Check out our job openings and take the first step toward a rewarding career with a company that cares about you and your family.

paternity

veolia cares

benefits

careers

Veolia | Water Tech

Discover Veolia at WEFTEC 2024

watertechnologies.com — Wed, 02 Oct 2024 15:30:46 +0000

Discover Veolia at WEFTEC 2024 watertechnolog… Wed, 10/02/2024 - 11:30

The Water Environment Federation’s Technical Exhibition and Conference (WEFTEC) is the largest annual water quality exhibition in North America. It brings together water professionals from around the world to exchange insights, showcase emerging technologies, and address today’s most pressing water challenges.

Veolia will again play a prominent role at WEFTEC, Oct. 5-9 in New Orleans. This year’s theme is “Leading the Future of Water,” which aligns perfectly with our commitment to ecological transformation and recently launched GreenUp strategic plan to stimulate innovation for depolluting, decarbonizing, and regenerating our resources.

Visit us at Booth 2229 to meet our team, and see demonstrations of several products, including Ecosim™ rotating moving bed biofilm reactor (MBBR), Hydrotech™ disc filters, Actina™ drinking water softening process by pellet softening, Ecrusor™ food depackaging and organics recovery, Mectan™ induced vortex grit chamber, ZeeWeed* 500 ultrafiltration and 500EV ultrafiltration, ZeeLung* MABR, Ozonia* ozone generation, and Aquaray*S ultraviolet (UV) systems. We’ll also host an in-booth Cella customer reception at 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, October 8th. Attendees are invited to network with industry peers and engage with Veolia’s experts in a casual setting while having snacks, wine and beer.

Visitors to our booth can explore the latest news and announcements from Veolia through an interactive touch screen. This year, we will feature two big stories.

We’re showcasing Cella™, a breakthrough in biofilm technology for sustainable, biological wastewater treatment. An evolution from AnoxKaldnes™ MBBR, Cella employs recycled biomass to support biofilm growth and can be implemented as a continuous, all-in-one process solution for achieving carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus removal with minimal to zero chemical consumption.

We’re also highlighting our partnership with the University Area Joint Authority (UAJA) wastewater treatment plant in State College, Pennsylvania, to implement an unprecedented complete anaerobic digestion solution for biosolids and biowaste. The regional co-location project will expand the existing wastewater treatment plant’s biosolids process to include advanced anaerobic digestion, thermal drying, and biogas upgrading.

Other sessions

The Veolia team will also be busy outside of our booth. As a returning sponsor for WEF InFLOW, Delroy Hector, Caribbean Commercial Director with Veolia | Water Tech, will present during this year’s program at the Journeys Through Water — Water Industry Giants Panel on Tuesday, Oct. 8, from 10:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m.

Here’s the full schedule of weekend workshops and technical sessions where you can find us.

Sunday, Oct. 6
- W07 Advanced Primary Treatment Technologies for Carbon Diversion & Management at WRRFs
  - Speaker: Mark Stewart
  - Time: 8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
  - Location: New Orleans Convention Center, Room 349
- W14 The Future of Water Reuse Using Carbon-Based Advanced Treatment (CBAT) to Implement “One Water” Initiatives
  - Speakers: Gabriela Ber & Amanda Tyndall Vice Chair: Steve Katz
  - Time: 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
  - Location: New Orleans Convention Center, Room 238
Monday, Oct. 7
- Energy Conservation: From a Want to a Must
  - Presenter: Dave Mason
  - Time: 8:30-10:00 a.m.
  - Location: New Orleans Convention Center, Room 346
- A New Biofilm Technology for Sustainable Wastewater Treatment
  - Presenters: Scott Heibel & Kim Sorensen
  - Time: 9:30-10:15 a.m.
  - Location: New Orleans Convention Center, Booth 5738, Hall G
- Solutions and Ideas From Award-Winning Industrial Experts
  - Presenter: Brian Arntsen
  - Time: 1:30-3:00 p.m.
  - Location: New Orleans Convention Center, Room 243
- Optimization of MBR Technology
  - Presenter: Sylvain Donnaz
  - Time: 1:30-3:00 p.m.
  - Location: New Orleans Convention Center, Room 343
Tuesday, Oct. 8
- Energy Conservation: From a Want to a Must
  - Presenter: Dave Mason
  - Time: 8:30-10:00 a.m.
  - Location: New Orleans Convention Center, Room 346
- Mechanistic Modeling Developments for Newer Processes
  - Presenters: Sylvain Donnaz & Hui Guo
  - Time: 1:30-3:00 p.m.
  - Location: New Orleans Convention Center, Room 244
- Treatment Challenges and Reuse within the Semiconductor Industry
  - Presenter: Sara Theodoulou
  - Time: 1:30-3:00 p.m.
  - Location: New Orleans Convention Center, Room 240
- Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary Applications of Advanced Filtration Technology
  - Presenter: Matt Castillo of MSA will present on Hydrotech filters
  - Time: 1:30 to 3:00 PM
  - Location: New Orleans Convention Center, Room 350
- Industrial Water Reuse
  - Presenter: Brian Arntsen
  - Time: 2:00-3:00 p.m.
  - Location: New Orleans Convention Center, Booth 1053, Hall B2
Wednesday, Oct. 9
- Full-Scale Intensification Experience
  - Presenter: Daniel Coutts
  - Time: 8:30-10:00 a.m.
  - Location: New Orleans Convention Center, Room 343
- Process Intensification Using Hydrocyclones
  - Presenter: Daniel Coutts
  - Time: 10:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
  - Location: New Orleans Convention Center, Room 343
- Non-PFAS Up and Coming Concerns
  - Presenter: Dave Mason
  - Time: 1:30-2:30 p.m.
  - Location: New Orleans Convention Center, Room 346

If you are attending WEFTEC 2024, make sure to visit us at Booth 2229 to explore our latest innovations. Follow us on any of our LinkedIn channels Veolia | Water Tech, Veolia Water Technologies - North America and Veolia Water Technologies for real-time updates and insights from the event.

*Trademarks of Veolia; may be registered in one or more countries.

WEFTEC

CELLA

Speakers

Presentation

UAJA

Veolia | Water Tech

Waterside Chats: Meet Lead Quality Control Engineer Mary Augustine

watertechnologies.com — Sat, 28 Sep 2024 11:00:00 +0000

Waterside Chats: Meet Lead Quality Control Engineer Mary Augustine watertechnolog… Sat, 09/28/2024 - 07:00

We’re shining a spotlight on some of these talented individuals, so they can share more about their current roles and the personal career journeys that brought them to where they are today. In the latest video of our “Waterside Chats” series, we caught up with the Lead Quality Control Engineer for our bioburden and endotoxin product lines, Mary Augustine, who shares her journey into quality control, including her work on our product regulatory compliance databases.

She also shares how her first job in quality control introduced her to the critical role of water, sparking a passion for sustainability and water quality that continues to guide her work today.

Watch below for more.

Employee

company culture

Veolia | Water Tech

Launch Your Career with Veolia's Internship Program

watertechnologies.com — Thu, 26 Sep 2024 19:31:33 +0000

Launch Your Career with Veolia's Internship Program watertechnolog… Thu, 09/26/2024 - 15:31

Are you a passionate and driven student eager to make a real-world impact? Our 2025 internship program is now open and offers an exceptional internship program designed to equip you with the skills and knowledge needed to succeed in the water industry.

As a cornerstone of our talent acquisition strategy, we are committed to providing an unparalleled experience for our interns. Our program is more than just a summer job; it's a launchpad for your career. Our interns work on challenging projects that directly contribute to our business goals, while gaining invaluable hands-on experience.

Here is what you can expect from a summer with Veolia:

Mentorship: Learn from our subject matter experts and build lasting relationships.
Structured Training: Develop essential skills through our comprehensive training programs.
Real-World Experience: Apply your academic knowledge to solve complex water challenges.
Networking Opportunities: Connect with our employees and expand your professional network.
Potential for Full-Time Employment: Showcase your talent and position yourself for a successful career at Veolia.

"Interning at Veolia is an opportunity to be a catalyst for change. By contributing to developing sustainable water solutions, our interns make a tangible impact while gaining invaluable hands-on experience and launching their careers in a dynamic industry,” Gabby Johnson, Lead Campus Recruiter at Veolia | Water Tech.

We foster a supportive and inclusive environment where interns can thrive and grow. By joining our team, you'll not only gain valuable experience but also become part of our mission to create a more sustainable future.

Ready to embark on your water industry journey? Apply for our internship program today! Click here

We are also going on a campus tour this fall. Make sure to visit us at one of the universities below!

Also, check out a video from some of our past and current interns on their experience at Veolia!

United States
University	Location	Date
Arizona State University	Phoenix, AZ	September 24, 2024
Colorado School of Mines	Golden, CO	September 11, 2024
Drexel University	Philadelphia, PA	October 16, 2024
Iowa State University	Ames, IA	September 18, 2024
Lamar University	Beaumont, TX	TBD
Michigan Technological University	Houghton, MI	September 24, 2024
Norfolk State University	Norfolk, VA	October 2nd, 2024
South Dakota School of Mines & Technology	Rapid City, SD	September 24, 2024
Texas Southern University	Houston, TX	September 25, 2024
University of Alabama	Tuscaloosa, AL	September 19th, 2024
University of Florida	Gainesville, FL	September 25th, 2024
University of Minnesota	Minneapolis, MN	September 17, 2024
University of Washington	Seattle, WA	October 8th, 2024
University of Wisconsin- Madison	Madison, WI	September 19, 2024
Canada
University	Location	Date
Fall P4E Job Fair	ON	September 25, 2024
McMaster University	ON	September 19, 2024
McGill University	QC	September 26, 2024
Queens University	ON	October 1, 2024
TMU Mixer	ON	October 2, 2004
University of Alberta	AB	September 25, 2024
University of Toronto	ON	September 17, 2024

Internships programme

Veolia | Water Tech

Driving Ecological Transformation in APAC: Q&A with Ish Hakim, Executive Vice President of Asia-Pacific

watertechnologies.com — Tue, 24 Sep 2024 12:00:00 +0000

Driving Ecological Transformation in APAC: Q&A with Ish Hakim, Executive Vice President of Asia-Pacific watertechnolog… Tue, 09/24/2024 - 08:00

Driving Ecological Transformation in APAC: Q&A with Ish Hakim, Executive Vice President of Asia-Pacific We recently caught up with Ish Hakim, Executive Vice President of Asia-Pacific (APAC) at Veolia | Water Tech, to hear what’s driving ecological transformation in his region including unique trends, priorities, solutions and opportunities.

At Veolia, we're dedicated to solve our customers' environmental challenges and driving positive ecological change. The Water Tech business is a key part of Veolia's strategic acceleration program, GreenUp, and is one of the three growth pillars. Our GreenUp initiative is a catalyst for transformation, greening our operations and reducing our environmental footprint. This means stimulating innovation to decarbonize, depollute, and regenerate the natural resources essential to our work.

What are the major industry trends unique to APAC?

The APAC region presents a dynamic landscape for water technology, driven by several key trends. The region is quite expansive, encompassing many countries, key industries, and markets that are focused on wastewater. BioIntensification, microelectronics, lithium, and precious metals, along with early discussions around green hydrogen and carbon capture. Microelectronics play a significant role in Asia, particularly in China, India, Taiwan, Japan, and Southeast Asia. The CHIPS Act has led to a slowdown in these powerhouses as investments have shifted to the United States and Europe, but these countries are now ramping up activity to reaffirm their position and size in the industry, driven in part by the artificial intelligence boom.

There is also significant focus on reusing and recycling water to create a closed-loop system within this domain. The municipal market is substantial as well. Many developing nations in Asia still lack access to clean water, and efforts to improve water access and wastewater treatment have been ongoing in some nations for an extended period. Additionally, there is a strong emphasis in the oil and gas sector on maximizing water reuse, leading to considerable activity in that industry.

There is a commitment to continue creating breakthroughs in water technologies while scaling up and expediting GreenUp initiatives for driving ecological transformation.

What are your team’s top priorities in the region?

We are committed to expediting the implementation of water-related technologies and solutions in line with our GreenUp program. To accomplish this, we are leveraging our core business areas along with identified growth opportunities, such as microelectronics and mining, particularly in the APAC region.

Our commitment to ethics and our clients is paramount, and we place significant emphasis on safety and employee well-being with our motto, “Home safe, every day, everyone.” Attracting and retaining top talent is crucial for us. With the region encompassing over 40 countries, each with its own language and dialects, we recognize the importance of cultural diversity. We continuously strive to understand and address the needs of our employees in order to ensure high retention rates.

An essential focus in the region is on diversity, equity, and inclusion, which we strongly advocate for. We are constantly exploring ways to enhance inclusivity. During our recent commercial awards ceremony in Australia, we introduced Indigenous drawings for the first time. This small but meaningful gesture resonated with the audience, award presenters, and recipients alike.

What initiatives or investments are driving success for customers in the region?

There is currently a lot of activity with municipalities. We recently signed an agreement to expand our presence in Wuxi, China, with a new intelligent manufacturing facility. This will help increase production capacity and research and development (R&D). We are also working on projects in Australia to produce water for irrigation, reuse, and recycling. In India, new technologies and complex flow sheets are being implemented to treat wastewater, and we have significant projects there to help meet regulatory requirements.

Another major focus for us is pharma and healthcare. Manufacturers across Asia are heavily involved in healthcare and pharmaceutical products, and we are particularly focused on clean water with our unique validated systems and solutions.

The food and beverage market is also significant in the region, with contributions from both local players and multinational companies. There is a lot of work being done on wastewater recycling, as well as in our chemical business.

In addition, with the establishment of data centers in Asia, we work closely with our customers’ local teams to understand their facility and corporate goals. Our global solutions aim to optimize assets, reduce water usage, and enhance site profitability. Our technologies help data center customers meet their business compliance, quality, environmental, and customer service needs.

What unique solutions do customers in the APAC require?

In the microelectronics industry, we have pioneered the use of chemical-free, ultrapure water processes. Our company was the first to globally develop high-pH reverse osmosis combined with double-pass e-cell technology, and we have now implemented this technology in over four plants with a unique flowsheet. Additionally, we have introduced our proprietary technologies - EDR, Evaled^TM, and MPPE®- into microelectronics for applications such as solvent recovery and local scrubber reclaim, which are specific to this industry.

Veolia APAC has achieved several "FIRST" world records, including the first double-pass RO system and double-pass ECell in Malaysia, the first design and build Wafer Fab Ultrapure Water (UPW) system, and the first UPW on mobile water treatment containers in Malaysia. We have also implemented the first power-pack water treatment covering Poseidon DAF, ZW500D-MBR, and Proflex RO system for a chlor-alkali plant in Thailand. Additionally, we have established the first water technology engineering center, "Insource," which provides R&D and value engineering to customers worldwide.

Moreover, we are helping to address the needs of the food and beverage industry by deploying mobile solutions for increasing volume. These solutions include oil removal, separation, dissolving flotation, and technologies for water recycling and discharge.

What are some of the biggest opportunities for customers in the coming years?

Mining is an ample opportunity for the region. Some of the largest lithium deposits are in APAC, and now large volumes of nickel are coming out of the area. The demand for batteries and the EV market will continue to drive a lot of lithium production in the region. Battery recycling is related to that. Lithium isn’t here forever, so how do you take all those batteries and not just keep mining but recycle and reuse anything we can out of them? That’s something that will start to take shape here as well.

There’s also a significant shift coming to the region around micropollutants. Some countries like Australia have gotten pretty clear on how they’re addressing this, and other countries are starting to form their plans, so that will also be a big focus moving forward.

Asia still has a lot of coal-fired power plants so renewables will play a big part. A lot of solar manufacturing happens in this part of the world, and we provide a lot of technology in that space. Green hydrogen is also emerging in APAC and globally, so overall, we will be keeping a close eye on renewable energy.

Veolia’s APAC team can offer comprehensive concrete solutions and innovations to help decarbonize, depollute, and support the regeneration of natural resources. At the same time, we strive to address the most demanding water challenges for our customers across all industries.

Trends

apac

Greenup

environment

Veolia | Water Tech

Waterside Chats: Meet North America Business Development Manager, Jesse Forth

watertechnologies.com — Thu, 29 Aug 2024 11:00:00 +0000

Waterside Chats: Meet North America Business Development Manager, Jesse Forth watertechnolog… Thu, 08/29/2024 - 07:00

He shares what excites him about his role and the opportunities to work toward an ecological transformation.

Watch below for more.

Employee

culture

Waterside chat

Veolia | Water Tech

Artificial Intelligence is Using a Ton of Water. Here’s How to Be More Resourceful

watertechnologies.com — Thu, 22 Aug 2024 19:20:12 +0000

Artificial Intelligence is Using a Ton of Water. Here’s How to Be More Resourceful watertechnolog… Thu, 08/22/2024 - 15:20

Artificial intelligence (AI) quickly went from a neat parlor trick to a business imperative. IBM reports that 82% of large enterprises have either deployed AI or are experimenting with doing so. Unlike other technology innovations like smartphones or WiFi networks, AI isn’t a one-time integration. The technology is constantly evolving with new models and capabilities.

Each time these AI tools are prompted, there’s a cost that few consider. Researchers believe that each string of prompts uses roughly 16 ounces of water at data centers that house these AI systems. Extrapolate AI use globally, and it’s clear how water systems are taxed. Microsoft’s latest environmental report shows its water consumption jumped 34% from 2021 to 2022, reaching nearly 1.7 billion gallons. Google reports its water consumption went up nearly 22% over the same period to a staggering 5.56 billion gallons, about 800 times as big as The Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool.

Clearly, the AI revolution isn’t going away — Gartner says 90% of companies will have adopted AI by next year. Unchecked water usage by power-hungry data centers could exacerbate the already dire water crises worldwide.

This urgency is why Veolia | Water Tech is devoted to an ecological transformation where sustainable solutions can help reduce the world’s water footprint. In fact, Veolia is using generative AI to solve the problem. Through its GreenUp initiative, Veolia uses AI to assist in its annual savings plan, optimizing customers’ water and energy consumption as well as waste sorting and recycling and strengthening predictive maintenance.

Why data centers are so thirsty for water

The massive water consumption by data centers stems from their need to maintain optimal temperatures for densely packed servers and computing hardware racks. Just like a car engine, these components generate immense amounts of heat. Overheating can cause system failures, data corruption, and costly downtime. Data centers also use water for humidification systems that maintain a specific humidity range to ensure the functionality of all the equipment in the building.

Keeping temperatures in check requires industrial-scale cooling systems that continuously circulate water. A single data center can have cooling towers that need millions of gallons of water annually to prevent the critical computing infrastructure from overheating.

As water needs continue to grow, data centers may struggle to keep pace. In drought-prone regions, some facilities may even face tough choices between shutting down operations or overtaxing municipal water supplies that communities rely on.

The data center industry’s outsize water footprint is increasingly at odds with the global water scarcity crisis. The World Wildlife Federation projects that 66% of the global population is likely to face water scarcity by next year. Water is a precious, limited resource, and companies have a responsibility to adopt sustainable water management practices.

Download the Solutions for Data Centers Overview Brochure

Veolia’s water reuse solutions

Forward-thinking data centers are turning to water reuse and recycling technologies to reduce their water footprints and costs. Veolia has pioneered comprehensive water treatment solutions that enable facilities to cut their water usage drastically.

A data center in Illinois sought a new water treatment strategy to reduce its dependency on the municipal water supply and turned to Veolia for help. Our experts determined that the existing alkaline cooling system was limiting the cooling tower’s cycles of concentration and caused high blowdown rates that increased demand for make-up water.

Veolia installed a TrueSense* Ready-Set-Go (RSG) controller to monitor pH and feed the sulfuric acid into the cooling system to simplify management for the data center’s operators and leverage remote monitoring and alarms. The new treatment program doubled the cooling tower cycles and reduced the amount of water needed to operate the system by 50%. The result was 12 million gallons of water saved annually and $150,000 in associated cost savings.

In Virginia, a data center faced escalating costs from softening its hard well water before use — two softeners processed more than 20 million gallons of well water. It cost $160,000 in brine salt and maintenance. Veolia conducted an analysis and developed a two-step treatment solution. The first step was installing a new TrueSense control system that provides continuous, online monitoring. Second, the new system adjusted the acid feed to maintain a target pH level so that the well water would no longer need to be softened. The new treatment program rendered the water softeners obsolete. They were decommissioned, creating $114,000 in annual savings.

Finding sustainability as technology evolves

As the AI revolution accelerates demand for data centers, and thus water cooling, investing in water reuse and recycling technologies is an operational and environmental imperative. For example, the Hubgrade* Water Footprint, a new Veolia solution, offers full visibility into water operations. The platform drives actionable insights to help customers reduce their water footprint, water-related energy use, and greenhouse gas emissions.

Veolia piloted Hubgrade Water Footprint at one of its small plants and created early wins like more than 20,000 kilograms of emissions reduced by piped natural gas (PNG) usage. The platform is expected to expand to more than 15 global Veolia sites this year to drive new sustainability efforts and would provide the same benefit to data centers.

The path forward requires collaboration with partners like Veolia and careful consideration for how to quench data centers’ insatiable thirst for water to power AI responsibly and sustainably.

Related Resources:

Data center saves Over $114,000 annually with Veolia’s cooling water technology

A data center sought a cost-effective and reliable solution to reduce its water treatment expenditure. The data center turned to Veolia to review the treatment design and chemical program.

Data center cuts annual water consumption by more than 12 million gallons

With rising water costs a major expense, a data center set out to employ a new process to reduce water and chemical consumption by enabling higher cycles in their cooling system.

data center

Artificial intelligence

Water Reuse

Hubgrade

Andrew Collier

How Direct Lithium Conversion Simplifies Lithium Hydroxide Production

watertechnologies.com — Mon, 19 Aug 2024 18:12:40 +0000

How Direct Lithium Conversion Simplifies Lithium Hydroxide Production watertechnolog… Mon, 08/19/2024 - 14:12

The global demand for lithium has tripled in the last five years, primarily driven by the needs of the battery manufacturing industry. As the world transitions toward cleaner energy sources and the adoption of electric vehicles increases, the need for lithium will continue to grow.

Lithium is a key component of electric-vehicle (EV) batteries. It is processed into either lithium hydroxide or lithium carbonate in the battery cathode manufacturing process. Lithium hydroxide is often preferred for battery chemistries incorporating nickel and cobalt. These batteries have higher energy densities compared to lithium iron phosphate chemistries which are more commonly used for EVs with a driving range of less than 300 miles.

Traditionally, lithium production has involved extracting the element from various sources, including hard rock, clays, and salar brines. Much work is being done to also extract lithium from produced water and geothermal brines. Once extracted, the lithium is then purified, concentrated, and ultimately converted to the form battery manufacturers can utilize in cathode production. The process of converting lithium chloride to lithium hydroxide is a multi-step approach that can be chemically-intensive and energy-intensive.

Conventional approaches such as using large evaporation ponds to concentrate the brine can face challenges and limitations, such as lower yields, reduced purity, and environmental concerns such as water loss.

A newer process called direct lithium extraction (DLE) is being developed because it replaces the dependence of evaporation ponds while also achieving higher lithium yields and faster processing than the traditional methods.

After extraction, the lithium needs to be converted to a usable form. To improve the method of converting lithium chloride to lithium hydroxide, Veolia | Water Tech is developing a direct lithium conversion (DLC) process to simplify the approach to achieving a battery-grade lithium hydroxide product. DLC technology improves the efficiency and costs of lithium refining while also reducing environmental impact.

In the conventional method in converting lithium chloride brine to lithium hydroxide product, there is an initial conversion step of first producing a crude lithium carbonate product with the addition of sodium bicarbonate through a physical-chemical process. After the first conversion step to lithium carbonate, an additional step is applied to then convert the lithium carbonate to lithium hydroxide using another physical-chemical process with the addition of a hydroxide (usually calcium hydroxide). DLC technology replaces the conventional two step conversion approach into a single conversion step using a novel ion exchange process to directly convert lithium chloride to lithium hydroxide. This can greatly simplify process operations, while also reducing energy consumption, chemical usage, and waste generation.

How does DLC work?

Veolia’s direct lithium conversion process is a resin-based chemical process utilizing sodium hydroxide. It focuses on simplifying the transformation of lithium in aqueous brine solution to lithium hydroxide monohydrate, the product to be used for battery manufacturing.

After the lithium is extracted using DLE technology, pretreatment is first needed to remove divalent ions like calcium, magnesium, and sulfates. After the separation of divalent ions, the DLC technology utilizes a resin-based ion exchange process where lithium is captured on a resin and eluted with sodium hydroxide. The eluated brine from this ion exchange process becomes an aqueous lithium hydroxide solution, free of chlorides and other impurities such as boron. The lithium hydroxide solution is then concentrated by thermal technologies to evaporate out the water from the aqueous solution to reach supersaturation where lithium hydroxide monohydrate is crystallized and separated from the remaining aqueous solution.

Compared to traditional methods for producing lithium hydroxide, DLC technology streamlines the process to reduce the need for chemicals and reagents like soda ash and lime; this also results in fewer emissions than conventional methods.

Another compelling advantage of DLC technology is its cost savings. By simplifying the production process, reducing energy and chemical consumption, and increasing yields, DLC technology can significantly lower the overall cost of lithium hydroxide production. These cost savings can be passed on to battery manufacturers and ultimately to consumers, making electric vehicles and energy storage solutions more affordable and accessible.

As the world transitions toward a more sustainable future, the application of DLC technology as part of the overall flow sheet can help the lithium industry in the more cost effective production of lithium hydroxide monohydrate. By enabling more efficient and environmentally friendly lithium hydroxide production, DLC technology supports the growth of the electric vehicle and renewable energy sectors, contributing to the global effort to reduce carbon emissions and combat climate change.

Lithium Hydroxide and DLC in the lithium supply chain

With lithium demand steadily on the rise, securing a reliable and sustainable domestic supply of lithium becomes increasingly essential. The United States has traditionally relied heavily on imported lithium to meet its growing needs — relying on Argentina and Chile for 90% of its imported lithium from 2016 to 2019, according to the Department of Energy. However, this dependence on foreign sources leaves the country vulnerable to supply chain disruptions and price volatility.

America currently has only one active lithium mine, in Nevada, although others are in production. With $2.8 billion in grants from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act earmarked for battery manufacturing and processing, the U.S. aims to reduce its reliance on imported lithium.

The development of DLC technology aligns with the government’s efforts to establish a more resilient and self-sufficient lithium supply chain. By embracing DLC technology, the United States can leverage its abundant lithium resources, such as those in the Smackover Formation in Arkansas, to create a robust domestic lithium production ecosystem. The adoption of DLC technology in the lithium supply chain benefits the United States and has global implications. As countries worldwide set ambitious targets for electric vehicle adoption and renewable energy deployment, DLC technology can help lithium producers more efficiently and sustainably meet growing lithium demand. Today, the traditional two-step conversion process is the proven and reliable way to produce sodium hydroxide. In many areas of industrial processing, Veolia is working on new technologies like DLC to move them towards commercial readiness.

Veolia leads the way in making lithium production efficient

Veolia’s DLC technology is best applied when co-developed with direction lithium extraction (DLE) technology providers. Proper consideration of recycle streams as part of the DLE technology can make overall projects more successful, improving yields and providing access to higher purity lithium hydroxide which is important in domesticating the country’s lithium supply.

As the world continues to embrace sustainable energy solutions, efficient lithium production is one of the most significant opportunities. Veolia has developed expertise in various regions, solving engineering challenges, optimizing operations, and creating an ecological transformation for customers.

Learn more about Veolia’s lithium processing abilities and contact our team to learn how DLC technology can improve your project and create higher lithium yields at the best purity standards.

Direct Lithium

Lithium Hydroxide Production

DLE

DLC

John Peichel & Josh Dewanaga

What is Heavy Oil? A Look at How Refineries Can Overcome Mixing Challenges

watertechnologies.com — Tue, 13 Aug 2024 20:00:57 +0000

What is Heavy Oil? A Look at How Refineries Can Overcome Mixing Challenges watertechnolog… Tue, 08/13/2024 - 16:00

As oil refineries process increasingly challenging feedstocks like heavy oils, effective process and water treatment becomes even more critical. Refineries often struggle with blending different types of heavy crude oils that do not mix well, leading to separation issues and reduced yields.

Heavy oil, characterized by its high density and viscosity, contains higher levels of impurities like waxes, suspended solids, and heavy metals compared to lighter crude oils. These contaminants can lead to various refining process challenges and impact the refinery’s water systems.

Our customers’ demand for heavy oil has been rising due to the depletion of lighter crude reserves and advancements in extraction technologies. Heavy oil now accounts for approximately 40% of the world’s total oil reserves, but processing it presents a unique set of challenges for refineries, particularly with water management and treatment.

We have seen that higher impurities in heavy oil can also lead to adverse downstream effects such as fouling, plugging, and corrosion of equipment in the processing units and water systems, and can also cause significant issues with wastewater treatment plants.

To overcome these challenges, Veolia | Water Tech has partnered with refineries to employ advanced solutions for managing crude oil blends, mitigating the impacts of heavy oil throughout the refining process, and ensuring efficient water management and treatment. We offer a range of analytical tools and chemical treatments to help refineries optimize their heavy oil processing while minimizing the associated risks to their water systems and the environment.

Managing crude oil blends

Fouling, corrosion, and plugging are three significant challenges that can impact refinery operations when processing heavy oil due to the higher levels of impurities and incompatibilities between blends.

Fouling occurs when contaminants accumulate on heat exchangers, pipes, and other equipment surfaces, reducing heat transfer efficiency and restricting flow. This can lead to reduced production capacity, increased energy consumption, and higher operating costs. In fact, fouling is estimated to lead to 10% of production loss at oil refineries. If fouling is significant or takes place in narrow sections of piping, it can lead to plugging and force unplanned maintenance and shutdowns. The implications of plugging for downtime and production losses can be extremely costly.

Corrosion, another consequence of processing heavy oil, can deteriorate equipment, resulting in leaks, reduced performance, and potential safety hazards. Corrosion can occur due to acidic compounds, such as naphthenic acids, which are more prevalent in heavy oils. This can result in unplanned shutdowns, increased maintenance requirements, and reduced equipment lifespan.

impurities contained in heavy oils and the incompatibility they may demonstrate can lead to difficulties in separating the contaminants and the water from the oil throughout the process. The desalter’s purpose is to extract desalted oil from the top, and a mix known as brine, made up of water and salts, from the bottom. Brine is sent to the wastewater plant for treatment, but the presence of oil due to the processing difficulties of heavy oils can make wastewater treatment very challenging. This can lead to discharge limit exceedances and environmental hazards.

The consequences of these challenges extend beyond the immediate operational issues. Unplanned shutdowns and reduced production capacity can lead to decreased profitability and lost revenue. Increased maintenance requirements and equipment replacements due to corrosion and fouling can significantly increase operating costs. Furthermore, the environmental impact of heavy oil processing can be substantial, with increased emissions and waste generation resulting from the higher levels of impurities.

Refineries must implement comprehensive strategies for managing heavy oil impurities throughout the refining process to mitigate these impacts. Optimizing process conditions, utilizing advanced catalysts and additives, and implementing effective water management and treatment systems help improve operational efficiency, reduce costs, and minimize the environmental impact of heavy oil processing.

Veolia’s proven expertise

Veolia’s comprehensive approach to addressing the challenges of heavy oil processing showcases our deep expertise in process and water treatment and management for the refining industry. By combining advanced analytical tools, innovative chemical solutions, and a thorough understanding of the impacts of heavy oil on refinery operations, our experts are well-equipped to help optimize your processes and mitigate the risks associated with processing heavy crude oils.

Let us work together to develop a customized solution that addresses your specific needs and helps you maximize the value of your heavy oil operations while minimizing the associated risks. Contact Veolia today to take the first step toward a more efficient, sustainable, and profitable refining future.

heavy oil

cruide oil

refineries

Pablo Grieco

Waterside Chats: Meet Production Supervisor Allie Meyer

watertechnologies.com — Wed, 31 Jul 2024 15:22:11 +0000

Waterside Chats: Meet Production Supervisor Allie Meyer watertechnolog… Wed, 07/31/2024 - 11:22

We’re shining a spotlight on some of these talented individuals, so they can share more about their current roles and the personal career journeys that brought them to where they are today. In the latest video of our “Waterside Chats” series, we caught up with production supervisor, Allie Meyer, who explains how she ensures operations run smoothly and information gets communicated to and from her team.

She also shares more about her journey from intern to production supervisor at Veolia.

Watch below for more.

Employee

company culture

Veolia | Water Tech

How a Chemical Processing Plant Reduced Downtime With Water Treatment

watertechnologies.com — Thu, 25 Jul 2024 10:02:12 +0000

How a Chemical Processing Plant Reduced Downtime With Water Treatment watertechnolog… Thu, 07/25/2024 - 06:02

Manufacturing plants rely on intricate processes and systems to operate smoothly and meet production targets. However, issues like scaling, corrosion, and fouling in critical cooling systems can halt operations, resulting in costly downtime. According to Siemens, the hourly cost of downtime in certain manufacturing sectors can reach over $2 million — up 50% from 2020 levels.

For one chemical processing plant in Illinois, chronic water treatment issues led to frequent system failures and downtime that severely impacted productivity. This plant had previously attempted to resolve problems with scaling and plugging in its closed-loop systems by working with its water treatment provider. However, the solutions fell short and contributed to the plant’s shutting down for years.

When the plant was ready to restart operations, operators knew it needed a more robust, customized water treatment program to prevent the potential recurrence of debilitating downtime — estimated at nearly a month per year. It turned to Veolia to leverage the company’s expertise in developing specialized solutions for unique manufacturing processes and water chemistry challenges. Veolia’s team conducted a comprehensive assessment and developed a tailored program to effectively treat the plant’s systems.

Developing the right system

Veolia developed a customized water treatment program based on its assessment utilizing a strategic combination of proven chemistries and system upgrades. To remove the extensive buildup of scales and iron oxide deposits, Veolia implemented Kleen AC9507*’s descaling chemistry along with Ferroquest* to sequester the rust.

Veolia softened the plant’s hard well water for the cooling tower system to reduce scaling potential. E.C.O.Film* technology provided protective filming amines for corrosion control, while Spectrus OX* oxidizing biocides controlled microbiological growth.

In the closed-loop systems, the existing demineralized (DI) water system was upgraded to ensure a consistent supply of high-purity makeup water. To inhibit corrosion while maintaining the low conductivity requirements, Veolia applied Steamate PAP7000* polyamine.

Veolia worked closely with the plant to implement this new program, systematically cleaning and preparing the systems. The use of softened water and high-purity DI water addressed the problematic scaling and fouling caused by the facility’s hard well water. The tailored chemical programs targeted corrosion control and microbiological issues.

With the new water treatment program in place, the plant could finally restart operations after years of downtime, confident that its systems would run reliably.

Staying operational

Veolia’s customized water treatment program has delivered impressive results for the chemical processing plant. Most significantly, the new program has drastically reduced the downtime that previously plagued operations.

Before working with Veolia, the plant estimated it experienced nearly a month of total downtime per year due to scaling, corrosion, and plugged lines in the closed-loop systems. The plant’s analysis showed Veolia’s solution reduced that downtime by roughly 66 hours in the first 18 months of implementation.

Beyond the downtime savings, Veolia’s program also allowed the plant to avoid the major capital expense of installing new chiller units to replace the existing cooling towers.

Most importantly, the plant’s operations team expressed high satisfaction with the systems’ performance under Veolia’s water treatment program. After years of battling scaling issues, the plant could finally operate reliably without the looming threat of downtime.

Veolia’s chemical processing expertise

Veolia has aligned its solutions and services to meet the unique demands of the chemical processing industry. Veolia provides expertly tailored solutions to optimize quality, reliability, and compliance, from cooling tower water treatment systems and makeup water to blowdown treatment and wastewater recovery.

Veolia also offers technologies for safe, environmentally compliant industrial wastewater treatment that decreases pollution and complies with regulations. Learn more about how Veolia’s experts can develop bespoke solutions for chemical processing water challenges.

chemical processing

chemical programs

wastewater treatment

Aaron Liner & Terry Maggard

Using Technology to Reverse Water Scarcity in Rapidly Growing Cities

watertechnologies.com — Tue, 23 Jul 2024 19:04:51 +0000

Using Technology to Reverse Water Scarcity in Rapidly Growing Cities watertechnolog… Tue, 07/23/2024 - 15:04

The global water crisis continues to grow more severe, with nearly two-thirds of the world’s population experiencing severe water scarcity for at least one month each year. By 2030, 700 million people could be displaced by water scarcity.

Displacement has already begun in Bengaluru, India, an alarming example of the effects of water shortages.

In this tech hub once known as the City of Lakes, groundwater has dried up, lakes have become contaminated, and water supply to schools, hospitals, households, and businesses has been erratic at best, straining the economy and society.

But a sustainable water future is not out of reach, if Bengaluru can take to heart the lessons of other water-starved regions and embrace the kind of technology and ecological transformation that can secure a sustainable water future. In that way, it serves as an example for water-starved regions around the world seeking a path forward.

The makings of a water crisis

Bengaluru has rapidly developed into a tech hub, with the city’s population growing by 76% over the past decade. Today, the metropolitan area is home to approximately 14 million people, a number that continues to rise.

This rapid expansion has strained Bengaluru’s water resources. The city's demand for freshwater has skyrocketed to around 2,832 million liters per day (MLD). While the Bengaluru Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) provides 1,460 MLD from the Cauvery River, the city relies heavily on groundwater to make up the difference. This dependence has led to rapid depletion of groundwater resources.

The situation is further exacerbated by the loss of the city's natural water sources. Of the 285 lakes that once dotted Bengaluru's landscape, only 194 remain, with many contaminated or encroached upon. This 79% reduction in lakes within a decade has severely impacted the city's ability to recharge its groundwater naturally and manage stormwater runoff.

All of these issues came to a head in the summer of 2024, when community conflicts over scarce water led to the exodus of many tech workers, disruption and soaring costs for businesses, and signs of an uncertain future as real estate inquiries plummeted.

Bengaluru’s water crisis is a result of systemic failures, stalled progress, and government complacency, creating a situation all too familiar in cities around the globe. A lack of investment to stabilize the water supply and a failure to prioritize the rejuvenation of natural water bodies compound the effects of water scarcity. However, a number of cities and countries have reversed course with the right technology and focused ecological transformation.

Treating and reusing wastewater to bolster freshwater supply

One promising avenue is the adoption of advanced wastewater treatment technologies. Membrane Bioreactor (MBR) systems, for instance, offer a compact and efficient solution for treating wastewater to high standards suitable for reuse. These systems, deployed by Veolia in projects worldwide, could help Bengaluru reclaim a significant portion of its wastewater for non-potable uses, easing the pressure on freshwater sources.

Currently, Bengaluru produces 1480 MLD of wastewater, which is intended to be treated in 36 sewage treatment plants (STPs) with a collective capacity of 1527.5 MLD. However, the implementation of these treatment facilities citywide remains a challenge. Embracing more advanced and efficient treatment technologies could significantly improve the city's ability to recycle and reuse its wastewater.

Mumbai City offers one example of this approach. A project by Veolia | Water Tech (India) Pvt. Ltd. has benefited roughly 30,000 families in the Chembur area with uninterrupted access to fresh water supply for domestic use, thanks to an advanced technology-enabled STP run at a leading chemical fertilizer factory. This more proactive approach to industrial water treatment has improved the city’s water management.

In addition, Singapore and Vietnam have demonstrated how integrated water management can achieve significant reductions in water loss and uninterrupted supply. Embracing Internet of Things (IoT) and data analytics for smart water management, along with advanced sewage treatment technologies for non-potable use, can pave the way for long-term solutions.

Ecological transformation builds on reuse efforts

Addressing Bengaluru's water crisis requires a multifaceted approach that aligns with the principles of ecological transformation. Veolia has championed this concept through its GreenUp* initiative, which emphasizes innovative solutions that decarbonize, depollute, and regenerate resources.

For Bengaluru, this could include everything from regulations that prevent encroachment on water bodies and promote lake conservation to corporate water-saving initiatives and use of treated wastewater for industrial processes.

Bengaluru’s lost lakes could be revived through cleaning and rejuvenation efforts while sectioning off freshwater-free zones to safeguard remaining resources. Several companies have already shown this is possible, including the Infosys Foundation, with its restoration of Hebbal Lake. A broader effort, backed by corporate incentives, regulation, and industry leadership, could ease the stress on Bengaluru’s water resources.

Rapid lake rejuvenation is another option, with Mumbai again offering a promising example. The city has used mobile STPs that can quickly rejuvenate lakes and water bodies before moving on to another. In this way, Mumbai has restored lakes, ponds, and reservoirs, making more water available for industrial use while directing freshwater supply to domestic households.

Technology as a path to water security

Bengaluru, known as a hub of tech innovation, should embrace that identity to address its water crisis. Using membrane bioreactor technology, Internet of Things devices, mobile STPs, and more can improve water quality, restore natural resources, and increase water supplies for all.

As Bengaluru stands at a crossroads, so do many other cities and countries experiencing similar water shortages. A more secure water future requires a collective effort from government bodies, industry, and citizens. Veolia's GreenUp initiative, which aims to accelerate the deployment of solutions that address water scarcity and pollution, aligns closely with these needs. By leveraging advanced technologies and expertise in water management, and embracing ecological transformation, cities like Bengaluru can overcome their water challenges and set an example for sustainable urban water management in the face of a global water crisis.

Learn more about all of Veolia’s solutions here.

Water Reuse

sustainability

water scarcity

MBR

Roopa Nagaraju & Girish Kale

Veolia | Water Tech Named One of the 2024 Best Places to Work for Disability Inclusion

watertechnologies.com — Tue, 16 Jul 2024 12:00:00 +0000

Veolia | Water Tech Named One of the 2024 Best Places to Work for Disability Inclusion watertechnolog… Tue, 07/16/2024 - 08:00

We are proud to share that Veolia | Water Tech received a score of 90 on the Disability Equality Index® (DEI) and has been recognized as a DEI Best Place to Work for Disability Inclusion.

The Disability Equality Index is the world’s most comprehensive benchmarking tool to measure corporate disability inclusion policies and programs. Veolia is dedicated to our values of diversity, equality, and inclusion by creating and maintaining a supportive work environment where every employee can grow and strive. This is a testament to our commitment to both our employees and society, as stated in our multifaceted performance.

Our Disability Employee Resource Group plays a crucial role in driving this progress. It is open to all employees with the mission to raise awareness about disabilities, build organizational knowledge and provide connection opportunities to our employees.

"As a co-leader for the Disability Employee Resource Group, I am energized by the incremental improvement in our survey benchmark scores from 2022 to 2024. We are just beginning to scratch the surface for the support of our employees. This is a happy step in our continuing journey towards excellence. Thank you to all Disability Employee Resource Group core members who drove these first steps of our journey, " said Kristina Butcher, Quality Operations Director, Customer Service at Veolia | Water Tech

Diversity

equity

Inclusion

disability

award

Veolia | Water Tech

Meet North America Learning and Development Leader Ilona Torres

watertechnologies.com — Thu, 27 Jun 2024 10:00:00 +0000

Meet North America Learning and Development Leader Ilona Torres watertechnolog… Thu, 06/27/2024 - 06:00

We’re shining a spotlight on some of these talented individuals, so they can share more about their current roles and the personal career journeys that brought them to where they are today. In the latest video of our “Waterside Chats” series, we caught up with North America Learning and Development Leader, Ilona Torres, who shares how she helps employees at every level all across the company grow and be successful in their roles.

She describes some of the programs and initiatives Veolia runs for continued learning and development.

Watch below for more.

Employees

Waterside chat

Veolia | Water Tech

Takeaways from Veolia’s 2024 Barometer of Ecological Transformation

watertechnologies.com — Wed, 12 Jun 2024 11:00:00 +0000

Takeaways from Veolia’s 2024 Barometer of Ecological Transformation watertechnolog… Wed, 06/12/2024 - 07:00

Takeaways from Veolia’s 2024 Barometer of Ecological Transformation The existential threat of climate change looms larger than ever before. Rising sea levels, biodiversity loss, and environmental degradation are no longer abstract concepts — they are harsh realities unfolding across the globe. As the urgency to address this crisis intensifies, a fundamental question arises: Are we, as a global community, truly ready to embrace the profound changes required to safeguard our planet’s future?

While 2.2 billion people lacking access to safe water seems almost unfathomable, climate change goes beyond just water. It extends to extreme heat, deforestation, and even our food.

Though the prospect of this looming threat is bleak, we aren’t destined for inaction. Veolia is committed to making an ecological transformation that gives us a better future. Our GreenUp initiative aims to spark innovations that help communities and industries overcome these challenges and create cleaner water through treatment and reuse.

To better understand where the world stands on climate change, we conducted a global survey spanning 26 countries and representing nearly 60% of the world’s population. Using the findings, we created the Barometer of Ecological Transformation, a report that delves deep into the public psyche, gauging the global sentiment toward climate change, the motivations driving ecological transformation, and the perceived roles of key stakeholders in facilitating this transition.

Let’s dig into three statistics that stand out from our survey.

66% believe the consequences of climate disruption will be costlier than investments in ecological transformation

This statistic highlights a growing recognition of the immense economic and social costs associated with climate change inaction.

From devastating health impacts and resource scarcity to the escalating frequency of natural disasters, the consequences of climate change are becoming increasingly tangible and impossible to ignore. The World Health Organization has labeled climate change “the greatest health threat facing humanity,” while the World Bank warns that it could push over 130 million people back into poverty by 2030.

This global awareness of the staggering potential costs of inaction should serve as a powerful driving force for embracing the necessary changes and investments for ecological transformation. As the tangible impacts of climate change continue to mount, the economic and social imperative for decisive action becomes more compelling.

By recognizing that the long-term costs of climate inaction far outweigh the upfront investments in ecological solutions, populations worldwide may be more inclined to support and participate in the comprehensive systemic changes required to mitigate the climate crisis and its cascading effects.

67% are motivated by their and their family’s health

The highest proportion of respondents cite protecting personal health as a prime motivator for embracing the ecological transformation, even if it necessitates behavioral changes or additional costs. Furthermore, 64% are driven by the desire to improve their quality of life, underscoring the intrinsic link between environmental well-being and human welfare.

These numbers reflect the growing awareness of the direct impact of environmental degradation and climate change on human health and overall quality of life. Air pollution, water contamination, food insecurity, and the increased frequency of extreme weather events pose severe threats to our well-being, both physically and psychologically.

Preserving natural landscapes, ensuring cleaner air and water, and mitigating the risks of natural disasters are perceived as tangible quality-of-life benefits that could stem from a successful ecological transformation.

By tapping into these deeply personal motivations, the report highlights a powerful catalyst for driving widespread support and participation in the ecological transition. When individuals can directly connect environmental action to their health, safety, and overall quality of life, the imperative for change becomes more palpable and immediate.

93% see government, business, and individual action as crucial

Our findings showcase the pivotal role that various stakeholders must play in driving the ecological transformation. A whopping 93% of respondents believe governments, businesses, and individuals are indispensable in finding and implementing effective solutions to address climate change and environmental degradation, with local authorities (92%) and international institutions (91%) not far behind.

This statistic highlights the growing recognition that a coordinated, multi-stakeholder approach is essential to tackling the complex and multifaceted challenges posed by the climate crisis. Governments, with their ability to enact policies, regulations, and incentives, are critical catalysts for facilitating the transition. Businesses, with their innovative capacities and economic influence, are crucial drivers of sustainable solutions and practices. International institutions, through their global reach and agenda-setting power, are vital forces in fostering international cooperation and setting common goals.

Moreover, the report emphasizes the need for specific measures from these stakeholders, such as innovating new and less polluting ways of doing things (93%), long-term planning (92%), and explaining the risks and dangers to the climate and the environment to everyone (90%).

The action, collaboration, and shared responsibility of various stakeholders are crucial in addressing one of the greatest challenges of our time. No single entity can shoulder the burden alone. It will take a concerted, coordinated effort from all corners to steer humanity toward a more sustainable future.

While the challenges posed by the climate crisis are daunting, the findings from this edition of the Barometer of Ecological Transformation suggest that the seeds of a global mobilization have taken root. By harnessing this momentum and fostering collaboration across sectors and borders, we can forge a path toward a more sustainable future that protects both our planet and the well-being of its inhabitants.

Greenup

barometer

survey

climate change

ecological transformation

Veolia | Water Tech

A Journey of Analytical Innovation: Sievers Instruments Turns 40

watertechnologies.com — Fri, 07 Jun 2024 15:48:45 +0000

A Journey of Analytical Innovation: Sievers Instruments Turns 40 watertechnolog… Fri, 06/07/2024 - 11:48

Recently, our Sievers Instruments products marked a milestone by celebrating its 40th anniversary, culminating in a special event on May 30th at its Boulder, Colorado office. For the past four decades, Sievers has built a steadfast reputation for its efficient analytical testing solutions used for quality control, compliance, and process monitoring. Along the way, it has acquired more than 30 patents for water analyzing technical innovations, including the Sievers Membrane Conductometric Method and the Integrated On-Line Sampling (iOS) System. The company’s core mantra is to simplify complex measurements while offering superior technology, design, quality, and service.

Today, the Sievers product line is recognized as a global leader in total organic carbon (TOC) analyzers and analytical instruments, serving diverse industries and applications including pharmaceutical and semiconductor production, industrial processes, environmental and wastewater monitoring, and more. Manufacturers rely on Sievers to make smarter decisions through superior analytical testing—helping them meet regulations, optimize processes, and adhere to best practices.

Sievers has grown over the years from a startup with fewer than 20 employees to a company with global sales and field service teams, developing instruments that are used by some of the biggest companies in the world. In recognition of this achievement, let’s look back at how the company’s journey began.

Seeds of Analytical Excellence

In 1975, the University of Colorado Boulder (CU) recruited Dr. Bob Sievers to lead the rebuilding of the Analytical Chemistry Division within the Department of Chemistry. The university was particularly interested in his expertise in environmental trace analysis and his analytical work on moon rocks and dust brought back to Earth from the early Apollo missions. Dr. Sievers arrived in Boulder with the goal of developing new analytical instruments with unprecedented sensitivity and selectivity, potentially pioneering a new industry in analytical measurements.

Nine years later, in 1984, he founded Sievers Instruments with Dr. Misha Plam (CU), Dr. Ric Hutte (CU), Nancy Sievers, and Olga Plam supported by early funding from the U.S. Small Business Innovation Research program. According to recollections from long-term colleagues, the original workspace had only a single 10-foot by 10-foot manufacturing table, and in the early days, employees would ring a bell to celebrate every time they received a purchase order. Dr. Plam was adamant that every employee, regardless of their role or department, had to understand how the instruments worked. As a result, all new hires spent their first few weeks in the manufacturing department, building an instrument.

But the formula worked. Some of the initial instruments that Sievers commercialized include chemiluminescence detectors for nitric oxide, sulfur, fluorine sulfur, and redox. The early commercial success of those instruments helped fund the development of the first Sievers TOC instrument, the Model 800. Sievers produced another early TOC analyzer as part of a NASA contract to develop an instrument to monitor drinking water quality in space. The Sievers TOC A provided process control for recycling drinking water through TOC, conductivity, and pH measurements, and was used by astronauts and cosmonauts at the International Space Station.

After 12 years of building the company, Sievers was acquired by Ionics in 1996. This marked the first of a series of acquisitions, ultimately culminating with Sievers products becoming a part of Veolia | Water Tech in 2022.

Expanding Capabilities

Forty years on, the Sievers product line continues to evolve, adapt, and innovate. Veolia actively serves the expanding needs of industries with a comprehensive portfolio of analyzers and process analytical technology (PAT) instruments for water quality monitoring, real-time testing, and process monitoring. In markets where water purity drives product quality—including pharmaceutical, semiconductor, and personal care product manufacturing—Sievers TOC analyzers and instruments ensure that water sources meet stringent purity standards essential for final product integrity and performance.

While water quality monitoring built the foundation of the Sievers portfolio, evolving industry standards, tighter process controls, and the need for greater production agility have broadened the scope of applications for customers. These include cleaning validation, contamination control, rapid microbiological methods, final drug product testing, raw material and intermediate testing, and real-time release testing.

More recently, the Sievers product line expanded with the introduction of the new Sievers Soleil Rapid Bioburden Analyzer to offer more capabilities for the pharmaceutical and life sciences industries, including near real-time data for microbial detection within ultrapure water and manufacturing processes.

With the addition of the Sievers Soleil, Veolia | Water Tech became the industry’s first company to provide all four critical analytical testing parameters for pharmaceutical processes—bioburden, bacterial endotoxins, total organic carbon, and conductivity. This consolidated offering makes Veolia a unique single-source supplier of water testing solutions and process analytical technologies.

Product innovation has clearly played a big role in Sievers’ long track record of achievements. But equally, if not more relevant, is the passion, commitment, and expertise of its people. In a world of rapid change, the core values that have come to define Sievers’ culture and success have remained remarkably consistent. As a long-term colleague said, “Although the business has grown exponentially, the environment is similar in that everyone feels as important and valued as everyone else, and team members are always willing to help one another out.”

Happy Birthday Sievers!

birthday

TOC

Sievers

Geert Verstraeten

Waterside Chats: Meet Global Channel Partner Specialist Tyra Cook

watertechnologies.com — Mon, 27 May 2024 10:00:00 +0000

Waterside Chats: Meet Global Channel Partner Specialist Tyra Cook watertechnolog… Mon, 05/27/2024 - 06:00

She shares how working in the water industry gives her the opportunity to learn something new everyday.

Watch below for more

Employees

culture

Waterside chat

Veolia | Water Tech

Optimal Total Organic Carbon Control in Semiconductor Water

watertechnologies.com — Wed, 22 May 2024 10:00:00 +0000

Optimal Total Organic Carbon Control in Semiconductor Water watertechnolog… Wed, 05/22/2024 - 06:00

Manufacturing semiconductor chips is one of the most complex and precise processes in the world and requires an extremely clean environment, with ultrapure water (UPW) as a critical component across all steps in fabricating the wafers. UPW used in semiconductor manufacturing is up to 1,000 times cleaner than water used in other industries, such as pharmaceuticals and medical devices, making it some of the most pristine water on the planet.

With continued advancements in artificial intelligence, semi-autonomous and electric vehicles, and other technologies, demand for semiconductor chips has never been higher. According to the Semiconductor Industry Association, global sales reached $46.2 billion in February 2024, a 16.3% year-over-year increase.

Companies around the world need more and higher-performing semiconductors. Making them is no easy task and requires stringent process control and contamination monitoring of UPW.

One of the key parameters for monitoring UPW purity and process effectiveness is total organic carbon (TOC), which measures the concentration of organic contaminants. While organic carbon occurs in all natural water sources, it significantly impacts semiconductor manufacturing processes, leading to defects, reduced yield, and potentially even complete production shutdowns, which can cost $125,000 per hour. Monitoring organic contamination helps protect chip quality and provides an excellent control point for overall UPW process management. As semiconductor technology advances, with smaller feature sizes and more complex designs, the tolerance for TOC contamination becomes even tighter, making effective TOC control a top priority for semiconductor manufacturers.

In the semiconductor industry, the required TOC levels in UPW are typically in the low parts-per-billion (ppb) range, with some critical processes demanding TOC concentrations below one ppb. The International Roadmap for Devices and Systems periodically releases updates on these limit values. The ultra-low levels are driven by the need to minimize defects and maintain high yields rather than by regulatory compliance, as in other industries.

Given the critical importance of TOC control in semiconductor manufacturing, manufacturers need to deeply understand the risks and challenges associated with TOC contamination and the most effective strategies and technologies for maintaining ultra-low TOC levels in their UPW systems.

Risks of not catching TOC

Semiconductor chips include molecular-level functions, so precision is crucial in monitoring contaminants like TOC. In advanced lithography processes, even trace levels of organic compounds can interfere with the chemical reactions involved in patterning the wafer surface, leading to defects and yield loss.

Organic nitrogen compounds (a specific type of organic compounds that are part of TOC) are ubiquitous in the environment and can enter UPW systems through various sources, including source water, chemical additives, and even airborne contaminants. These compounds exist in source water around the globe, and are especially prevalent where local agricultural and industrial activities are high. Nitrogen-containing organic compounds, such as urea, are particularly difficult to remove from UPW systems and can be challenging to detect using conventional TOC monitoring technologies. Presently, as more emphasis is placed on recycle and reclaim efforts in fab UPW systems, the effective control of urea and other so-called recalcitrant contaminants becomes even more critical as these concentrations can amplify in the system over time.

Traditional TOC monitoring technologies, such as those based on direct conductivity measurements, are often inadequate for detecting organic nitrogen compounds in UPW. These technologies often fail to respond to the presence of these contaminants, leading to false negatives and a false sense of security for semiconductor manufacturers. However, advanced TOC monitoring using membrane conductometric technology is a proven method to accurately measure organic nitrogen compounds and provide reliable TOC data for process control*.

In addition to adopting advanced TOC monitoring technologies, semiconductor manufacturers must implement best practices for preventing and removing organic nitrogen compounds from their UPW systems. This may include optimizing water purification processes, such as reverse osmosis and ion exchange, to effectively remove these contaminants and implementing strict materials selection and handling protocols to minimize the introduction of organic nitrogen compounds into the UPW system.

TOC Measurement False Positives

All natural waters contain dissolved salts in various concentrations which dissociate in water to form charged ions such as chlorides, bromides, fluorides,sulfites, sulfates, nitrites, and nitrates. Inorganic ions like these are also introduced into UPW by some process steps within semiconductor fabs and must be controlled to prevent resultant adverse processing effects and product yield loss. When using direct conductometric technology, the presence of these inorganic ionic contaminants can lead to false positive TOC measurements. The semipermeable membrane used in membrane conductometric devices effectively prevents these false TOC measurements, and thus offers superior TOC process control over direct conductometric devices.

Any false negative or false positive measurements from direct conductometric technology create a risk that manufacturers can’t afford to take.

How Veolia solves TOC challenges

Veolia offers a comprehensive range of solutions to help semiconductor manufacturers maintain ultra-low TOC levels in their UPW systems. With decades of experience serving the semiconductor industry, Veolia has developed deep expertise in UPW treatment and TOC monitoring, enabling our experts to provide customized solutions that meet the stringent requirements of advanced semiconductor manufacturing processes.

At the core of Veolia’s TOC monitoring solutions for the semiconductor industry are the Sievers M9e and M500e TOC analyzers. These state-of-the-art analyzers utilize advanced membrane conductometric technology to provide accurate and reliable TOC measurements down to parts-per-trillion (ppt). The membrane-based design of the Sievers analyzers allows them to detect a wide range of organic contaminants, including critical organic nitrogen compounds like urea, ensuring that semiconductor manufacturers have a complete picture of their UPW quality.

By providing accurate and sensitive TOC measurements, Sievers analyzers enable semiconductor manufacturers to maintain tight control over their UPW quality and minimize the risk of process disruptions due to TOC contamination. Beyond providing advanced TOC monitoring equipment, Veolia works closely with semiconductor manufacturers to optimize their entire UPW treatment process for effective TOC control. Contact our experts today to learn how we can help solve the toughest challenges in removing TOC from the semiconductor manufacturing process.

*J. Rydzewski, “Identification of Critical contaminants by applying an understanding of different TOC measuring technologies”. Instruments Presentation at the Executive Forum at Wafertech 2001, Portland OR, December 4-5 2001.

Total Organic Carbon Control

TOC

Sievers M9e

semiconductor

Isidro Sanchez

A Guide to PFAS Remediation

watertechnologies.com — Thu, 25 Apr 2024 18:19:43 +0000

A Guide to PFAS Remediation watertechnolog… Thu, 04/25/2024 - 14:19

PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are a new challenge for manufacturers and municipalities. These are long-lasting chemicals, components of which break down very slowly over time.

Regulatory requirements around PFAS are evolving, making reporting levels and treatment levels moving targets. Recently, the Biden-Harris administration finalized the first-ever national drinking water standard to protect 100 million people from PFAS pollution. Veolia is at the forefront of the fight against PFAS in drinking water in the United States, having treated 2.1 billion gallons of water in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania across more than 30 sites, with dozens more underway. The company recently held an event to highlight its GreenUp program with a strong focus on PFAS.

However, PFAS can affect consumers in ways other than their drinking water. In the manufacturing sector, there are a number of companies taking action to use technology to treat PFAS within their facilities. According to Toxic-Free Future, 32 retailers with more than 150,000 combined stores have committed to reducing or eliminating PFAS in their packaging or production.

Essentially, PFAS are increasingly crucial in the water landscape. The need for remediation and treatment is clear, and while various technologies exist to treat PFAS, many people aren’t yet sure what steps to take.

Every facility is a zero-sum game — all materials that enter either go out as a finished product or as waste. But not all PFAS are equal. Some types of PFAS are more difficult to treat than others. Various capture, treatment, and disposal methods are available depending on the kind of PFAS that may exist within a water system.

For example, long-chain PFAS (which contain six or more carbons) behave differently in a water treatment process than short-chain PFAS (five or fewer carbons). The use of separation methods like foam fractionation and membranes or capture technologies like activated carbon and/or ion exchange can require special attention to the types of PFAS being treated. In addition, PFAS precursors can be transformed into PFAS within a facility once they encounter chemicals or temperature changes, and should also be accounted for in the treatment approach.

Even if your facility or industry isn’t facing PFAS regulations yet, testing for it and understanding how it entered the facility and how it may affect your product can be helpful.

The need for analysis

If you believe your facility may contain PFAS, an audit of all incoming and outgoing material can help. The audit would inform where you may need to take samples, which could then be sent to a lab to identify where the PFAS originated.

Even if you know your facility uses PFAS-containing materials, it’s vital to perform analysis so you know what to do next. Whether there are dissolved ions or organics (e.g. often reported as total organic carbon (TOC)) in the water impacts how to best treat it.

Labs can detect PFAS down to one part per trillion, providing accurate insight into the levels of individual types of PFAS contained within a specific water sample. Then, you need to determine what you want or need to achieve with treatment. For example, a food and beverage manufacturer may want to treat water used in its product or processes so as to achieve no lab-reportable levels of PFAS.

Types of treatment

Once you have lab results and a goal in mind, it’s time to consider the kind of treatment you’ll need to remediate PFAS. The options are broken down into three categories: separation, capture, and disposal.

Separation treatments like reverse osmosis and nanofiltration are gaining traction as popular PFAS treatment methods. An EPA study revealed that reverse osmosis separation is up to 99% effective for certain PFAS.

Activated carbon is a widely used capture treatment for PFAS that works like consumer carbon filters for home use. Anion exchange resins are becoming more popular for capturing PFAS and, as one study shows, are particularly effective for short-chain PFAS. Novel adsorbents also act as a capture method for remediating PFAS.

Promising technologies like electrochemical oxidation, thermal treatment, and a high-energy plasma to treat PFAS have emerged as disposal methods at pilot scale, but still need to be scaled up further to address additional challenges. Based on your facility location, discharge options and applicable PFAS regulations will determine the best remediation method.

How Veolia helps

Veolia provides end-to-end solutions that help customers sample, analyze, treat, and manage PFAS levels at the right level of cost for their current situation and any anticipated changes.

Our experts can help you understand the considerations that need to be accounted for in developing a PFAS treatment system, explain the technologies typically used, and determine whether pilot programs or extra lab testing are necessary. We then design a bridge or full-scale solution and help treat the PFAS you have identified.

As regulations and needs change, Veolia can provide a customized treatment plan that fits today’s and tomorrow’s requirements using cutting-edge technology. To start the conversation, reach out to a Veolia specialist who can help find the right solution.

Read PFAS Disclaimer

PFAS

reverse osmosis

nanofiltration

PFAS regulations

PFAS remediation

John Peichel

Celebrating Earth Day: Q&A with Teresa Ortigosa, Global Sustainability Director

watertechnologies.com — Mon, 22 Apr 2024 14:48:36 +0000

Celebrating Earth Day: Q&A with Teresa Ortigosa, Global Sustainability Director watertechnolog… Mon, 04/22/2024 - 10:48

Every year, on April 22, people around the world come together to celebrate Earth Day — a collective dedication to raising awareness about environmental issues and promoting sustainable living. It began in 1970, a rare bipartisan effort that led to the establishment of the Environmental Protection Agency and groundbreaking environmental laws.

But Earth Day isn't just about one day of action. It’s a reminder that we all have a role to play in protecting our planet every single day. From making small changes in our daily lives to advocating for systemic change, there are countless ways we can make a difference.

To get a better understanding of Earth Day, we posed a few questions to Teresa Ortigosa, Global Sustainability Director at Veolia | Water Tech.

Why is it important to shed light on the environmental challenges our globe is facing today and every day?

Unfortunately it is starting to be too late to reverse some of the environmental damages that our planet is suffering. As humans we have failed to take care of our planet and its natural resources and biodiversity.

For instance, most people have already seen the consequences of climate change at their doorstep. This, linked to a greater access to “the right” information in the last decades, has helped to shed light on the environmental challenges.

So it is more relevant than ever to continue communicating and educating on environmental challenges to help mitigate further damage and transform some of the activities damaging the environment. By doing so, we can collectively work toward regenerating our planet and its natural resources.

At Veolia, our commitment to making meaningful change extends far beyond Earth Day. Every day, we strive to be a leader in environmental solutions, working tirelessly to protect our planet and its resources. From developing innovative technologies that reduce pollution and conserve water, to implementing sustainable practices across our operations, we are dedicated to creating an ecological transformation that makes us more resilient and sustainable. Our global team of experts collaborates with communities, businesses, and governments to tackle the most pressing environmental challenges, driving positive change through our actions and inspiring others to join us in our mission.

What are some of the most prominent issues, and how are they being addressed?

Depletion of resources, climate change, water scarcity, feeding the increasing global population, pollution, land erosion, and a loss of biodiversity are all interconnected environmental and social problems that are worsening. Some might say, “the house is on fire,” and we have to try and put it out.

Developing renewable energy projects around the world will help. Today, only 5.5% of global energy is produced by renewable resources. Commodity technologies like solar and wind energy can help us make progress.

Water reuse is crucial to addressing water scarcity. Mature technologies to achieve high rates of recovery and reuse have existed in the market for many years. More investments in renewable projects and water recovery and reuse are critical to regenerate the planet and fight the Climate crisis.

Countries have bought into making a difference through efforts like the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, but we need buy-in from companies as well so we can make a true ecological transformation. While for instance as a society we’ve made progress with air pollution, we need the public and private sector to help increase the availability of safe, clean water for more people around the world — nearly 30% of the world doesn’t have access to it.

What technologies and solutions is Veolia currently prioritizing to promote ecological transformation and a sustainable water future for all?

Veolia is a global leader in environmental solutions and has been actively working toward promoting an ecological transformation and sustainable water future.

Our experts have been at the forefront of innovative technologies for water treatment like ZeeLung* membrane aerated bioreactors (MABRs) and ZeeWeed* membrane bioreactors (MBRs). We’ve developed solutions for the circular economy like Memgas*, which enables the recovery of energy from wastewater through the production of biogas, and digital management solutions like the Hubgrade* platform, which provides real-time monitoring, data analysis, and optimization of water systems. We’re working hard to develop the next generation of water solutions that will make a global impact.

How critical is the role of water treatment technologies in the overall global decarbonization effort?

Water treatment technologies play a crucial role in addressing climate change in various ways. Conventional water treatment processes can be energy-intensive, contributing to greenhouse gas emissions from the use of fossil fuels. Advanced water treatment technologies like membrane filtration, advanced oxidation processes, and energy-efficient aeration systems can significantly reduce the energy consumption and associated carbon footprint of water treatment facilities. Optimizing water treatment processes and implementing energy recovery systems can further reduce the overall energy demand and emissions.

Water treatment technologies are essential for enabling water reuse and recycling, which can reduce the energy and emissions associated with sourcing, transporting, and treating fresh water supplies. Treated wastewater can be safely reused for various purposes, such as industrial processes, agricultural irrigation, and even potable water supply, reducing the demand for energy-intensive desalination or long-distance water transfers.

Water treatment technologies also play a vital role in supporting the production of renewable energy sources, such as hydropower, biofuels, and concentrated solar power (CSP). Proper water treatment is necessary to prevent fouling, scaling, and corrosion in these systems, ensuring their efficient and sustainable operation.

In addition, water treatment technologies are crucial for enabling carbon capture and storage (CCS) systems, which are considered essential for decarbonizing industries with high CO2 emissions, such as power generation and cement production. Water treatment is required for the preparation of solvents used in CO2 capture processes and for the management of wastewater streams generated during CCS operations.

Effective water treatment helps mitigate the impacts of climate change on water resources by removing pollutants, reducing water stress, and protecting aquatic ecosystems. Healthy water resources and ecosystems are essential for supporting sustainable agriculture, forestry, and other natural carbon sinks, which play a crucial role in mitigating climate change.

What are the latest innovations in water reuse, and what challenges do we face in implementing these technologies more broadly?

Water reuse is becoming an increasingly important strategy for addressing water scarcity and promoting sustainability. New technologies are becoming more efficient and cost-effective, enabling the treatment and reuse of various types of wastewater for different purposes.

However, there are several challenges in implementing water reuse technologies more broadly, like public acceptance and perception, regulatory barriers, infrastructure and investment costs.

Overcoming public concerns about the safety and quality of recycled water, particularly for potable reuse, is a significant challenge. Inconsistent or outdated regulations can hinder the adoption of new technologies, while implementing water reuse systems often requires significant infrastructure investments. Advanced treatment processes can be energy-intensive and require specialized operational expertise, increasing operational costs. Potential environmental impacts, such as the disposal of concentrated brine streams need to be carefully managed.

To address these challenges, a combination of technological advancements, public education and outreach, regulatory updates, financial incentives, and collaborative efforts among stakeholders is required. This includes governments, utilities, industries, and communities working together to promote the adoption of water reuse technologies and practices while ensuring the safety, sustainability, and economic viability of these solutions.

*Trademark of Veolia; may be registered in one or more countries.

Earth Day

sustainability

water

Veolia | Water Tech

Waterside Chats: Meet Principal Research Scientist Mel Esmacher

watertechnologies.com — Thu, 28 Mar 2024 12:00:00 +0000

Waterside Chats: Meet Principal Research Scientist Mel Esmacher watertechnolog… Thu, 03/28/2024 - 08:00

He shares what interests him about the water industry and how he’s able to make a difference everyday. Watch below for more.

Employees

culture

Waterside chat

Veolia | Water Tech

How Water Reuse Can Fight Back Against Global Scarcity

watertechnologies.com — Fri, 22 Mar 2024 10:00:00 +0000

How Water Reuse Can Fight Back Against Global Scarcity watertechnolog… Fri, 03/22/2024 - 06:00

Water scarcity has been a global issue for years, and the crisis is quickly worsening. This incredible resource isn't just essential for sustaining humans with hydration — it supports agriculture, industry, and the environment. Situations around the world approach crisis levels. In Mexico, roughly 60% of the country is experiencing moderate to exceptional drought, and 90% of Mexico City is in severe drought according to a government report in February. Experts theorize that the city may run out of water in months.

This is not an isolated issue as similar scenarios are repeated in cities and communities all over the world. The World Wildlife Federation reports that 66% of the global population is likely to face water scarcity by next year and that water scarcity threatens $58 trillion in economic value annually.

On this World Water Day, we need to understand how urgent the situation is and start acting. This year’s theme is “Water for Peace,” and water can be the key to unlocking stability and prosperity in the world, especially in the face of growing scarcity. There’s no better driver than committing to an ecological transformation to make this planet a better place for all. We already have the technology, knowledge, and experience to use water reuse as a tool to fight back against this growing threat.

Beyond climate change: Causes of water scarcity

The endangerment of water is more complex than you may think. Climate change certainly plays a prominent role — the United Nations says every 1°C increase caused by global warming will reduce renewable water resources by 20% — but that’s not the whole story.

There are several other causes impacting water scarcity and adequate freshwater supplies, like population growth, urbanization, and increased demand from agriculture and industry. According to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, agriculture, which feeds us, accounts for 70% of water consumption globally. In many regions, groundwater is being depleted faster than it can be replenished, leading to shortages. Pollution and contamination of water sources also contribute to the problem.

How the continuum of water recycling helps us fight back

Water reuse on a large scale can help preserve our natural water resources, create solutions that support the local environment, and generate a sustainable freshwater supply.

Reuse is a tool that follows a continuum that allows communities and organizations to plan the advancement of their infrastructure methodically and build a foundation that can be expanded as the local need dictates to improve their water availability well into the future. In essence all water is recycled but the quality of that water and treatment level allow for water to be brought back for various different uses. With the right foundation, one could treat wastewater for non-potable recycling today but could adjust their treatment flowsheets in later years to begin recycling for direct potable reuse.

Veolia | Water Tech creates innovative solutions using a core set of technologies — like membrane bioreactors (MBRs), ultrafiltration (UF), nanofiltration (NF), reverse osmosis (RO), activated carbon, ozone and biofiltration, and ultraviolet disinfection (UV) — to support its clients at every stage of the continuum.

Let’s dig into the four stages of the continuum and understand how Veolia has helped with each of them.

Pollution abatement and discharge to sensitive environments

The Broad Run Water Reclamation Facility was constructed to provide additional wastewater treatment capacity for Loudoun County and can treat 11 million gallons per day (MGD) of wastewater. It incorporates an enhanced nutrient-removal process, coagulant addition to supplement biological phosphorus removal, membrane bioreactor, activated carbon post-treatment, and ultraviolet disinfection to achieve permit limits. Effluent from the facility flows into Broad Run, a tributary of the Potomac River which eventually flows into Chesapeake Bay. Its location within the Chesapeake Bay Watershed and its proximity to a downstream drinking water intake require the effluent from the facility to meet very stringent discharge requirements. The system also allows wastewater to be reclaimed by connecting local commercial customers who use the water for cooling, irrigation, sprinkler fire suppression, and toilet flushing.

Another example of Veolia’s solutions which reinforce our commitment to the environment was seen in the recent California wildfires. The Woolsey wildfire caused mass destruction as it ripped through Malibu, California, burning nearly 97,000 acres and destroying over 1,600 structures, including a wastewater treatment plant servicing a rehabilitation center in the City of Malibu. With the treatment plant rendered non-functional, the rehabilitation center was unable to operate after the fire subsided. It needed a temporary wastewater treatment solution while a permanent replacement plant was designed and built.

Veolia delivered a 26,000-gallon-per-day mobile membrane bioreactor (MBR) system incorporating ZeeWeed* ultrafiltration membranes. This compact, ready-to-operate system treats wastewater biologically and uses immersed hollow-fiber membranes to filter out suspended solids, requiring less energy and chemicals than conventional plants. Veolia's mobile MBR was integrated seamlessly with the existing infrastructure and was approved within 60 days, meeting all required discharge limits to allow the residents to return quickly.

Advanced pollution control and recycling

The Federated Co-operatives Limited’s Co-op Refinery Complex (CRC) in Regina, Saskatchewan, was one of the largest freshwater consumers in the city. The oil refinery embraced conservation and committed to a $200 million environmental megaproject amid a 30% operation expansion. It needed an advanced wastewater treatment facility that could remove solids, oils, phenols, nitrogen compounds, organics, and other contaminants. The facility also wanted to demineralize treated water for use in steam production, eliminate the release of volatile organic compounds from wastewater ponds, and increase/accelerate use of municipally treated wastewater.

Veolia designed, built, and commissioned portions of CRC’s five-stage wastewater treatment solution using a combination of ZeeWeed* MBR and high-pH RO Optimized Pretreatment and Unique Separation (OPUS®) technologies. Veolia’s solution eliminated all wastewater effluent, recovering most for the refinery’s steam plant, and allowed CRC to reduce its freshwater needs by 28%, the equivalent usage of about 3,100 Regina households annually. CRC also significantly shrunk its environmental footprint by reducing emissions from volatile organics in its wastewater ponds. The results were so impactful that Global Water Intelligence named the project its Industrial Water Project of the Year in 2017.

Non-potable recycling

Kuwait’s location in the Middle East, the world's most water-scarce region, creates challenges in coping with water stress and meeting the demands of a population that grew by more than 1 million people from 2011 to 2021. The country has no permanent rivers or lakes, and its limited groundwater supplies are deteriorating in quantity and quality due to continuous pumping that exceeds recharge rates, so it needed to develop new water sources to diversify from a dependence on desalination.

A consortium that includes Veolia was established in 2001 to design, build, own, operate, and maintain a nearly 100-million-gallon-per-day (MGD) Sulaibiya wastewater treatment plant. Over the years since the initial start-up, the facility has expanded to process an additional 60 MGD, making the total treatment capacity 160 MGD. Veolia leveraged a combination of UF and RO membranes to support one of the world’s largest membrane-based water reuse project. The facility’s reclaimed water supports all of Kuwait’s dairy and vegetable growing operations. The facility serves as a benchmark for water reuse in the Middle East.

Freshwater augmentation

The City of Santa Monica’s Sustainable Water Infrastructure Project (SWIP) sought to establish a secure and drought-resilient water supply for the city, setting an unprecedented standard in sustainable water infrastructure. As a coastal city west of Los Angeles, Santa Monica is uniquely positioned to address two problems at once: cater to the daily water needs of over 93,000 residents and 2,700 commercial customers and augment the local groundwater supply.

Veolia helped build a literal groundbreaking solution — SWIP is California's first underground advanced wastewater treatment facility — using a LEAPmbr* system. The MBR effluent is further treated with cartridge filtration, RO, ultraviolet and free chlorine disinfection. SWIP has three innovative project elements that work together to recycle wastewater and capture stormwater to produce up to 1,690 acre-feet per year of advanced treated recycled water, or roughly 10% of Santa Monica’s water supply, to reduce its reliance on imported water supplies.

How Veolia’s work combats global scarcity

Innovative technologies and solutions to reusing and treating water are at the heart of what our teams do. We can meet the needs of your industry, region, and community by creating sustainable outcomes that optimize the use of our natural water resources and reduce our strain on the environment.

Decisions made today can significantly impact how a community is able to travel up and down the water reuse continuum. As a community, we need to invest more in sustainable solutions, move forward regulations and prioritize our water resources.

Contact our team of experts to find solutions to your toughest water challenges.

world water day

reuse

water

global scarcity

continuum

Stephen Katz

Waterside Chats: Meet North American Domain Leader for Advanced and Potable Reuse Katie Peach

watertechnologies.com — Thu, 29 Feb 2024 15:55:58 +0000

Waterside Chats: Meet North American Domain Leader for Advanced and Potable Reuse Katie Peach watertechnolog… Thu, 02/29/2024 - 10:55

We’re shining a spotlight on some of these talented individuals, so they can share more about their current roles and the personal career journeys that brought them to where they are today. In the latest video of our “Waterside Chats” series, we caught up with North American Domain Leader for Advanced and Potable Reuse, Katie Peach, who shares what encouraged her to pursue a career in the water industry.

She explains how her work at Veolia focuses on a cause she cares deeply about - bringing safe drinking water to everyone.

Watch below for more.

Employees

Waterside chat

inside veolia

Veolia | Water Tech

How Outsourcing Can Help Finance Water and Wastewater Projects

watertechnologies.com — Tue, 20 Feb 2024 16:11:40 +0000

How Outsourcing Can Help Finance Water and Wastewater Projects watertechnolog… Tue, 02/20/2024 - 11:11

Safe, reliable water and wastewater reuse systems are essential to communities and our future. The World Wildlife Fund reports that, by 2025, an astounding two-thirds of the global population could face water shortages.

While these systems are crucial to our long-term sustainability, building and operating them carries inherent risks. Each phase — from raw water supply to treatment delivery — requires upfront costs and ongoing operation and maintenance expenses. Unplanned failures, demand fluctuations, regulation changes, and other uncertainties can strain resources. Plant owners and managers must leverage their available capital, personnel, expertise, and budget to effectively manage these risks.

Financing costs, like site development, construction, plant design, and permitting, rack up quickly and can be a major hurdle. Outside financing or outsourcing costs and responsibilities to a third-party services company can supplement internal resources,allowing for a system’s efficient management despite the complexities.

Investment capital can be ten times more expensive than annual operating expenses, so foresight is needed to have a successful project. With many variables in flux, outsourcing can be a great way to find cost certainty.

Let’s dive deeper into what you may need to consider to determine whether outsourcing is right for you.

Assessing your needs

First, take a close look at your existing wastewater infrastructure and treatment operations against the system you need to build or upgrade. Consider factors like aging equipment, changing regulations, capacity constraints, and process optimizations.

Next, define the scope and specifications for projects that need to be completed. Will you need to replace certain components? Construct new facilities? Expand treatment capacity? Upgrade to newer technologies? Clearly outline each project.

Conduct technical assessments and develop engineering estimates for the required work. Get projected costs for equipment, materials, labor, construction, permitting, and other needs. Build a comprehensive budget so you know what financing would be required, and you can better understand if outsourcing is the right strategy for your project.

A common form of outsourcing is the Long Term Service Agreement model, in which the supplier has full responsibility for system design, construction, and treatment services, limiting the owner’s investment expenses. The Long Term Service Agreement model is especially advantageous to build and develop new or expansion facilities.

Exploring outsourcing benefits

By partnering with an experienced service provider, you can supplement your internal resources and capabilities, allowing you to optimize project delivery despite budget constraints.

Additionally, outsourcing delivers financial predictability regarding ongoing expenses. Service contracts feature fixed monthly fees for labor, maintenance, equipment, and other defined responsibilities. This contrasts with the variable internal costs of directly handling operations and significant liabilities.

By leveraging outside expertise, you can also fill gaps, improve efficiencies, and apply specialized skills that enhance project execution. Service providers possess extensive experience constructing, operating, and maintaining wastewater infrastructure. This expertise optimizes treatment performance and allows you to focus on core competencies.

Selecting the right partner

If you decide to outsource portions of your wastewater project, it is crucial to select the right service provider. This long-term relationship will significantly impact your project’s success. Approach the selection process carefully and systematically.

Look for established expertise in constructing and operating the types of facilities and equipment involved in your plans. Review potential partners’ track record of successfully executing complex initiatives from design through long-term operations. Evaluate each company’s technical capabilities. Do they have qualified engineers, operators, electricians, and builders to handle the intricacies of your project? What resources, innovations, and specializations can they leverage to optimize the work? Make sure their areas of expertise align with your needs.

At Veolia | Water Tech, operations outsourcing is a popular service because our customers leverage our teams’ decades of experience in water innovations. Our operations outsourcing service is designed to help you minimize the overall operating cost of your water or wastewater treatment plant and maximize its reliability. Veolia’s field service representatives (FSRs) provide a level of service that helps you save time, valuable resources, and money. Take RWEn Power for example. When the company trusted Veolia with its water treatment, the partnership resulted in $300,000 in power savings for RWEn.

Veolia’s long-term services provide treated water that meets your requirements for purity and volume with little or no capital expenditure, reduced operating costs, and improved technical performance. Learn more about our flexible models of service based on asset ownership and how our team can help with your water project from source water to final supplied water.

outsourcing

wastewater

long-term services

finance

Erik Nottleson

How to Reduce Carbon Intensity Through Renewable Energy Production

watertechnologies.com — Thu, 15 Feb 2024 15:20:52 +0000

How to Reduce Carbon Intensity Through Renewable Energy Production watertechnolog… Thu, 02/15/2024 - 10:20

Despite the recent politicization of environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) initiatives, most companies recognize the dire need for action against climate change. In fact, according to the Index Industry Association’s 2023 ESG Survey, 81% of global asset managers are increasing ESG investments.

Extra attention and investment are sorely needed because the environmental outlook is bleak. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development predicts global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions will double by 2050 if the world doesn’t take action, primarily due to a 70% growth in energy-related carbon dioxide emissions.

But we can take action.

Increasing the production of renewable energy sources is one of the most practical measures we can take. Governments worldwide recognize the need to reduce GHG emissions and incentivize renewable energy production through credits.

Ethanol producers can lower their GHG emissions and thus potentially improve profitability since fuels are rated and valued based on their Carbon Intensity (CI), the amount of energy used to produce a fuel stream. Veolia | Water Tech is a partner to many producers, helping them create renewable fuel. Water and Process treatment can be a key to unlocking available incentives and producing these fuels with minimal disruption to operations. In fact, a recent Veolia evaporator treatment for fouling has reduced the CI for an ethanol plant by 1.5 g CO2e/MJ.

Refiners and importers must meet stringent annual targets called Renewable Volume Obligations (RVOs) for the carbon intensity of the fuels they sell. Those that exceed the RVOs may sell their excess credits, and those that fall short must buy enough credits to make up the difference.

Economics of production

The market is growing quickly — according to the Energy Information Administration, the capacity for renewable diesel production could more than double by 2025 to nearly 400,000 barrels per day. But how that fuel is produced is an important consideration.

A lifecycle analysis of carbon intensity covers everything from the origin to finished tailpipe fuel and how much energy it took to produce. For a fuel to qualify for low-carbon fuel standards (LCFS), the intensity must be below 50% of the baseline fuel. A petroleum-derived diesel fuel has a carbon intensity of ~ 100. Some renewable fuel carbon intensity scores can be below 10.

Feedstock sources, like animal or vegetable oil or minerals, play a significant role in determining carbon intensity. If you use a feedstock that requires land use, like soybean oil, it’s competing with food that needs to be farmed, fertilized, and harvested. That incurs a hefty penalty for indirect land use, putting it above the threshold to be considered low-carbon.

However, using the cooking oil for its intended purpose first makes it a waste stream. At that point, it has a lower carbon intensity because it doesn’t require land and can be used to produce renewable fuel.

Incentives for producing renewable fuel

Federal programs like Renewable Identification Numbers (RINs) have jolted the production market by making blended fuel tradable through RIN credits. For example, if you make a barrel of renewable diesel, you qualify for a $70 credit to offset your petroleum diesel or sell on the open market.

The Blending Tax Credit, part of the Inflation Reduction Act, generates a $1 tax credit for each gallon of pure biodiesel or renewable diesel produced or used in the blending process. In California, Oregon, Washington, and Canada, a low-carbon fuel standard is driven by carbon intensity. More states are looking to implement LCFS moving forward.

There are also tax incentives for producing sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), which can be significantly higher than other renewable fuels. According to the Government Accountability Office, the U.S. produced 15.8 million gallons of SAF in 2022, less than 0.1% of the total jet fuel used by major U.S. airlines. The International Air Transport Association set a lofty net-zero carbon emissions target for 2050. Just to achieve 10% SAF production by 2030, we’d have to increase the production of SAF by 3,400%.

How Veolia can help

Producing renewable fuel is no easy task and can come with challenges, so it’s important to work with a trusted and knowledgeable partner to help you meet your goals. Veolia has several capabilities to help, from wastewater treatment to corrosion control to technical support and performance assurance.

For instance, Biothane® Advanced UASB (Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket) is a high-performance, low OPEX biological wastewater treatment technology that can reduce carbon intensity. Over the past 40 years, Biothane technologies have been installed in more than 550 facilities worldwide to enhance the production of soy and biodiesel.

Fouling control is another area of Veolia’s expertise, keeping heat surfaces clean so heat transfer is as efficient as possible. One customer avoided four shutdowns over 12 months, creating $22-30 million in additional revenue, and Veolia helped lower its carbon intensity score to increase profits by $1-2 million.

Contact an expert to learn how we can help your efforts to process renewable fuel.

carbon

Renewable Energy Production

GHG Emissions

Ethanol producers

Renewable Volume Obligations

Delbert Grotewold

A Glossary of Water Terminology

watertechnologies.com — Tue, 13 Feb 2024 19:20:21 +0000

A Glossary of Water Terminology watertechnolog… Tue, 02/13/2024 - 14:20

The water industry is full of acronyms and technical terms that can make it seem like you need a decoder ring to understand what people are talking about. Terms like BOD, TDS, RO, UF, MBR, and many more get thrown around in water technology and policy conversations.

For those new to the water space, this “alphabet soup” can be overwhelming and make it hard to follow or participate in discussions. Talking in acronyms and jargon also runs the risk of excluding those not already embedded in the industry.

At Veolia | Water Tech, we want to demystify some of these common water acronyms and terms, opening up the knowledge base to a larger audience. We’ve included the top 25 common water acronyms and terms, breaking down the buzzwords into simple language so more people can join the conversation around water innovation and sustainability.

Common water industry acronyms and abbreviated terms

1. AD - anaerobic digestion: a biosolids treatment method that uses bacteria to transform organic waste into energy without oxygen.

2. AOP - advanced oxidation process: aqueous phase oxidation methods consisting of highly reactive species used in the oxidative destruction of target pollutants.

3. BET - bacterial endotoxin test: an in vitro assay that measures the endotoxins found in the outer membrane of the cell wall of Gram-negative bacteria.

4. BOD - biochemical oxygen demand: a measure of the oxygen consumed by microorganisms as they assimilate organics.

5. CIP - clean in place: an automated method of cleaning the inside of parts of a water processing system.

6. COD - chemical oxygen demand: a critical parameter used to measure the amount of organic pollutants present in wastewater.

7. DA - steam deaerator: thermal units used to remove oxygen from steam boiler feedwater by mixing low pressure steam with influent feedwater, allowing oxygen dissolved in water to be vented out.

8. DAF - dissolved air flotation: an effective clarification method for low-density solids that sedimentation cannot remove in applications such as drinking water, process water, and wastewater treatment.

9. DLE - direct lithium extraction: a modern process for mining lithium that is more cost-effective than the evaporation method, typically produces a higher lithium yield, and requires significantly less processing time.

10. EDI - electrodeionization: a process that removes residual salts and ionizable aqueous species — such as carbon dioxide, silica, ammonia, and boron — from water sources.

11. EDR - electrodialysis reversal: an alternative desalination technology that requires less pretreatment than reverse osmosis, while often providing a more robust and reliable operation.

12. FFS - film-forming substances: products that form a protective film on metal surfaces to protect against oxygen and carbon dioxide corrosion. These are commonly used to avoid corrosion in boiler systems.

13. GAC - granular activated carbon: generally an organic carbon filtration media used for water purification, typically applied in a fixed bed application. It can be used to treat common forms of PFAS, but treating PFAS requires a holistic approach.

14. HRSG - heat recovery steam generator: a boiler that recovers heat from a hot gas stream to generate steam for various applications, increasing energy efficiency.

15. IE/IX - ion exchange: a proven method of producing high-purity softened and demineralized water. It is used in most industries that require high-purity water and to reclaim water from processes.

16. MABR - membrane aerated biofilm reactor: an innovative technology that enables the upgrade of conventional activated sludge plants for nutrient removal and capacity expansion while significantly reducing the energy required for aeration.

17. MBR - membrane bioreactor: a method of separating water from treatment bacteria, which replaces a clarifier in a wastewater treatment facility.

18. MMF - multi-media filter: a type of filter bed graded by size and density, where coarse, less dense particles are at the top of the filter bed and fine, more dense particles are at the bottom.

19. NF - nanofiltration: a membrane designed to ensure a cut-off of around one nanometer.

20. PFAS - per- and poly- fluoroalkyl substances: widely spread, toxic compounds that are one of the top drinking water contaminant issues.

21. POTW - publicly owned treatment works: a treatment plant owned, and typically operated, by a government entity.

22. PPE - personal protective equipment: clothing and equipment, such as gloves, masks, and goggles, worn to minimize exposure to hazards.

23. RO - reverse osmosis: a separation process that uses a synthetic thin film polymeric membrane specifically engineered to allow water to pass through.

24. TDS - total dissolved solids: inorganic and organic substances in a water sample that need to be treated to achieve the quality of water desired. For example, coal combustion residuals must be treated for TDS.

25. TOC - total organic carbon: the measure of organic compounds in a water sample.

26. TSS - total suspended solids: visible substances in a water sample that need to be treated to achieve the quality of water desired. For example, coal combustion residuals must be treated for TSS.

27. UF - ultrafiltration: a treatment method that pushes water through a membrane and suspends particles but does not chemically alter the water.

28. UV - ultraviolet: a disinfection method that is environmentally safe and recognized as highly effective on a wide range of pathogens, including viruses.

29. WTP - water treatment plant: a facility, typically a drinking water plant for municipalities, that improves the quality of water for a specific purpose or to meet certain requirements.

30. WWTP - wastewater treatment plant: a facility designed to convert liquid wastes into an acceptable final effluent and to dispose of solids removed or generated during the process.

31. ZLD - zero liquid discharge: a system that ensures no industrial wastewater is discharged into the environment.

Read PFAS Disclaimer

chemical programs

Veolia | Water Tech

What is Total Organic Carbon?

Admin — Wed, 17 Jan 2024 19:03:57 +0000

What is Total Organic Carbon? Admin Wed, 01/17/2024 - 14:03

Water is the lifeblood of humanity, and we often take it for granted that it’s clean and pure enough to drink. Within what appears to be that clear glass of water may be a hidden world of organic compounds.

But water isn’t just a drinkable resource — it is a core component of manufacturing for many products, and the purity of the water impacts the quality and safety of those products. For example, life-saving medications use water as an ingredient and require testing to control contamination. In semiconductor manufacturing, even the smallest contaminants can wreak havoc on a production line, leading chipmakers to use ultrapure water to keep silicon wafers clean during fabrication.

Total organic carbon (TOC) measures organic compounds in a water sample. Measuring TOC identifies all the visible and invisible organic compounds dissolved in water, including municipal water, wastewater, and water used to manufacture pharmaceuticals, food and beverage products, and semiconductors. By tracking these compounds from source water to final consumption, TOC detection protects what matters most: People, products, and the planet.

Let’s dig deeper into the sources of TOC, how to analyze it, why it’s important, and the cutting-edge technology Veolia | Water Tech offers for TOC analysis.

Where does TOC come from?

TOC has diverse origins spanning natural and industrial sources. Organic materials in the environment end up in water systems, whether untreated wastewater in a river or oil seeping into groundwater. Certain industrial processes contribute to TOC levels by releasing dyes, solvents, allergens, and polluted condensate into water supplies. Manufacturing personal care products and pharmaceuticals also contributes to TOC when manufacturing processes wash off cosmetics, cleaning detergents, medications, and pharmaceutical compounds.

Water treatment processes also generate organic compounds — microorganisms and bacteria, particularly when breaking down organic matter, affect TOC levels. With such a wide range of origins, TOC testing helps connect the dots on quality issues in water used for production across various industries.

TOC analysis shows what's dissolved beneath the surface as these organic compounds enter the water supply. By identifying TOC sources, you can pinpoint risks, optimize treatment methods, and safeguard the water supply.

TOC analysis methods and techniques

Calculating the difference between total and inorganic carbon within a sample is the formula for determining TOC. Organic carbon is oxidized by analytical tools and converted to carbon dioxide (CO2). After oxidation, the resulting CO2 can be detected by the tools.

Different analysis methods have their strengths and suitabilities depending on specific applications. Membrane Conductometric Detection is an excellent choice for TOC analysis due to its robust capabilities in measuring CO2 and minimizing interferences. Non-Dispersive Infrared (NDIR) detection measures the absorption of infrared light by CO2. In this method, water vapor can interfere with the accuracy and sensitivity of the analysis. A third method, Direct Conductivity, measures the conductivity of the sample before and after oxidation but is more of a sensor than a true analyzer because it often has interferences.

When accuracy and precision are non-negotiable, Membrane Conductometric technology provides the most reliable TOC analysis results, free from interferences. This allows users to assess water quality and control processes confidently.

Why is TOC testing important?

TOC testing is critical for many reasons, including water quality assessment, environmental monitoring, regulatory compliance, process control, and process optimization. Organics monitoring goes beyond testing individual samples for quality control to serve crucial process control and asset protection functions.

Stringent regulations often mandate TOC monitoring to maintain contaminant compliance, enabling facilities to avoid fines. The data also allows process engineers to spot inconsistencies, adapt methods, and optimize efficiency for smooth operations. Additionally, checking TOC levels applies critical controls on wastewater effluents before discharge to prevent polluting downstream ecosystems.

In industries where water purity affects product quality, such as pharmaceutical, semiconductor, and personal care product manufacturing, TOC monitoring ensures water sources uphold the purity standards for final product integrity and performance. Without tight TOC controls, water inconsistencies could threaten the quality of end products. While regulatory compliance is a key driver for TOC analysis in pharmaceutical, medical devices, and other healthcare applications, it is accompanied by efficiency gains and benefits achieved from TOC as a process analytical technology (PAT).

What’s more, abnormal TOC spikes can rapidly expose upsets in treatment or production processes, requiring swift action to resolve contamination events or failing equipment. TOC serves as a facility's early warning system, compelling responses to issues before they escalate. In these ways, comprehensive TOC analysis helps deliver regulatory, quality, sustainability, and risk mitigation benefits for water-dependent facilities.

How Veolia solves water quality and process monitoring challenges with TOC

TOC monitoring enables excellence in diverse industries because of its impact on decision-making and resource management related to water quality, process control, environmental protection, and regulatory compliance. Veolia has a range of offerings in its Sievers TOC analyzers and instruments.

In municipal uses, TOC is an important water quality parameter for drinking water plants due to its link to disinfection byproducts (DBPs). Sievers TOC analyzers include models specifically engineered to support disinfection byproduct compliance, like the M5310 C TOC Analyzers.

Semiconductor manufacturers require stability and low-level accuracy when monitoring water for contaminants due to the sensitive nature of their products. TOC monitoring with Sievers analyzers can ensure water quality and deliver reliable data to prevent undetected organics and protect products. The M500e Online and M9e models are used for semiconductor applications to detect critical contaminants, optimize yield, and ensure ultrapure water quality.

Pharmaceutical manufacturers rely on TOC and conductivity monitoring to meet compliance requirements and improve efficiency as the drug development pipeline expands. Veolia offers several Sievers TOC models for pharmaceutical and life sciences uses and recently unveiled the Sievers Soleil Rapid Bioburden Analyzer to accompany its TOC and endotoxin testing solutions. The Soleil provides near real-time data to monitor the effectiveness of microbial control within ultrapure water and manufacturing processes, giving Veolia the industry's first comprehensive offering of microbial testing and contamination control.

TOC plays a vital role on the global stage and can be a powerful analytical tool across various industries and applications. Yet, it can be a challenge to implement a robust monitoring program on your own. Veolia is the partner that can understand even the most complex scenario and find the right TOC analyzer to fit your individual needs. Reach out to our experts today to learn more about our innovative solutions for TOC analysis.

TOC

Sievers

analyzers

Tony Saavedra

Waterside Chats: Meet Regional Manager for the Caribbean Dionardo Maria

Admin — Tue, 02 Jan 2024 19:03:49 +0000

Waterside Chats: Meet Regional Manager for the Caribbean Dionardo Maria Admin Tue, 01/02/2024 - 14:03

He shares what inspires him and his team daily to meet sustainability goals.

Watch below for more.

Employees

Waterside chat

inside veolia

Veolia | Water Tech

How a St. Thomas Resort Optimizes Wastewater Reuse

Admin — Tue, 05 Dec 2023 16:30:24 +0000

How a St. Thomas Resort Optimizes Wastewater Reuse Admin Tue, 12/05/2023 - 11:30

The U.S. Virgin Islands welcome more than 2 million tourists each year, a vital part of the economy considering tourism accounts for more than half of GDP and employment. With growing demands on limited water supplies across the islands, communities and businesses need innovative ways to stretch every drop.

St. Thomas, an island that’s home to 52,000 people, is particularly popular among tourists. A resort on the east end generates 40,000-80,000 gallons of wastewater per day and needs to treat the water so it can be reused. Before the resort engaged Veolia | Water Tech in 2004, this water underwent conventional tertiary treatment before being discharged into the environment.

Nearly 20 years ago, Veolia implemented a membrane bioreactor (MBR) system to allow the resort to consistently achieve high-quality effluent beyond EPA requirements — less than 5 mg/L of total suspended solids (TSS) or biological oxygen demand (BOD).

The highly customized system incorporated existing concrete basins to reduce project costs. With this reliable, clean water source, the resort started reusing its MBR wastewater effluent for irrigation and flushing toilets. This reduced the need for desalination, eliminated effluent discharge into the environment, and allowed the resort to save on electricity and equipment costs.

Overcoming early challenges

MBR systems are dynamic in that they can help solve an array of problems. This was proved true for a few roadblocks the resort had to conquer.

Even though the basin geometry wasn’t ideal as a bioreactor, the resort’s MBR system lasted for more than a decade until 2016, when Veolia replaced the original hollow fiber (HF) membranes with reinforced HF membranes, which are more resistant to fat, oil, and grease (FOG) contamination. The new membranes also reduced fouling, which meant the system could go longer between cleanings.

Issues like inadequate mixing, floating aerators, and influent contaminants caused setbacks. For example, excess soap discharges from the laundry caused foaming and bacteria reduction. FOG discharges from the kitchen grease traps were worse —FOG sticks to the MBR membranes which clogs them to the point of needing replacement.

Veolia and the resort learned from these experiences and implemented design changes like reconfiguring tank layouts and installing above-ground blowers to lower power consumption and minimize hygiene risk to personnel. Procedural updates like grease trap inspections and staff training also prevented recurrences.

Built to last

MBR technology has created new efficiencies in wastewater treatment, intensifying treatment processes within confined footprints, lowering the total cost of ownership, and consistently producing high-quality effluent.

Nearly 20 years after its initial installation, the MBR system at the St. Thomas resort is still going strong. Here are some of the benefits that wastewater reuse has brought:

Up to 80,000 gallons per day recycled for irrigation and toilet flushing
No wastewater discharge to the environment
Power consumption is roughly 10% of what it was for the previous, seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO) system

The resort’s wastewater reuse achievements demonstrate how existing infrastructure can be adapted for water recycling. With the right technology and operational changes, wastewater can become a resource rather than a waste.

A partner you can trust

Veolia has helped implement and optimize water reuse systems for clients worldwide and has decades of experience leading the way in developing new water solutions. Our team of experts will understand your unique challenges and find innovative ways to solve them. Contact us today to start or advance your water reuse journey.

U.S. Virgin Islands

St. Thomas

Caribbean

membrane bioreactor

MBR

Erik Nottleson

Exploring LATAM: Q&A with Mauro Cruz, Senior Vice President of Latin America at Veolia | Water Tech

Admin — Mon, 04 Dec 2023 17:28:11 +0000

Exploring LATAM: Q&A with Mauro Cruz, Senior Vice President of Latin America at Veolia | Water Tech Admin Mon, 12/04/2023 - 12:28

We caught up with Mauro Cruz, Senior Vice President of Latin America at Veolia | Water Tech, for a primer on the trends, priorities, and opportunities specific to Latin America.

What are the major industry trends unique to Latin America?

We’re seeing social responsibility play a big role with more and more companies investing in solutions that are better for the environment. Companies are starting to set standards that are even higher than those set by the government, for both environmental impacts as well as safety and security for employees in the work environment. In some cases, we’re even seeing companies set their own company policies or standards without the existence of requirements from the government. For example, companies are investing in advanced technologies to reuse water and discharge a better effluent to the environment without a specific discharge limit imposition in place.

Electrification is by far the biggest growth trend in Latin America. Lithium mining is especially big in Chile and Argentina. Chile is currently the second largest producer of lithium in the world, but Argentina is becoming a booming market and playing a leading role. There’s a big opportunity for companies to invest in the commodity now and we’re expecting to see strong growth in the coming years.

What are your team’s top priorities in the region?

In our industry and business, we have long-term projects and trends that go out 10-15 years. What we’ve seen in Latin America in the last 10-15 years is most of the countries in the region now becoming producers and exporters of natural resources products. We have a number of areas related to the energy transition, and our main priority is to serve those customers and meet their water circularity, decarbonization and yield unique needs.

We have a very strong and mature oil and gas business - everything from exploration and production to downstream refining and petrochemicals. Right now, society still requires oil and gas to help in the transition to green energy, so we view this area as not being in conflict with those goals, but rather as a champion for ecological transformation.

Our region is very commodity based in terms of growth, so copper and lithium are becoming big pieces of our business. Latin America is also a strong global player in the pulp and paper as well as the food and beverage industries, key sectors to ensure hygiene, sanitary paper and food stock among other daily needs worldwide.

We have a strong and multi-decade supporting relationship to Brazilian ethanol production that goes back to late 1970's Proálcool Program, responsible for important policy implementation to foster the production of ethanol and its use as transportation fuel, contributing with Brazil’s biofuels industry worldwide recognition as a benchmark sector nowadays. We help sugarcane ethanol and biodiesel industries to increase yield, obtain high quality products and achieve ecological footprint reduction goals. Biofuels are a very important bridge from fossil fuels and full electrification and we see the thriving corn ethanol sector as another brick to continue supporting the value generation for the business, the society and the planet, so our business touches a lot of areas in the energy transition.

Our technology is obviously a core piece of our business, but our team’s knowledge of the region coupled with the ability to serve and be with our customers to create customized solutions are what really set us apart.

What initiatives or investments are driving success for customers in the region?

Industrial customers are always looking for enhanced productivity and ways to modernize their plants. They’re investing in technologies that increase productivity while decreasing costs and energy consumption, so sustainability is a big aspect.

Initiatives related to water reuse, environmental protection, and reduction of energy consumption are all priorities in our region, especially in places like Mexico where water is very scarce. Investing in these types of protections and using alternative sources of water are critical components to continue operations. In recent years, we’ve seen a strong demand for our technologies and solutions, and we see this positive momentum continuing into the future.

What unique solutions do customers in the LATAM require?

A prime example is in the oil and gas industry. Because oil and gas will still be present for a while as we transition to green energy, we help customers increase their productivity and decrease environmental impact by working with them to find the best solutions.

Lithium is also bringing innovation to our region and we’re seeing huge investments in that. Different technologies are being tested and evaluated in the region as lithium is being extracted from the brine. This is unique to the region because they’re not the same approaches being implemented in Australia and China, for example.

We’ve built a reputation in the area as reliable partners for our customers for major projects by combining our expertise in the field with our technologies, capabilities, and presence in the region.

What are some of the biggest opportunities for customers in the coming years?

In our region, being a producer of commodities is very important and those opportunities will be there for a while. The geographical aspect also plays a role as we’re seeing governments create different initiatives to help in the green energy transition, so more companies are investing in solutions to meet these goals.

There are a lot of initiatives and projects already in place where there is the opportunity to make better use of resources, such as biogas production and green hydrogen, for example. These are going to be important growth avenues in terms of alternative energies.

At Veolia, we believe there is a lot of opportunity to be a champion in the ecological transformation and each day, we strive to implement our technologies and solutions to help our customers across various industries produce more of what they need with less environmental impact.

Note: The original article ran in Water Technology Online on December 2, 2023.

Trends

Latin America

Brazil

Mexico

ecological transformation

Veolia | Water Tech

Veolia's Sievers Soleil Completes Industry's First Comprehensive Offering of Microbial Testing and Contamination Control

Admin — Fri, 01 Dec 2023 15:08:20 +0000

Veolia's Sievers Soleil Completes Industry's First Comprehensive Offering of Microbial Testing and Contamination Control Admin Fri, 12/01/2023 - 10:08

The Sievers Instruments product line is expanding to provide more capabilities for the pharmaceutical and life sciences industries, which are moving faster than ever.

According to McKinsey, new modalities have increased from 11% to 21% of the drug development pipeline, and manufacturing processes must keep up. Agility within production is needed to rapidly adapt to requirements for advanced manufacturing, implementation of process analytical technology (PAT), and improvements in batch manufacturing and process control. The new Sievers Soleil Rapid Bioburden Analyzer provides near real-time data to monitor the effectiveness of microbial control within ultrapure water and manufacturing processes, finally providing actionable results that correlate to conventional methods.

With the addition of the Sievers Soleil, Veolia | Water Tech has become the industry’s first company to provide all four critical analytical testing parameters for pharmaceutical processes — bioburden, bacterial endotoxins, total organic carbon, and conductivity. This consolidated offering makes Veolia a unique single-source supplier of water testing solutions and process analytical technologies.

Users can accurately detect microbial contamination in water systems, raw materials, and in-process samples in less than 45 minutes with the Sievers Soleil, a major improvement over traditional testing that takes days to generate results. By providing bioburden data in near real-time that correlates back to plate counts, manufacturers can quickly take action to control contamination events and reduce risk.

This new rapid bioburden analyzer stems from Veolia’s recent acquisition of Sentinel Monitoring Systems. Sentinel technology and expertise allowed Veolia to expand the Sievers Instruments portfolio into the emerging market for rapid microbiological methods.

With the Sievers Soleil, users can:

Make timely data-driven decisions about the manufacturing process to reduce risk, increase cost savings, and enable greater confidence when releasing products.
Perform testing in a laboratory or at-line throughout manufacturing to monitor contamination control processes within water systems, cleaning validation, environmental monitoring, raw materials, and drug substances.
Easily perform testing with only three pipetting steps.
Remove the bioburden testing bottleneck in product release.

For over 30 years, Sievers instruments have driven smarter decisions through superior analytical testing, helping users meet regulations, optimize processes, and align with best practices. The Sievers Soleil continues that legacy, enabling simple microbial monitoring and greater efficiency.

The Sievers Soleil utilizes proprietary reagents, viability stain combinations, and high-throughput flow cytometry to distinguish between viable cells and interfering particles reliably. It quantifies viable bacteria, yeast, and mold without lengthy incubation times.

As a pioneer in water solutions, Veolia remains committed to developing innovative technologies like the Sievers Soleil to meet our customers needs. To learn more about how Sievers products can simplify your water testing, contact us today.

Sievers Instruments

Microbial

Contamination

Soleil Rapid Bioburden Analyzer

water testing solutions

Bill Puent

Waterside Chats: Meet Expert Operations Center of Excellence Leader Andrea Forster

Admin — Mon, 30 Oct 2023 13:26:27 +0000

Waterside Chats: Meet Expert Operations Center of Excellence Leader Andrea Forster Admin Mon, 10/30/2023 - 09:26

Every day, across the globe, our people are working to solve some of the world’s toughest waterchallenges. They are passionate, innovative, and dedicated to doing the right thing for our customers and for our planet.

We’re shining a spotlight on some of these talented individuals, so they can share more about their current roles and the personal career journeys that brought them to where they are today. In the latest video of our “Waterside Chats” series, we caught up with Expert Operations Center of Excellence Leader Andrea Forster, who shares her passion for being part of the solution to address climate change.

She talks about how her background inspired her to join and lead a team that shares a commongoal of doing good for the environment.

Watch below for more.

Employees

company culture

Veolia | Water Tech

How ZeeLung MABR Expanded a Wastewater Treatment Plant’s Capacity Within Existing Infrastructure

John Neilson — Mon, 02 Oct 2023 12:31:30 +0000

How ZeeLung MABR Expanded a Wastewater Treatment Plant’s Capacity Within Existing Infrastructure John Neilson Mon, 10/02/2023 - 08:31

Yorkville, Illinois, a suburb 30 miles west of Chicago, was burgeoning. Its county’s population surged three-fold from 1990 to 2012. Yorkville’s wastewater treatment facility, the Yorkville-Bristol Sanitary District (YBSD), which serves 22,000 citizens, was built in 1957, and had last expanded in 2002. When new industries were planning to move into the city in 2017, YBSD needed to upgrade in order to accommodate them.

The community also faced a new phosphorus effluent target of 1.0 mg/L and the increased population created challenges. With newer construction, there were tighter sewers, low-flow fixtures in homes, and additional garbage disposals impacting the wastewater characteristics and straining the plant. Typically, when facilities face capacity constraints they expand, but because this site sits on a five-acre peninsula between the Fox River and Blackberry Creek, expansion was so costly it wasn’t viable.

That’s when Veolia | Water Tech stepped in to provide an ecological transformation that didn’t require the YBSD to increase its footprint.

YBSD’s existing plant was a conventional activated sludge system that included bioreactors and clarifiers, with the aerated bacteria in the bioreactor and solid-liquid separation in the clarifier, which returned the bacteria to the bioreactor. This is the same process used by the overwhelming majority of wastewater treatment facilities.

Conventional wastewater treatment leaves plenty of room for optimization — only 15% of the oxygen delivered by bubbles actually gets used by the bacteria. What’s worse, the aeration process uses a hefty 60% of the energy in a wastewater treatment plant. Veolia’s ZeeLung* solution is a membrane-aerated biofilm reactor (MABR), which delivers oxygen through molecular diffusion and doesn’t require bubbles.

Implementing this technology allowed YBSD to increase its organic treatment capacity within its existing footprint. This resulted in a CAPEX savings of 75% less than expanding the facility past Blackberry Creek, which saved YBSD rate payers’ pockets. YBSD also delivered on the new phosphorus target, and the design and construction process took only 16 months, far less than what expanding the facility’s footprint would have.

How ZeeLung MABR works

MABR technology replaces the bubbles used in the conventional wastewater treatment process. It uses a gas-transfer membrane to transfer oxygen to the bacteria, creating a biofilm that metabolizes the nutrients in the bioreactor, which works in concert with the clarifier to complete the treatment process. This solution is attractive for facilities that need to expand capacity or achieve better treatment objectives because it doesn’t require the land and time commitments of physical expansion and is more cost effective than a conventional upgrade, squeezing more capacity out of the assets that make up the existing infrastructure.

ZeeLung cassettes are placed in the bioreactor tank. The ZeeLung media supports the growth of a biofilm that increases the capacity to remove nutrients within the system and doesn’t increase the mixed liquor concentration. ZeeLung’s media transfers oxygen to the biofilm far more efficiently than the conventional process and doesn’t waste energy creating bubbles. Since pollutants enter the biofilm from one side and oxygen the other, the system favors the growth of nitrifying bacteria.

Veolia has more than 25 ZeeLung plants in full-scale design, construction, or operation around the world. YBSD was the first full-scale implementation in North America and is still creating value. ZeeLung’s process intensification creates up to 50% more treatment capacity in existing tank volumes and up to 75% aeration energy savings. 

Continuing to innovate

Veolia is at the forefront of innovating new technologies to create cost-saving, sustainable solutions for customers. As we expand our portfolio of clients using ZeeLung MABR technology, we’re coupling that technology with others for new ecological transformations.

zeeDENSE, one of Veolia’s latest innovations, combines ZeeLung MABR with continuous flow densification technology so activated sludge plants can achieve super-intensification. This application is now in demonstration in Yorkville — it conditions the bacteria to settle faster and enables utilities to treat more volume in existing clarifier tanks. Since the YSBD partnership with Veolia began in 2017, it has realized significant cost savings and improved results, making the decision to expand with new technologies an easy one.

Watch this recent webinar and learn more about why MABR technology adoption is increasingly the answer to solving water treatment challenges and see how our experts are finding transformative ways to solve complex issues with our breadth of solutions.

WEFTEC

ZeeLung

Membrane

Jeff Peeters

An Inside Look at Veolia | Water Tech's Presence at WEFTEC 2023

John Neilson — Fri, 29 Sep 2023 12:39:13 +0000

An Inside Look at Veolia | Water Tech's Presence at WEFTEC 2023 John Neilson Fri, 09/29/2023 - 08:39

The Water Environment Federation’s Technical Exhibition and Conference (WEFTEC) is a cornerstone gathering for water professionals from around the globe to explore the challenges and opportunities that define this critical field. It’s a platform for leaders to show the next wave of innovation and share their expertise.

The Veolia | Water Tech team will have an extensive presence at the 96th Annual WEFTEC, Sept. 30-Oct 4 in Chicago, Illinois, showcasing our innovations and passion for ecological transformation. Visit us at Booth 2012 to learn more about zeeDENSE* and its impact on our customers. We’ll host a happy hour at our booth on Oct. 3rd from 3:30-5:30 p.m. with light refreshments.

This year, we’re highlighting our membrane technology, ZeeWeed*, which is a physical barrier to suspended solids and pathogens and is the key component of our Membrane Bioreactors (MBR). In 1993, we introduced the first ZeeWeed commercial module, ZW145. As we celebrate this 30th anniversary, we’re also demoing how ZeeWeed has evolved with new models and applications.

Veolia is also sponsoring WEF InFLOW, a program that enhances diversity and inclusion in the water workforce. Our Global Fulfillment Operations Executive, Tesfa Haile, will be a panelist as part of the InFLOW program on Oct. 3, 10:30-1 p.m. CT, titled “Journey Through Water.”

Veolia experts will also weigh in on the industry’s most pressing issues through a number of speaking opportunities. Check out the schedule below of our thought leaders and subject matter experts.

Sept. 30

Levent Takmaz presents “Fate of PFAS Through Thermal Processes at Water Resource Recovery Facilities” from 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. in Room S502

Oct. 1

Steve Katz moderates the “Design and Implementation of Membrane Bioreactors in Water Recycling” workshop from 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. in Room S405

Oct. 2

Steve Katz participates in “The Water Reuse Landscape Through the Eyes of Industry Leaders from 1:30-3 p.m. in Room S505b
Dave Mason presents “Reviewing Nitrification and Ammonia Oxidation in a Complex and Highly Loaded Food and Beverage WRRF” from 2:30-3 p.m. in Room S403a

Oct. 3

Jeff Peeters moderates, and Zebo Long presents “Sidestream Nitrogen Removal: From Established to NextGen” from 8:30-10 a.m. in Room S501a
Brian Arntsen is a panelist for “Industrial Water: From Linear to Circular Economy” from 9-9:25 a.m. at the Innovation Theater
Kristina Gerber moderates “The Future of Data Centers – From Water Users to Water Stewards” from 1:30-3 p.m. in Room S501dJoseph Wolkow presents “DAF Technology for Industrial WWTPs” from 1:30-3 p.m. at Booth 2012

Oct. 4

Sara Theodoulou moderates “Advancements in Anaerobic Treatment of Industrial Wastewater” from 10:30 a.m. -12 p.m. in Room S504c
Pedro DaCruz and Gabriela Ber will present during the technology spotlight “Exploring UV Disinfection Options: Seeing the Light” from 11:27-11:39 a.m. at Booth 2012
Niclas Astrand presents “Applying Hydrocyclones for Densification” from 2:30-2:50 p.m. in Room S501a

If you’re attending WEFTEC, be sure to stop by and say hello at Booth 2012. You can also follow along on social media with our X and LinkedIn accounts.

Read PFAS Disclaimer

ZeeLung

WEFTEC

Zeeweed

Veolia | Water Tech

Digging Deeper into Anaerobic Digestion

Admin — Wed, 13 Sep 2023 15:24:44 +0000

Digging Deeper into Anaerobic Digestion Admin Wed, 09/13/2023 - 11:24

One of the best tools we have to battle climate change and global warming is the generation of energy from wastewater byproducts and food waste. Facilities in the United States produce 4.5 million dry metric tons (mdmt) of treated sewage sludge or biosolids annually. 42% of that material goes to landfills. Additionally, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) estimates that in 2010, 31%, or 133 billion pounds, of the 430 billion pounds of food available at the retail and consumer levels was not eaten.

Anaerobic digestion is a biosolids treatment method that uses bacteria to transform organic waste into energy without oxygen. This transformation occurs naturally in marshes and has been recreated in closed tanks called digesters to make it available on a larger, more controllable scale to treat wastewater.

The bacteria digest the organic fraction of the waste and convert it into biogas, a renewable energy source. The residual organic matter forms a digestate that is dewatered, composted, and used as a fertilizer by farmers.

Veolia | Water Tech promotes the local production and use of renewable energy and has empowered clients to make the most of this sustainable solution. For example, Veolia played a role in France’s Artois compost site, which generates about 3.5 million cubic meters of biogas and 25,000 tons of treated waste per year. The treated waste allows the production of 8,000 megawatt hours of electricity, equivalent to the annual consumption of 2,700 households. The 7,000 tons of organic matter that do not decompose during the anaerobic digestion process each year are reused as compost by local farmers.

To learn more about anaerobic digestion, let’s look at some frequently asked questions on the topic.

Q: What are the main benefits of anaerobic digestion?

A: The biggest benefit to society of anaerobically digesting organic waste is ensuring biodegradable material never makes it into our landfills where it would otherwise release methane to the atmosphere and liquid leachate runoff, contaminating our waterways and groundwater.

By diverting organics to anaerobic digestion systems, we can:

Produce renewable energy from traditional waste products
Offset and replace chemical fertilizers in our agriculture industry
Prevent methane (a potent greenhouse gas) from being released into the environment uncontrollably
Reduce and divert solids that typically go to landfills

Anaerobic digestion also optimizes hydrolysis and acidification for wastewater treatment facilities, enhancing biogas production. This can increase throughput by 200-300% over traditional digestion, which was exactly the case with Anglian Water’s Great Billing Water Recycling after implementing our technology.

Q: What does an anaerobic digester system look like?

A: In its simplest form, an anaerobic digester system involves a sealed tank to prevent oxygen from getting in and biogas from getting out.

It is heated to a temperature similar to the human body and mixed well. The organic material is fed into the tank where it is held for 15 to 20 days, which is sufficient time to allow anaerobic bacteria to convert the carbon-rich organic matter into biogas (~60% methane). That methane-rich biogas can then be utilized to generate electricity from a combined heat and power unit (CHP) or scrubbed to remove impurities, upgraded, and injected into the natural gas grid where it is eventually sent to our homes and businesses that use gas for heating and cooking.

Q: How does anaerobic digestion play into the circular economy?

A: Anaerobic digestion brings two key pieces to the circular economy: Renewable energy and nutrient recovery.

By utilizing the biogas from anaerobic digestion plants to generate renewable energy (especially in industries that are difficult to electrify) we can offset fossil fuel consumption and hopefully keep those fossil fuels in the ground. Crops take carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and convert it to energy in the food we eat. After passing through the human consumption cycle, that material still has a lot of leftover energy in the form of carbon that we can capture in the biogas from anaerobic digestion systems.

Most, if not all, of the feedstock for anaerobic digestion systems comes from agricultural land. Farmers need to replenish the soil that grows crops with carbon nitrogen and phosphors to ensure that land remains productive. Anaerobic digestion plants produce a digestate that can eventually be spread on the fields to return these nutrients and healthy microbes to the land and limit the need for chemical fertilizers.

Q: Are there misconceptions about this process or any claims you think should be debunked?

A: We need to overcome the “yuck factor” when dealing with organic waste. This process happens naturally in landfills, so it is to our benefit as a society to take these waste products and capture their energy in an engineered solution.

Odor issues are one of the biggest concerns when building these facilities. However, odors can be eliminated and there are examples of successful facilities in or near urban environments.

Q: How does Veolia fit in?

A: Veolia offers a complete suite of anaerobic digestion solutions like feedstock preparation, tank mixing and heating solutions, digestate separation and treatment, biogas conditioning and upgrading, and managed operations of these facilities.

Learn more about Veolia’s anaerobic digestion system enhancement capabilities or contact an expert.

anaerobic digestion

sewage sludge

biosolids

David Swerdlyk

Waterside Chats: Meet Global Customer Care Leader Karen Johnson-Susko

Admin — Wed, 06 Sep 2023 20:51:52 +0000

Waterside Chats: Meet Global Customer Care Leader Karen Johnson-Susko Admin Wed, 09/06/2023 - 16:51

She explains her team’s dedication and commitment to meeting customer needs and providing wing-to-wing solutions that positively impact both the customer and the environment as a whole. Watch below for more.

Employee

company culture

Veolia | Water Tech

How Climate Change Impacts Water Infrastructure

Admin — Thu, 24 Aug 2023 21:12:02 +0000

How Climate Change Impacts Water Infrastructure Admin Thu, 08/24/2023 - 17:12

By late June, Canadian wildfires had already burned 19.8 million acres, an area larger than the Czech Republic. The smoke billowed throughout the country and into the United States, bringing air quality concerns for hundreds of millions of people. In August, Maui, Hawaii is reported to have the deadliest U.S. wildfire in more than a century.

These fires are another indication of climate change, which affects not only forests but built infrastructure like water systems.

Experts believe climate change is creating more severe weather events — the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reports heat waves now occur three times more often than in the 1960s, 20-70% of the US was at least “abnormally dry” between 2000 and 2020, and intense single-day precipitation events have increased dramatically since 1996.

Most of our water infrastructure was designed based on 100-year weather event data as a condition, but now that extreme weather events are happening more often, we need to challenge this approach to increase our infrastructure’s resiliency. Many water resource recovery facilities are future-proofing with higher design flows to accommodate the increase of extreme rainfall events. In many cases, existing infrastructure is not able to manage the new design conditions.

Peak flows challenge a treatment plant’s hydraulics. The secondary clarifier, which uses gravity to separate solids from water, can become overwhelmed and lose the bacteria that are necessary to biologically treat the water.

Climate change doesn’t just mean too much water; it can also mean too little. According to the World Wildlife Federation, an astounding 66% of the global population will likely face water scarcity by 2025. Municipalities increasingly need to diversify their water sources to serve their residents.

The unpredictability of extreme weather events impacted by climate change, and the increase in frequency and severity, requires water systems to be prepared for both extremes – too much & too little water - with a heightened sense of urgency. As the UN has noted, “water and climate change are inextricably linked.”

How municipalities can increase the resilience of their water infrastructure

Increasing resilience includes strategies like water reuse or diversification as well as leveraging technology as an important component of creating water infrastructure that is sustainable and environmentally responsible.

For instance, membrane bioreactors (MBRs) can enable water reuse by producing tertiary quality effluent in a single treatment stage. MBR has been used for more than 20 years to upgrade existing conventional activated sludge plants for reuse. In areas that are prone to drought, this technology is instrumental.

However, that regional context is important because there are no silver bullets. A facility in the Northeast of the US, for example, may be more likely to deal with peak wet weather events and need to increase capacity. A membrane-aerated biofilm reactor (MABR) could help efficiently deliver oxygen to an overwhelmed biological reactor through molecular diffusion without using bubbles.

These technologies are modular and can be implemented as needed. This has influenced the design of modern water resource recovery facilities to value flexibility so they can accommodate changing needs or conditions. Without that agility, facilities get locked into decisions they make today for their built infrastructure. The environmental situation will undoubtedly change, and technology will evolve, so finding ways to ensure water systems can accommodate those changes is important.

Energy use also a consideration

The US EPA reports drinking water and wastewater plants account for 30-40% of energy consumption within a municipal government and add more than 45 million tons of greenhouse gases (GHG) annually. Many facilities were built when energy was cheap and availability was abundant, but the forecast looks different now.

The US Federal Energy Management Program, among other initiatives, incentivizes utilities to reduce energy consumption and impacts how solutions are designed. A typical water resource recovery facility has direct methane and nitrous oxide emissions that have a significant contribution to their carbon footprint. Certain regions are beginning to measure and regulate these emissions.

Facilities can take a proactive approach and reduce GHG emissions by implementing sustainable solutions and reducing their impact on the climate change that has altered the context of their operations.

How Veolia can help

At Veolia | Water Tech, we take responsibility to accelerate sustainability and support customers with making decisions that solve treatment needs and consider overall impact on the environment. This belief is at the core of our product innovations.

Our ZeeLung* MABR maximizes the biological treatment capacity from existing activated sludge tank volumes while reducing energy consumption, giving water systems tremendous ROI. The Yorkville-Bristol Sanitary District (YBSD) chose this solution and increased its organic treatment capacity by 45% within its existing footprint, creating a 75% CAPEX savings.

zeeDENSE* is a state-of-the-art application that pairs ZeeLung MABR and continuous flow densification technology for super-intensification of activated sludge plants. This allows facilities to take the next step in maximizing the treatment capacity of their existing footprint.

ZeeWeed* MBR provides a physical barrier to suspended solids and pathogens, enhancing the quality of a facility’s effluent. The Federated Co-operatives Limited’s Co-op Refinery Complex (CRC) in Regina, Saskatchewan, selected ZeeWeed as part of its solution and reduced its freshwater needs by 28%, equivalent to the usage of about 3,100 local households each year. The facility also vastly reduced its environmental footprint by reducing emissions from volatile organics in its wastewater ponds.

These are just a few of the sustainable solutions Veolia has created from decades of research and experience. Contact one of our specialists, who can determine the best design and solution for your facility.

ZeeLung

zeeDENSE

Zeeweed

climate change

Jeff Peeters

How InSight* Improved an Ammonia Plant’s Reliability and Control

Admin — Tue, 01 Aug 2023 15:41:40 +0000

How InSight* Improved an Ammonia Plant’s Reliability and Control Admin Tue, 08/01/2023 - 11:41

In Borger, Texas, steam plant operators at the Nutrien ammonia production facility faced repeated tube failures in their waste heat boilers. Each failure caused a shutdown that cost approximately $350,000 in maintenance, to say nothing of the lost production time while repairs were made. These failures were happening, on average, twice per year.

The plant requires 1,500 pounds per square inch (psi) steam pressure to operate the turbines and compressors and provide heat to the various production stages. The system generates 520,000 pounds per hour (lb/hr) of steam from high-purity feedwater treated using a coordinated pH-phosphate program (congruent phosphate).Operators manually adjust the treatment and run lab tests daily to change the operating and chemical parameters. The treatment must be controlled precisely to prevent acidic or caustic corrosion in the boilers' high heat flux areas.

A Veolia | Water Tech analysis that collected data using "InSight" showed that the boiler water pH and phosphate levels constantly moved in and out of control limits. Less than half of the data points were within the prescribed limits for a typical operation.

InSight, Veolia's cloud-based data management system, uses proprietary analytics not just to show how many measurements are within control but also to prescribe adjustments to the treatment.

Based on the findings, Veolia recommended that our BPS (Boiler Precision System) unit be installed and linked to the treatment's application to monitor and optimize water parameters. Readings determine the proper blend of phosphate products to apply in real-time so plant operators don't have to expose themselves to chemicals, and adjustments can be made continuously. The pH and phosphate levels stabilized when the system was operational, and long-term observation showed 80% of the data points were within the control range.

In the year since the system was implemented, no boiler tubes failed at Nutrien's Borger facility. The maintenance reduction and asset life improvement created $275,000 in annual savings.

"Over the years that Veolia has been providing us with water treatment and expert services, our partnership has led to many improvements to our utilities," said Mark Marquez, Ammonia Superintendent at Nutrien's Borger facility. "The Boiler Precision System has improved boiler reliability, the safety of chemical application, and greatly reduced unscheduled downtime."

How InSight works

InSight is an asset performance management (APM) solution that uses data and analytics to optimize the performance of water treatment components. By connecting assets like boilers, cooling towers, and membranes into a cloud-based platform, InSight provides real-time visibility into key performance indicators (KPIs) at the asset, plant, or enterprise level. The platform includes customizable dashboards, fleet benchmarking, automated alarms, trend analysis, reporting, advanced analytics, and a mobile app.

The InSight platform improves equipment life and reduces operating costs through greater visibility into asset health. The solution is supported globally by Veolia's network of Service Reliability Centers (SRC), which monitor performance and assist plant personnel.

Veolia's chemical processing expertise

Our chemical applications experts have decades of experience across various industries and global regions to understand the nuanced needs of producers, whether they process gas, oil, food, metals, paper, or operate commercial or institutional facilities. We work with your team to understand even the most complex water or process challenges and deliver the best solutions that meet your operational objectives.

Veolia's industry-leading innovations have delivered improved reliability and productivity, optimized uptime and run lengths, reduced cost of ownership, and enhanced safety and sustainability. Reach out to our team to find out which of our water or process solutions are right for you.

InSight

chemical processing

Boiler Precision System

an asset performance management

Veolia | Water Tech

Waterside Chats: Meet Senior Product Communications Leader Karla Nelson

Admin — Fri, 21 Jul 2023 14:59:27 +0000

Waterside Chats: Meet Senior Product Communications Leader Karla Nelson Admin Fri, 07/21/2023 - 10:59

Her work highlights how the company’s products and services help customers solve real-world water and wastewater challenges.

Watch below for more.

Employee

culture

Waterside chat

Veolia | Water Tech

How Municipalities Can Prepare for Urgent Water Crises

Admin — Wed, 05 Jul 2023 11:32:18 +0000

How Municipalities Can Prepare for Urgent Water Crises Admin Wed, 07/05/2023 - 07:32

Water crises have accelerated and escalated over the past decade, highlighting the threat many municipalities often face. It isn’t lost on the general public just how dangerous these events can be. According to the World Wildlife Federation, by 2025, two-thirds of the world’s population are likely to be facing water scarcity.

Global water supply and quality challenges in Cape Town, Sao Paolo, and Chennai forced swift, thorough responses from both local and national governments. Those municipalities escaped catastrophe but weren’t adequately prepared. Few are ready to act until they’re met with an emergency.

Band-aid fixes can get a municipality out of the woods, but a long-term strategy is needed to properly address water supplies. Even though the risk is understood, too often it isn’t met with a proactive investment to safeguard the municipality from truly reaching a water crisis.

Water reuse, or recycling, is the best defense against this and municipalities should consider how to build the foundation for an advanced recycling program that can protect its water systems and residents moving forward.

In order to create a resilient infrastructure, it’s imperative for municipalities to understand what’s worked in the past, their existing water sources, how to incorporate water reuse, and the potential threats they face.

Lessons learned from the past

Water has always been tied to politics, which has often led to municipalities creating valuable programs that drive awareness, innovation, and technology adoption that can be emulated today.

For instance, the severe and unexpected drought in Cape Town forced the South African government to establish “Day Zero,” a political narrative addressing the day when water levels of major dams would fall below a threshold requiring widespread restrictions and rationing. Four million citizens were anticipated to go without water. Understanding the clear and drastic impact this would have, citizens collectively responded by reducing water usage and avoided Day Zero. This then gave way to many other initiatives aimed at protecting and diversifying the city’s water sources, including tapping into underground aquifers and installing desalination plants.

In the U.S., California has been a clear leader in water reuse, because protecting its water supplies has been a political priority for decades. Water scarcity and associated problems like wildfires have created an environment where the state is expected to double the amount of water it recycles annually and expand potable reuse initiatives. The California Coastal Commission recently approved a desalination plant less than five months after it rejected a similar proposal, demonstrating a new commitment to seawater desalination to bolster water supplies.

Better know your water supplies

The first step for any municipality in addressing potential threats to water supplies should be assessing existing water sources. Those with more diverse water sources will have more options for reuse systems than those with only one type of water source.

Singapore is an excellent example of a nation that took control of its water supplies to ensure resiliency. Previously, Singapore’s water supply was entirely reliant on dams and importing water from other countries. In the last half-century however, the country diversified its water supply through various initiatives, including desalination, reclaimed water use, and legal protection of national estuaries for freshwater supply — also known as the “Four Taps.”

To create the best plan for the future, you need to understand how your location affects your water supplies and what that means for moving through the continuum of recycling. For coastal locations, desalination is often ideal, and reuse is also possible as certain waste streams can be diverted to oceans. Inland locations should consider ways to replenish water when levels get low through treatment infrastructure that creates a minimal waste stream, such as ozone-biofiltration.

Know your options for enhancing water supplies through reuse

It is also important for utilities to know what options are available to close the gap between decreasing water supplies and increasing water demands. T

hese can include conservation efforts but should also include water reuse. Implementing or increasing non-potable water reuse for purposes such as irrigation, agriculture, or industrial needs can help offset potable water demand to help bridge this gap. In situations where these demands cannot be separated, this may not be sufficient. In these cases, potable water reuse may be more effective at creating a sustainable water supply for the community, treating wastewater through a multi-barrier advanced treatment scheme to meet drinking water standards and requirements.

Understand the risks

Most of the water used in Boise, Idaho, comes from the state’s groundwater aquifers, which is why the state has some of the cleanest water in the region. However, as population growth and climate change continue to threaten the region’s water supply, the city is looking at opportunities to diversify.

This year, the City of Boise will launch a pilot program to identify ideal methods to clean industrial wastewater and recycle it for additional uses. It’s the first project to come out of the City’s Water Renewal Utility Plan, and Veolia | Water Tech has supplied treatment equipment and will support the project by collecting data and providing analysis to aid decision making.

Each municipality needs to consider its own unique circumstances when determining how to move forward with a resilient water infrastructure. Veolia can be the partner to help your municipality achieve desired water reuse outcomes while always maintaining a culture of quality, safety, and compliance. Together we can develop a comprehensive plan that fills in knowledge gaps around technology, considers regulations that can enable meaningful change, and delivers results.

Learn more about how Veolia can help you prepare your infrastructure so an urgent water crisis doesn’t take your critical systems offline and put your residents in danger.

municipalities

water crises

Water Reuse

sustainability

Veolia | Water Tech

Celebrating International Women in Engineering Day at Veolia

Admin — Fri, 23 Jun 2023 11:00:00 +0000

Celebrating International Women in Engineering Day at Veolia Admin Fri, 06/23/2023 - 07:00

In celebration of International Women in Engineering Day (#IWED23), we are spotlighting some of our female engineers and their extraordinary work at Veolia | Water Tech. IWED23 aims to celebrate the achievements of women in engineering while raising their profile and encouraging young girls to explore STEM careers. Here at Veolia, we are proud that our Engineering teams are made up of female engineers who help innovate and design technology that shapes the water industry's future.

Meet Cyan Lue Sue (Commercial Manager, Caribbean), Alka Deshpande (Engineering Manager, Customer Applications), Carla Casanova (Sales Manager, ES Services)– a few of our female engineers at Veolia that deliver excellence for our customers every day and inspire future engineers.

Why did you choose engineering as an area of study and a career path?

Cyan: I was raised in a household where curiosity was encouraged. My father worked in construction, and my mother loves all things art and crafts. When I graduated high school and had to decide on a major, those experiences influenced a clear path that led to Engineering, but which type was the big question. I knew I enjoyed using my hands to create and was keenly interested in how objects, vehicles, products, etc., were made. Through conversations with various Engineers, experts, and counselors, I found that Mechanical Engineering suited me best.
Alka: I was fortunate to study in a school with visionary teachers who believed in applied education and equal opportunities for both boys and girls. Our school had technical subjects from class VIII, where we were taught basic electrical engineering and machine drawing. This early introduction to engineering created curiosity and interest, and I decided to pursue engineering for my further studies. I am now a chemical engineer. My engineering institute had one year of compulsory plant training, which connected us with the industry, and through campus, I got selected by India's leading water treatment company, and that became my career path.
Carla: Math and chemistry were my favorite subjects in school, so I wanted to study something that has both involved.

What are your hopes for the future of Engineering?

Cyan: As the first to pursue a bachelor's degree in my family, I hesitated to commit to Mechanical Engineering as it was labeled as tough and difficult. As a female entering a traditionally male-dominated space, I was intimidated. Now that I have been submerged in the space, my experience has been uplifting. Recently, there has been focused energy on inclusion and diversity throughout all sectors. I hope that women feel encouraged and empowered to pursue engineering and continue making a mark in the industry.
Alka: Engineering is the backbone of the material development of human society, so engineering will always have a great future. Future engineering will surely be more focused on automating repetitive and laborious activities. Engineering will contribute to solving the most challenging healthcare issues through super-efficient diagnostic and treatment equipment. While we would touch newer heights of communication, data processing, and AI every day, the sky seems to be the limit for engineering. Engineering will play a huge role in the in- planet and interplanetary transportation. The world will be far different from what it is today in the near future, and engineering will play a leading role in it, even in solving the most pressing environmental issues.
Carla: I have lived in different countries across my career within GE Water / Veolia and have seen women's participation in scientific careers vary. In my opinion, family and culture play a big part in this. In my family, we are three sisters and one of my sisters and I are both engineers, so my family played a significant role in our decision. They taught us we could study whatever we wanted and supported our decision. I want to see more women in engineering and strongly believe that message should be shared early in childhood, empowering girls to be professionals and independent.

What would you say to girls in school/college who may be considering Engineering as a career choice/study option?

Cyan: Be confident in your capabilities and know the value you bring. There is always room at the table.
Alka: Engineering is a very promising career option. It is full of creativity, challenging, and a satisfying career option because it allows you to connect with the larger purpose of serving humanity. Millions of engineers working across the world are engaged in making things easier and better for human society, so engineering as a career option is a path to a satisfying and rewarding career.
Carla: I would like to say, "You can do it; you just need to be focused and determined." Also, you can do many things and hold various positions, as engineering is present in every part of our lives.

What’s the key message you’d like to get across for Women in Engineering Day?

Cyan: Again, I would stress to be confident in your capabilities and know the value you bring. There is always room at the table.
Alka: First, nothing should hold us back as a woman from selecting and pursuing engineering as a career path. Women are equally capable. We can similarly enjoy the fun of working on the most challenging technical issues of the world and contribute to solving them. So, go for it if you like it.
Carla: Being an engineer is one of the best decisions I have made in my life.

IWED

IWED23

International Women in Engineering Day

engineers

Veolia | Water Tech

Waterside Chats: Meet North American CMS Marketing Leader Gregoire Poirier-Richer

Admin — Wed, 14 Jun 2023 12:00:00 +0000

Waterside Chats: Meet North American CMS Marketing Leader Gregoire Poirier-Richer Admin Wed, 06/14/2023 - 08:00

We’re shining a spotlight on some of these talented individuals, so they can share more about their current roles and the personal career journeys that brought them to where they are today. In the latest video of our “Waterside Chats” series, we caught up with our North American CMS Marketing Leader, Gregoire Poirier-Richer, who has been with the organization for 18 years, in various roles ranging from commercial, technical and marketing functions. In this video, he helps highlight how Veolia | Water Tech helps make a difference in industry operations across the board.

In his role, he showcases how the blend of field team expertise and benefits of Veolia products and services create real value for customers.

Watch below for more.

Employee

Waterside chat

Veolia | Water Tech

Four Things We Learned at BlueTech Forum 2023

Admin — Tue, 06 Jun 2023 22:30:39 +0000

Four Things We Learned at BlueTech Forum 2023 Admin Tue, 06/06/2023 - 18:30

Experts all over the globe are creating new technologies and solutions that solve complex water challenges. Many of the top minds in the industry gathered recently in Edinburgh, Scotland, for the annual BlueTech Forum.

This year’s theme was “Innovation with Impact,” and several of us at Veolia | Water Tech experienced the thrill of these disruptive ideas balanced with the challenge of scale and implementation. It was great to see some of the advancements others are developing and hear from speakers offering unique insights and perspectives.

The action-oriented event was meant to spark more partnership and collaboration to fight against a global water crisis. Experts at BlueTech looked at how we could work together, pool resources, and start conversations that will, hopefully, lead to exciting new solutions.

Here are four key takeaways from my two days in Scotland, premises we continue to think about here at Veolia.

The audience is growing.

Seeing so many new faces among attendees at BlueTech Forum was a pleasant surprise. Various stakeholders are interested in entering this market — families and individuals looking to get involved in a space generally crowded with venture capitalists and fund managers. The event reported more than $1 billion of investment in the room.

These newcomers are interested in sustainability and want to put money into water technologies and recycling efforts. While it’s great to see the audience grow, we need to continue to educate on the space by introducing them to concepts like sustainable water reuse, wastewater treatment, and industry trends.

End-user challenges are more diverse than ever.

The innovation showcase included sixteen new tech startups and the variety among them showed how fragmented the water market can be. There are more challenges than ever facing end users — from municipalities to industrial facilities, large organizations to residential communities, a range of regulatory requirements, and the context of whatever region the end user is in. There is no shortage of wrinkles that make each issue unique.

No silver bullet exists to solve all these problems. Some of the companies at BlueTech have bright futures serving a specific market segment or solving a particular issue. Veolia has a comprehensive portfolio of equipment, systems, chemical treatment programs, and other services that serve many industries for many applications. Our experts are skillful in finding the right solution for even the most complex water challenges and partnering and creating hybrid solutions holds a lot of potential to accelerate implementation.

Distribution is the unsung hero of innovation.

One concept of conversation was the “Piloting Valley of Death.” Pilot programs may be part of the equation whenever you develop new technology, but piloting to death stifles innovation. To have a faster timeline for tech adoption, we need distribution.

At Veolia, we’ve attempted to tackle this challenge by creating select Technology Incubators whose purpose is to lead the commercialization of these new ideas while leveraging our existing distribution infrastructure. It’s an acknowledgement that these innovations need commercial help to get them to market. After all, this is the manifestation of impact.

Collaboration is key.

At BlueTech, we saw companies working together to achieve extraordinary results. One great example was the 100+ Accelerator, a coalition of giants that would generally consider themselves competitors and has put that aside for the greater good to invest in smaller companies that can make a difference. Success needs partnership and collaboration.

We must continue to engage with early adopters as partners in innovation. Collaborating this way would curb a critical industry issue: Risk.

The risk of implementing a new solution is considered significant in the water industry. The r isk could mean any number of things, like career risk for the person who chose a particular product or budgetary risk if the ROI isn’t quick enough.

To allow innovation to thrive, we need to de-risk. This may come via insurance policies or sandboxing new technologies and solutions with several potential customers to reduce the risk for the one that dares to be first in line for full implementation.

BlueTech was a great reminder that we’re all pulling from the same side of the rope as we strive to find new solutions that solve our global water challenges. At Veolia, we are eager to partner with new prospects and other innovative companies to make a more significant impact in creating new, sustainable solutions.

innovation

collaboration

sustainable water reuse

wastewater treatment

industry trends

Glenn Vicevic

Beating Plastic Pollution on World Environment Day 2023

Admin — Mon, 05 Jun 2023 11:00:00 +0000

Beating Plastic Pollution on World Environment Day 2023 Admin Mon, 06/05/2023 - 07:00

Every year on June 5, World Environment Day (WED) raises awareness of environmental issues and motivates people all over the world to take action to protect our shared environment. This year’s theme is #BeatPlasticPollution, shining a light on this worldwide issue. At Veolia | Water Tech, our priority is addressing this growing concern to tackle the ongoing global challenge of protecting our planet. For WED, we caught up with Robert Flis, Senior Product Manager of Research and Innovation, to discuss the biggest microplastic challenges, resolutions, and regulations.

What are microplastics?

Microplastics are tiny plastic particles that are less than 5 millimeters in size. They form through the degradation of larger plastic items or as by-products of the manufacturing processes of various plastic precursors and products. They pose a significant environmental threat as they accumulate in ecosystems, as they can easily be ingested by marine life and terrestrial organisms. Microplastics have adverse effects on wildlife and enter the food chain, impacting human health as well. This global issue has raised concerns among the public and scientific community alike and has led to increased research and efforts to mitigate plastic pollution.

What are the biggest problems and misconceptions around microplastics?

Microplastics accumulate and are spread widely in the environment, posing a significant problem to ecosystems, marine life, animals, and human health. There are concerns about the health effects of microplastic ingestion to humans, although more research is needed. Common misconceptions are that microplastics are only found in cosmetics and that they are easily visible, which is not the case. Regulations and management of microplastics are still in the early stages. We need comprehensive policies to address production, use, and disposal of microplastics. Collective efforts are needed to reduce plastic waste, improve waste management, promote recycling, and raise awareness about the risks of microplastic pollution.

What are some of the challenges to removing microplastics and how does Veolia technology address this?

Microplastic pollution poses a significant environmental challenge, but advanced water treatment technologies — including Veolia manufactured products and services such as chemical coagulation, flocculation, enhanced gravity clarification, ultrafiltration, and reverse osmosis coupled with Veolia proprietary membrane cleaning protocols — have proven to be an effective at a major plastics manufacturing facility in the United States. Microplastics' small size and diverse sources make their removal difficult, but with proper treatment and clarification, followed by ultrafiltration, they are selectively captured using specialized membranes. In addition, with its tiny pore sizes, reverse osmosis effectively filters out microplastics and other contaminants, paving the way for water reuse. By integrating these technologies into water treatment processes, Veolia can combat microplastic pollution, protect ecosystems, and ensure cleaner water supplies for a sustainable future.

Microplastics are unique pollutants that are treated very specifically while still having to remove other specific dissolved pollutants. Veolia processes are optimized to treat all effectively without compromising one another.

How can manufacturers determine the best solution?

To determine the best solution for addressing microplastic concerns, manufacturers must first assess their current state and compliance requirements to set goals of microplastic removal. Next, manufacturers should consider partnering with a technology expert like Veolia and research available technologies and offerings. This should be followed by broad feasibility studies, pilot testing, and demonstration plants to help evaluate the suitability of different technologies and solutions within their operations.

Consulting experts such as Veolia and life-cycle assessments are crucial for making informed decisions. Collaboration with industry peers and participation in sustainability initiatives provide valuable insights. By following these steps, manufacturers can identify the most effective and sustainable approaches to mitigate microplastic-related issues in their production processes.

There is a long road to microplastics regulations. What can manufacturers do now to protect the environment from microplastics?

Primarily, manufacturers can acknowledge the global issue of microplastics and take immediate action to protect the environment from them. They should set realistic goals to reduce microplastic generation by auditing their current state, instituting alternative manufacturing guidelines, and optimizing production processes. Implementing robust plastic waste control systems at the sources of generation, improving product design, and fostering a culture of environmental responsibility are crucial to success. Collaboration, supporting research and innovation, and engaging in voluntary initiatives demonstrate commitment. Advocating for regulations and policies addressing microplastic pollution is essential. By implementing these measures, manufacturers can contribute to a cleaner and more sustainable environment.

microplastics

World Environment Day

sustainability

Plastic Pollution

reverse osmosis

Veolia | Water Tech

Modern Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Calls for Process Analytical Technologies

Admin — Wed, 03 May 2023 15:21:48 +0000

Modern Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Calls for Process Analytical Technologies Admin Wed, 05/03/2023 - 11:21

By Kaitlyn Vap, Lead Application Specialist – Life Sciences

Today’s drug development process focuses on speed-to-market, continuous and flexible manufacturing, and effective data management while maintaining quality and patient safety. Product portfolios for the life sciences sector are quickly expanding into cell and gene therapy, mRNA therapeutics, CRISPR therapeutics, etc., and new manufacturing technologies and instrumentation are needed to support supply chains and enhance operations.

Process analytical technologies (PAT), new digital strategies, and continuous manufacturing practices are increasingly popular among life science companies to meet patient needs and demand. All help alleviate the challenges with expanded product portfolios by reducing hands-on time and human error, improving inefficient processes, and decreasing operating expenditures while optimizing uptime, agility, and quality.

Veolia | Water Tech’ Sievers* instruments allow manufacturers to perform rapid testing and real-time monitoring. This ability provides simpler, more efficient quality control and process monitoring so manufacturers never have to compromise compliance.

Let’s dig deeper into pharmaceutical manufacturing trends to better understand how Veolia’s technology is supporting the evolution of pharmaceutical manufacturing practices.

Meeting market and patient expectations

With the increasing regulatory scrutiny and ever evolving product pipelines in life sciences, companies are strained across quality, sourcing, manufacturing, and supply chains. The pandemic’s effect on the industry reshaped its approach to production and meeting market and patient needs. Manufacturers need agile operations, continuous manufacturing, and digitization to succeed in today’s landscape.

PAT instruments at different stages of the manufacturing process help achieve those traits by controlling quality and achieving quality by design (QbD). These tools enable adaptable, predictive, and efficient operations so manufacturers can keep pace with the production challenges we will continue to see going forward.

Optimizing manufacturing in real-time

For over 30 years, Sievers analytical instruments have proven their reputation for supporting quality and patient safety in pharmaceutical manufacturing with sensitive, robust, and easy-to-use total organic carbon (TOC) analyzers for ultra-pure water (UPW) and water for injection (WFI) testing. Sievers products simplify complex measurements and have evolved to provide comprehensive water quality monitoring, real-time testing, and process monitoring with a portfolio of PAT instruments to serve TOC, conductivity, endotoxin, and bioburden testing.

While water quality monitoring built the foundation of the Sievers Instruments portfolio, the needs of the pharmaceutical industry and partnerships with manufacturers have resulted in expanded applications in cleaning validation, contamination control, rapid microbiological methods, final drug product testing, raw material and intermediate testing, real-time release testing, and extractable and leachable testing. Faster, easier process monitoring tools for bacterial endotoxin testing (BET), bioburden, TOC, and conductivity enable pharmaceutical manufacturers to obtain comprehensive information to support critical release tests and make proactive decisions to mitigate risks.

Veolia’s hands-on approach with the pharmaceutical industry has driven the expanded applications of Sievers Instruments to address challenges and pain points in pharmaceutical manufacturing while maintaining patient safety.

Not only has pharmaceutical manufacturing been challenging in recent years due to evolving therapeutics and product portfolios, but pandemic-related developments, like the ability to rapidly scale production and deploy vaccines and treatments, have set the industry on a new course.

Learn how Sievers analyzers and instruments can help you modernize your manufacturing processes and adapt to today’s pharmaceutical demands. *Trademark of Veolia; May be registered in one or more countries.

manufacturing

Sievers

analytical instruments

real-time monitoring

Kaitlyn Vap

How to Approach DLE for New Lithium Mining Facilities

Admin — Wed, 26 Apr 2023 19:01:39 +0000

How to Approach DLE for New Lithium Mining Facilities Admin Wed, 04/26/2023 - 15:01

By John Peichel, Global Market Developer at Veolia | Water Tech

The world has long needed lithium for its role in prescription drugs, strengthening ceramics, powering rechargeable batteries, and as an additive in lubricants and adhesives. This year, lithium's value has boomed, driven by a growing need for electric-vehicle (EV) batteries.

This has quickly become the most common use for lithium, changing the mining business. Demand is so high that factories usually producing ceramics are reprioritizing and mining lithium for EV batteries instead. According to Benchmark Mineral Intelligence, the price of lithium in August 2022 was $59,928 per metric ton, nearly ten times higher than the cost in August 2020.

As demand shows no signs of slowing down, more organizations and countries want to get their share of this fast-growing market. Australia, Latin America, and China produced 98% of lithium in 2020, and production is expected to grow by 20% per year, with more regions increasing mining efforts.

The United States has both the opportunity and desire to expand mining initiatives. According to the Institute for Energy Research, the U.S. produces less than 2% of the world’s annual lithium supply, and the government is incentivizing organizations to seize the market opportunity. For example, the Department of Energy (DOE) earmarked $2.8 billion in grants from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) for 20 manufacturing and processing companies for projects across 12 states.

So how do lithium developers advance their projects quickly as demand for EVs (and, of course, EV batteries) continues to rise? Let's take a look at how technology is changing lithium mining, what constitutes a positive result, and how Veolia | Water Tech can ensure developers achieve those results.

DLE explained

The conventional method for mining lithium uses evaporation ponds, which require a significant amount of land area. The process can have modest yields, usually takes 18-24 months and often impacts the local environment.

A newer process called direct lithium extraction (DLE) is gaining popularity because, for many sites, it is more cost-effective than the evaporation method, typically produces a higher lithium yield, and requires significantly less processing time. As a result, DLE is evolving as a potential game changer that could help unlock a more sustainable lithium supply in the U.S., reducing the need to lean on imports. According to The Nature Conservancy, the contiguous United States has enough lithium to potentially supply the world for over a century.

DLE reduces uncertainty and risk while compressing a project's time frame, but it still requires an experienced partner to succeed. Veolia works collaboratively with mine developers to reduce the time and cost of multiple scopes of supply. In addition, Veolia can work with any configuration needed to help projects achieve their goals and manage complex supply chain challenges.

Showing success

Lithium developers are competing for capital against other projects and want to show they can achieve superior results when it comes to efficiency, higher yield, and less water usage. However, each source of lithium is unique, and each DLE process requires specific treatment steps before and after DLE to achieve the desired eluent quality.

Developers want to achieve the highest degree of lithium yield and eluent with a high purity level at the lowest cost possible. The process of DLE includes some challenging chemistry that requires the right technology and the ability to implement the best collection of treatment steps. Technology can support business models, enhance operations, and maximize profitability and return on investment by keeping expenses low.

A project that has scheduling flexibility, mitigates risk, and is agile enough to adjust for potential changes is best positioned to find success in all aspects. However, it's no easy task because DLE has challenges, including managing the water balance. Brines exist in dry areas without much fresh water, which you need to run most DLE processes. For example, low total dissolved solids (TDS) water is used to displace the high TDS lithium brine out of the resin before eluting off the lithium. In some cases, these tasks can account for over 80% of the freshwater needs.

Veolia’s role in DLE

With so many moving parts in DLE, it takes work to go at it alone. Veolia can partner in those efforts, helping with the purification, concentration, and conversion of lithium chloride to lithium carbonate or lithium hydroxide. Processing can be customized based on investment or how a developer chooses to operate the DLE process.

Veolia can recycle water from the lithium concentration step, recover water from thermal technologies, and even help treat the eluent by using unique membranes designed to remove calcium, magnesium, and sulfate from the lithium stream. Veolia can also pre-concentrate brine with reverse osmosis, reducing the water that needs to be released through evaporation by as much as 90% in forming the final lithium product.

Going through the DLE process can be complicated, but Veolia has extensive experience helping developers through engineering tradeoffs, tackling ESG issues, and simplifying the operation. Learn more about Veolia’s DLE capabilities and how those products and services can help your project.

DLE

direct lithium extraction

batteries

John Peichel

Earth Day and Beyond: How Veolia | Water Tech is Making a Difference

Admin — Sat, 22 Apr 2023 15:12:08 +0000

Earth Day and Beyond: How Veolia | Water Tech is Making a Difference Admin Sat, 04/22/2023 - 11:12

Earth Day began in 1970 as a means of making our environment a national issue. It spurred 20 million Americans into action and motivated Congress to create the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

More than 50 years later, we can’t let the shine wear off this important tradition or allow our planet’s future to be reduced to just one day of observance. The stakes are too high.

The latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report shows the Earth’s temperature has increased faster since 1970 than any 50-year period in the last 2,000 years, which could have immense consequences. United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres released a statement saying, “humanity is on thin ice — and that ice is melting fast. … our world needs climate action on all fronts — everything, everywhere, all at once.”

While individuals and businesses are increasingly focused on sustainability, we need action to support those intentions. Kantar research shows an overwhelming 97% of consumers say they want to become more sustainable, yet only 13% are making changes to do so.

At Veolia | Water Tech, we understand the importance of preserving our planet — our teams and tools can make a difference in fighting against global issues like climate change and water scarcity. We are aligned with the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and how they can influence a brighter future for our planet.

Our strategies and innovative solutions have already made an impact around the globe. Here are two ways our efforts support sustainability and keep the focus of Earth Day at the forefront.

Conserving oceans, seas, and marine resources for sustainable development

Phosphorus is essential to sustaining life underwater and acts as a nutrient when discharged into the environment, but when too much is discharged it leads to unnatural algae growth and impairs biodiversity.

One of the ethanol plants we manage was using phosphorus-based treatments for its cooling tower’s mild steel corrosion control and reverse osmosis antiscalant. The cooling tower blowdown was the most significant source of phosphorus, so we recommended converting its treatment program to an E.C.O.Film, non-phosphorus and non-zinc treatment.

E.C.O.Film generates a protective matrix, which offers stronger protection against corrosion than traditional phosphate programs and does not represent comparable fouling potential. This conversion led to a 75% reduction in phosphorus release for the plant.

Ensuring availability and sustainable management of water

One of our biggest global threats is water scarcity. According to the World Wildlife Fund, 2.7 billion people face scarcity of water at least one month per year. Our technology and solutions provide more access to water for more people and help preserve this precious resource for future generations.

Norfolk is one of the driest counties in the United Kingdom and with a population that is growing quickly, utility Anglian Water needed to ensure it could meet demand. We used a ZeeWeed*Ultrafiltration (UF) system to help Anglian Water implement a new water intake downstream where the River Tud joins the River Wensum and offers higher water levels. The largest water filtration system in Europe enabled Anglian Water to treat the high turbidity water to necessary standards without having to allow settling first.

A wide variety of climate-related threats have challenged our customers across the world, but we’re up to the task. We work to innovate new solutions every day and invest in our planet so that Earth Day doesn’t have to become a solemn reminder of what we face, but rather inspiration to use the tools available to move forward and create a more sustainable future.

*Trademark of Veolia; May be registered in one or more countries.

water

Earth Day

water scarcity

Zeeweed

E.C.O. Film

Philippe de Susanne

How Do We Make Earth Day Every Day?

Admin — Fri, 21 Apr 2023 13:17:54 +0000

How Do We Make Earth Day Every Day? Admin Fri, 04/21/2023 - 09:17

As we approach another Earth Day, let’s reflect on our recent impacts at Veolia | Water Tech and support of Veolia’s ecological transformation. As a sustainability leader, I get an up-close look at our efforts addressing sustainability and ESG initiatives. Our employees have done outstanding work supporting our customers in achieving their environmental and economic goals.

Our employees collaborate, develop, and solve complex problems that not only make our customers safer, more reliable, and more productive, but also reduce their water use, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and waste.

These efforts create a “handprint” that is important to measure along with our footprint. We have continued to reduce our Scope 1 and 2 GHG footprint and are working on accounting for Scope 3 GHG emissions. Our broad solution portfolio and different business units work seamlessly to implement solutions that improve our planet.

Here are three prime examples from my home country of Canada:

Increasing steam production sustainably

An oil sands upgrader in Alberta was experiencing steam shortages in winter months and needed solutions to prevent lost production without major capital projects and without increasing water or fuel consumption. Working closely with the customer’s technical and operational teams, Veolia proposed an operational solution that not only increased its available steam production, but also resulted in economic savings of over $23 million per year, GHG savings of over 182,000 metric tons of CO2e per year, and water savings of 339 million gallons per year. More information can be found here.

Creating renewable energy

Montreal set an ambitious climate goal to become carbon-neutral by 2050. The Montreal Biomethanation plant is a total solution that Veolia is providing the city to convert 60,000 metric tons of source separated organic (SSO) waste into renewable energy each year. The output is natural gas, a clean digestate that is combined with compost to form a usable soil amendment, and a clean wastewater effluent that is discharged to the local publicly owned treatment works. This holistic solution will generate over 120,000 gigajoules of renewable energy per year, saving over 67,000 metric tons of CO2e per year in GHG emissions, diverting almost 49,000 metric tons of SSO waste away from landfills each year, and treating over 159,000 cubic meters of wastewater per year within the biomethanation plant. More information can be found here.

Demineralizing to increase capacity

A mining operation was experiencing issues with its boilers, and affecting production rates. Working closely with the customer’s teams, Veolia audited the steam plant’s operations and delivered a mobile demineralizer system that allowed an electric boiler to operate at full capacity without impacting the mine’s production or requiring the use of the backup oil-fired boilers. This emergency mobile solution resulted in economic savings of over $1.3 million and avoided 5,500 metric tons of CO2e over the two-month project period. More information can be found here.

These success stories demonstrate the positive environmental and economic impacts that Veolia has on our industrial and municipal customers every day. Our handprint is actually much larger when you add in the thousands of other customers across the globe and the water and waste savings our solutions create.

I’m proud of the impact that our 10,000 Veolia employees have on our 50,000 customers each day, giving us a reason to celebrate progress on Earth Day. I’ll continue to challenge everyone to collaborate, partner, and implement solutions to make every day Earth Day and drive our collective ecological transformation.

Earth Day

carbon neutral

sustainability

renewable energy

ecological transformation

Mark Knight

Clean Water for Hospitals in Kenya and Tanzania: Addressing Inequity Through Technology and Partnerships

Admin — Wed, 19 Apr 2023 18:49:59 +0000

Clean Water for Hospitals in Kenya and Tanzania: Addressing Inequity Through Technology and Partnerships Admin Wed, 04/19/2023 - 14:49

Many communities across the globe already struggle with reliable access to clean water. The pandemic made access more challenging and created a bigger divide between the haves and have nots.

The United Nations’ landmark Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) address equity in relation to many of life’s necessities, like decent work or access to clean water and sanitation, and while great advances have been made on many, creating more equity around basic needs has been difficult. Projects to improve local conditions are pivotal in addressing this inequity and can only be accomplished through technology and partnerships.

The German government spearheaded one such project to improve water supply and quality in Kenya and Tanzania, where at least one-third of residents live in extreme poverty (on less than $1.90 per day). The German Investment Corporation aimed to provide one million liters of clean water per day for 28 hospitals and clinics, and called on Veolia | Water Tech to be part of the mission. The results show how quickly progress can be made with the right partners and the right goals.

Basic Needs Are Intertwined

The pandemic hasn’t been the only event driving increased need for clean water. Generations of political conflict or extreme weather have created insurmountable barriers to sustainability for entire nations and regions. Increased climate change impacts, for example, are causing droughts in some areas and extreme weather events in others, with both threatening food and water supplies.

Meanwhile, the increasing global population is creating additional demand for water and food across swaths of the planet. These factors are among the biggest reasons why the SDGs address equity, as applied to our most vital necessities. Seven of the U.N.’s 17 SDGs directly address creating more equity and reducing existing inequalities:

No poverty
Zero hunger
Good health and well-being
Quality education
Gender equality
Clean water and sanitation
Reduced inequalities

A Brookings report on how American leadership can best advance SDGs to achieve equity and sustainability cited the way the pandemic and social unrest of 2020 further highlighted the interconnected nature of the many challenges we face.

While COVID-19 was primarily a health issue, it quickly became deeply intertwined in nearly every facet of our lives. The ensuing web of problems and changes indicate why partnerships and connections between industries and governments need to be a key driver of SDG success.

Cleaner Water Needed at Kenyan Hospitals

That kind of interconnected problem-solving made all the difference in Kenya and Tanzania. To help communities faced with an unstable water supply and inconsistent water quality across both countries, the German government partnered with WaterKiosk Ltd. and Boreal Light to provide clean water each day.

The project centered on supplying clean water at new, decentralized plants that are also part of one of Africa’s largest solar-powered water desalination projects, requiring reliable technology that minimized maintenance. Veolia was chosen to provide AG Series reverse osmosis elements to treat permeate water at Coast General Hospital and Mombasa Hospital near the Mombasa, Kenya coastline.

The technology reduced both bacteria and virus content in the water, enabling solar-powered reverse osmosis systems to provide clean and hygienic water for the hospitals that require it and keeping thousands safe from potential serious illness.

Our work in Africa is a small but vital piece of progress in the overall pursuit of SDGs. It is made more significant by the fact that it directly addresses equity and is in immediate response to a need of the hour. So much of the work we perform every day at Veolia contributes to a more sustainable future, and when it also contributes to equity, our efforts amplify results for all.

sustainability

SDG

Inequity

water

Kenya

Mark Knight and Philippe de Susanne

Waterside Chats: Meet Global Director for Digital and Sustainability Growth

Admin — Thu, 13 Apr 2023 19:58:36 +0000

Waterside Chats: Meet Global Director for Digital and Sustainability Growth Admin Thu, 04/13/2023 - 15:58

We’re shining a spotlight on some of these talented individuals, so they can share more about their current roles and the personal career journeys that brought them to where they are today. In the latest video of our “Waterside Chats” series, we caught up with our Global Director for Digital and Sustainability Growth, Somansh Agarwal, who learned the importance of “reduce, reuse, and recycle” practices early on growing up in India.

Now, he has a direct role in helping reduce industrial water usage by working with organizationsto meet their sustainability goals and optimize operations.

Watch below for more.

Employees

Waterside chat

The Blogger Team

How the United Nations Water Conference Reshaped the Conversation

Admin — Fri, 31 Mar 2023 21:41:29 +0000

How the United Nations Water Conference Reshaped the Conversation Admin Fri, 03/31/2023 - 17:41

For the first time in almost five decades, the United Nations(UN) held a conference dedicated to water, bringing experts and government officials together to find solutions to one of the most significant challenges facing humanity. Core themes of the event included water for health, development, climate, resilience, and the environment. The three-day conference in New York City also highlighted cooperation and the water action decade. It marked the halfway point for achieving the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), established in 2015.

SDG 6, clean water and sanitation is in particular jeopardy. The UN raised the flag two years ago, saying the world is “tremendously off track,” and the picture hasn’t gotten much brighter.

At the conference, UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned that "water is in deep trouble" and “we are draining humanity’s lifeblood through vampiric overconsumption and unsustainable use, and evaporating it through global heating.”

A UN report unveiled at the conference shows two billion people —a quarter of the global population —lack access to safely managed drinking water services, and 3.6 billion don't have safely managed sanitation. With plenty of progress left to be made, we're seeing water overtake energy as a primary focus of these SDGs.

We learned much about global trends and possible solutions at the UN Water Conference. Here are three key takeaways from the event.

Reassessing where our resources go: The latest data shows 72% of our freshwater goes to agriculture, with 16% going to municipalities and 12% to industries. So how do we adjust? Conservation is important but not feasible for agriculture or sufficient on a broader scale. Desalination is great for specific locations but can be energy intensive and expensive. Water reuse is the best resource we have to turn the tide.
A call to action: At a conference side event, the Global Commission on the Economics of Water (GCEW) set a seven-point agenda that included new ways to govern. In order to get back on track with SDG 6, governments need to step in and create policies that will help promote greater water reuse. Incentives can help businesses and communities bridge the economic gaps they’re facing and take positive steps.
Geopolitical influence: The big question is how to move forward from this first water conference in nearly 50 years. According to the UN, the answer is greater adoption of the Water Convention, “a unique legally binding instrument” that promotes sustainable management and regional peace to integrate these values. Two nations –Nigeria and Iraq –joined the Convention during the conference, becoming the 48th and 49th nations to join the treaty. In order to accelerate progress, cross-border cooperation is necessary so we can unite in our efforts to reverse this water crisis.

How do we apply what we learned from the conference? The widespread adoption of water reuse can be the key to immediately and effectively reversing the global threat of water scarcity.

Veolia | Water Techis on the front lines of water reuse, continually deploying, developing, and innovating new technologies to meet water quality needs. As a result, we are increasing treatment and energy efficiency, capturing valuable resources from the process, and reducing the system's physical footprint.

To further our efforts, we introduced the Industrial Water Reuse Champion Award in partnership with the WateReuse Association, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and the University of Pennsylvania Water Center.

The award recognizes top Fortune 1000 companies that incorporate the best-in-class water recycling and reuse programs to improve water stewardship and achieve their water management goals. The inaugural winners —APA Corporation, Pepsico, and Intel —were announced at the 2023 WateReuse Symposium in Atlanta earlier this month and highlighted again at the UN Water Conference.

Water Reuse

water recycling

United Nations

Champion Award

Jon Freedman

Water Technology Q&A: Industry 5.0 with Bernie Anger

Admin — Tue, 28 Mar 2023 19:23:15 +0000

Water Technology Q&A: Industry 5.0 with Bernie Anger Admin Tue, 03/28/2023 - 15:23

Chief digital officer for Veolia | Water Tech brings us up to speed on what Industry 5.0 is, how it evolves from Industry 4.0, what it means for industry and how companies can begin to prepare.

The next industrial revolution is known as Industry 5.0. Water Technology recently caught up with Bernie Anger, Chief Digital Officer for Veolia | Water Tech, to bring us up to speed on what Industry 5.0 is, how it evolves from Industry 4.0, what it means for industry and how companies can begin to prepare.

What exactly is Industry 5.0?

Given it is still a relatively new concept, there are different versions of what Industry 5.0 means. I like aligning with the definition from the European Commission, which says that Industry 5.0 provides a vision of industry that aims beyond growth and profit as the sole goals and emphasizes the role of industry to society. That is to say that industry can play a big part in providing solutions to our most pressing challenges. So, you could say that Industry 5.0 is a call to action — it strives for a greater purpose.

How is it different from Industry 4.0?

In a broad sense, Industry 4.0 brought together advances in industrial automation and web technologies to drive productivity. In a plant, this means the ability to link an automated process with cloud-type technologies and use data analytics to achieve gains in productivity. At Veolia we have been adopters of Industry 4.0 concepts in many of our offerings, ranging from our connected APM platform, Insight, to our various connected control solutions such as TrueSense, and our analytics portfolio that includes tools like Empower. Now, what Industry 5.0 proposes is to make use of that same technology and infrastructure to also help address the global issues we face, like water stress.

How can industrial companies get started on an Industry 5.0 approach?

First off, Industry 5.0 should be viewed as a journey. And different companies are at different stages along this journey. For those getting started, one of the first steps they can take is to understand their industrial operations in terms of their use of natural resources and potential sources of environmental stress (water, carbon, etc.). This foundation of data can then inform goal setting, which helps prioritize investments in cloud-connected automation, or broader equipment infrastructure. Deploying sustainability-centric actionable dashboards at multiple levels within the Organization early in the process can help coalesce the organization around common sustainability objectives. Water performance is key in many industries and our area of expertise as a company, so we keep accelerating our ability to deliver Industry 5.0 solutions to assist customers on their journey.

Can you provide an example?

I like thinking in terms of frameworks, so when we look at water through a digital lens we speak in terms of transparency, net-positivity, and resiliency.

Let’s use water as an example to illustrate what we mean by transparency. A company could look at every water-related flow — every input and output — to determine a water balance. Applying connected instrumentation will result in a higher level of precision with the calculation. Next, the company can use their water balance to help choose the best opportunities to intervene in the plant with water saving measures. But the real progress begins when a plant starts collecting data automatically and combines it with algorithms to optimize each process and how each asset operates. You can see that the approach begins at a macro level and becomes increasingly focused.

It’s important to point out that beginning an Industry 5.0 journey does not always mean that a company will have to invest a significant amount of capital in new digital capabilities. In fact, many customers may already have some of the data and the automation infrastructure for moving ahead. As a partner, Veolia can connect the different sources of data that customers have. And obviously, we have the ability to compliment it with instrumentation and analytics.

What about for companies that are further along with their sustainability commitments?

There is a heightened degree of awareness among industry about the importance of environmental stewardship and water conservation and many organizations already have sustainability programs in place. We work with many of them. So, in these cases, what Industry 5.0 really provides is a tool that these companies can use to accelerate their sustainability performance.

People often wonder how Industry 4.0 technologies are useful here. They might ask, “Why would I use digital tools in my water footprint?” The answer is that, fundamentally, it gives you the right information to go make the right set of decisions. And further, it helps you automate aspects of the work — freeing you to tackle the next layer of problems.

Is the ROI there?

I love this question. The answer is best determined by each customer and their situation, based on their context. Regardless of that, we want to encourage customers, at a minimum, to embrace a holistic approach when calculating their true cost of water. With rising energy costs, efficient (which often also means more sustainable) use enabled by the type of technologies we’ve been discussing can have an attractive payback.

How can solution providers like Veolia help companies move their Industry 5.0 adoption forward?

Domain expertise matters. That’s where organizations like us can make a huge difference. We combine decades of water industry expertise with digital leadership. And more, we have the capabilities to use analytics to transform data into actionable intelligence. We feel that it’s our responsibility to be at the center of this transformation that Industry 5.0 is driving.

I can say that already we are at work at sites around the world, collaborating with clients to benchmark and assess their performance for the purpose of identifying actions they can take to progress. We have a meaningful, connected footprint in tough industrial environments, which can be a huge accelerator for customers. What gets us enthused is that we can make a difference by helping our clients optimize the performance of critical assets so they can reach their sustainability goals faster.

Note: The original article ran in Water Technology Online on March 17th, 2023.

digital

Thought leadership

Industry 4.0

Industry 5.0

Bernie Anger

How Emerging Technology Accelerates Change on World Water Day 2023

Admin — Wed, 22 Mar 2023 14:43:35 +0000

How Emerging Technology Accelerates Change on World Water Day 2023 Admin Wed, 03/22/2023 - 10:43

Water scarcity is a problem that affects every corner of the world, with dwindling resources and increasing demand. Unfortunately, the situation only seems to worsen due to climate change and population growth, but hope lies in emerging technology, which can help us save our most precious resource.

On this World Water Day, the theme of accelerating change couldn't be more relevant. According to the UN, “we are seriously off-track to meet Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6: Water and sanitation for all by 2030. Demand is steadily outpacing supply, and is projected to do so by 40% by 2030.The key to overcoming our dire water crisis lies in innovative solutions that can spark that change to help us overcome this challenge to the sustainability of our communities and provide access to clean and safe water.

Veolia | Water Tech is at the forefront of cutting-edge technology solutions for sustainable water treatment and recycling. The company's experts use advanced processes and technologies like biological treatment, membrane filtration, and advanced oxidation to build tailored water reuse systems that meet each customer's objectives and comply with governing regulations. The powerful combination of our ozone generators and biofiltration systems leads the way in potable reuse, ensuring that water can be reused safely without harming the environment.

Our ozone generators provide both disinfection and the power of oxidation to reduce chemical compounds, making them essential in creating safe drinking water. Meanwhile, our biofiltration processes are used to biodegrade the chemical components in the stream, including those converted by the ozonation step.

Veolia is dedicated to accelerating the change we need—in advanced reuse, we combine specialized water treatment technologies and wastewater treatment plants to move closer to a One Water future. Let’s look at three examples that demonstrate how these emerging technologies has helped customer son their water recycling journeys:

At the F. Wayne Hill Water Resources Center in Gwinnett County, Georgia, Lake Sidney Lanier, the county's sole source of fresh water, was under immense stress due to major drought cycles, population growth, and competing demand downstream. So the county implemented an indirect potable reuse plan to recycle treated water into the lake and nurture a more sustainable source. It implemented ozone generators followed by biofiltration in the new process, and since 2010 it has pumped up to 40 million gallons of advanced treated effluent per day into the lake.
In South Jordan, Utah, a demonstration plant was established to educate the public on direct potable reuse, a process allowing the community to control its water supply. The demonstration facility receives high-quality effluent from an upstream full-scale Veolia membrane bioreactor (MBR) system. It leverages ozone and biofiltration as critical treatment steps in the advanced purification process. It also uses Sievers Total Organic Carbon (TOC) Analyzers to show what was happening with the water during the advanced treatment process. This demonstration is the first of its kind in Utah and will open the door for other similar projects to produce safe and cost-effective drinking water for the community.
Similarly, the Shafdan Wastewater Treatment Plant in Israel demonstrated the effectiveness of water reuse. The largest facility of its kind in the Middle East is subject to droughts and needs to create a circular economy for its water. An ozone generator and biofiltration system enable the facility to recycle water and supply it to desert farmers to irrigate their crops without posing an environmental risk.

All three programs support industry research programs to enable the effective implementation of ozone and biofiltration technology and support the greater development of direct and indirect potable water reuse. With Veolia’s emerging solutions, we can accelerate change and overcome the water crisis. We need to act fast, but we have the tools and experience for the job.

water

Stephen Katz

Does Reverse Osmosis Treat PFAS?

Admin — Tue, 21 Mar 2023 21:58:51 +0000

Does Reverse Osmosis Treat PFAS? Admin Tue, 03/21/2023 - 17:58

Potentially harmful pollutants called PFAS are nearly everywhere, from everyday products like fast food wrappers and plastic bottles to our water supplies. In fact, PFAS have been the leading water contaminant since the 2010s.

As scientific research reveals more about the health and environmental impacts of PFAS, it has become more urgent to treat the substances through methods like reverse osmosis and activated carbon.

What are PFAS?

Per- and Poly-Fluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) are a broad range of man-made organic molecules containing a short to long chain of carbon atoms. It’s estimated that there are more than 5,000 types of PFAS. These substances are used in many products such as pans, carpet protectors, and firefighting foam, due to their resistance to heat, water, and grease. Those properties cause PFAS to break down extremely slowly, thus garnering the name “forever chemicals.”

PFAS also persists in water. Exposure to some PFAS in the environment may be linked to harmful health effects in humans and animals (USEPA, 2022). To mitigate those negative effects, we have to filter them out of water, including wastewater that may end up becoming drinking water.

In November 2022, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released a study that outlined the first year of its strategic roadmap to protect against PFAS contamination. There are multiple technologies that municipalities and water providers can leverage to treat PFAS and minimize future risk.

What is reverse osmosis?

Human cell walls act as a membrane that allows water to move through our bodies and limit the movement of salts. That natural osmosis is key to how our bodies work.

Reverse osmosis is a separation process that uses a synthetic thin film polymeric membrane specifically engineered to allow water to pass through.

How do RO systems work to treat PFAS from water?

Pumping the water through the membrane allows that filtration to happen quicker, but still keeps small bodies like PFAS from passing through the membranes.

The reverse osmosis element goes into a system that treats a water source with PFAS and filters it out to generate a permeate. All the rejected salts and PFAS get concentrated into a reject stream, often called the concentrate. According to the EPA, reverse osmosis separation is up to 99% effective at removing certain PFAS.

Think of it like keeping bugs out of a house with a window screen. Small bugs can get through the fibers of the screen, but the bigger insects stay out and the screen filters your air. Reverse osmosis membranes have openings that are microscopic. You can’t see them and even PFAS are too big to pass through, so there is no accumulation over time or clogging challenges. It continually gets flushed off to the concentrate and the membrane is just as effective after one year as it is after one day.

How does RO compare to carbon in treating PFAS?

If you’ve purchased a refrigerator within the last 15 years, you may be familiar with activated carbon. Activated carbon has absorption properties that make it a very effective material at removing things like chlorine, organics, taste, and odor. Carbon filters are used to remove those non-toxic entities from a local water supply to create better tasting water and ice.

Unlike reverse osmosis membranes, carbon filters don’t produce a concentrate. Instead, the PFAS gets absorbed and trapped in the carbon filter, which needs to be replaced every so often. Higher levels of PFAS mean you will need to replace carbon more often. Reverse osmosis, on the other hand, won’t be dictated by those levels and will filter out the PFAS regardless. The quality of water coming from carbon treatment or reverse osmosis treatment is comparable — the EPA says carbon filtration is 88-99% effective at treating certain PFAS.

In industrial settings where wastewater is treated, reverse osmosis is preferred over carbon because it treats a wide variety of PFAS and doesn’t require carbon’s frequency of replacement.

How can Veolia help you?

The most cost-effective way to treat PFAS is to not let it get there in the first place. Industrial organizations can keep it from getting in their wastewater and moving along the water continuum to drinking water in that community. Learn more about Veolia’s reverse osmosis solutions for water and process treatment.

If you work for a larger manufacturer or municipal wastewater industrial company and are interested in treating PFAS in drinking water or wastewater, contact one of our experts for more information.

If you’re a homeowner, it’s important to understand the source and quality of your drinking water and if even low levels of PFAS are a concern in your drinking water. If you’re on a private well instead of a public system, you may want to consider PFAS testing for periodic evaluation. For added protection, you can install carbon filtration or reverse osmosis for your drinking and cooking water. Many local water suppliers and big box warehouses sell reverse osmosis and carbon systems and can recommend a plumber to install it. Learn more about PFAS with the latest information from the EPA.

Read PFAS Disclaimer

PFAS

EPA

regulations

John Peichel

PFAS remediation is becoming more urgent for industry, municipal water facilities

Admin — Tue, 28 Feb 2023 13:54:08 +0000

PFAS remediation is becoming more urgent for industry, municipal water facilities Admin Tue, 02/28/2023 - 08:54

Per-and poly-fluoroalkyl substances, better known as PFAS, are present in many products consumers use daily - from certain food packaging and cleaning products to cosmetics and more. As a result, concerns around PFAS contamination levels and negative health effects have garnered significant media attention and driven increasing pressure to impose stricter regulations around the world.

Last year, the EPA introduced updated effluent guidelines planned to more fully address wastewater discharge in the United States, including the first limits for PFAS. The EPA also has a non-enforceable health advisory level of 70 parts per trillion (ppt) for the sum of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) in drinking water, but some existing maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) are still above that threshold.

Globally, regulations are even more wide-ranging. China, Canada, and the EU have led the way in enforceable limits. In contrast, signatory countries of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) have focused on aqueous firefighting foams (AFFF) often stored in outdoor tanks or ponds in particular.

Water and wastewater treatment plant managers need to be acutely aware of the differences between statutory PFAS regulations and PFAS guidelines, and also understand that non-regulatory guidelines may become statutory in the future.

Expansion of regulations, awareness driving shift in enforcement

While stricter federal regulations are anticipated in the future, the timeline and specifics around the regulations are still uncertain. In anticipation of these changes, state-level wastewater regulation agencies are taking action by requiring sampling and testing in advance of imposing stricter rules ahead of the coming federal decisions.

In Minnesota, there are already certain requirements to conduct testing and report many pollutants. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MCPA) developed a PFAS Monitoring Plan to incorporate these contaminants, specifically noting that changes may need to be made to comply with evolving PFAS regulations at both the state and federal levels.

Similarly, refineries and petrochemical plants would historically dilute their Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AFFF) ponds, containing firefighting foam left from a fire event, to the EPA’s recommended level of 70 ppt before discharging it into wastewater streams. Now, agencies are starting to prohibit wastewater streams with any level of PFAS to be discharged at all.

The need for PFAS remediation is more apparent than ever, and industrial plants need to take action to address PFAS contamination more urgently than the speed at which the regulatory landscape is developing. As such, industrial plants are asking for help managing and remediating PFAS to comply with these tightening regulations.

Evaluating solutions for PFAS treatment

Just as PFAS regulations vary across the board, PFAS challenges are also uniquely complex at each site, meaning the most effective flowsheet can differ significantly between projects. A treatment flowsheet developed from a holistic standpoint regards the unit operations as a complete system—technically and economically optimized as a full package, not as individual parts. This flowsheet will provide the context necessary to balance the trade-offs of different treatment processes to assemble the ideal combination of technologies to treat targeted PFAS, where the choice of one option will influence the performance or the selection of another downstream.

Many factors must be considered to identify the best treatment solution for addressing PFAS at your site. These include:

● PFAS constituents to be treated. Understanding PFAS characteristics like chain length, functional groups, the number of compounds, and variability guides the evaluation and selection of technologies for the final treatment flowsheet.

● Competing contaminants like high concentrations of salts, suspended solids, innocuous organics, or other contaminants of concern in industrial wastewaters can impact treatment equipment and processes.

● Lifecycle costs are impacted by the level of treatment and technology selection, the method for managing captured PFAS and its final disposal along with any associated costs for replacing spent media.

● Site constraints related to disposal and treatment and/or technology solution.

● Technology limitations should be carefully weighed for each potential solution during the selection process.

Once analytical lab testing to determine what substances are present at your site is complete, there are three PFAS treatment categories to consider. Separation treatment technologies include proven membranes like reverse osmosis (RO) and nanofiltration (NF), which are increasingly being used to address PFAS. Capture treatment technologies include activated carbon (widely used to date), anion exchange resin (receiving increasing interest), and novel adsorbents. PFAS disposal technologies can include thermal oxidation and incineration, electrochemical oxidation, and/or high energy technology such as plasma.

Industrial plants can deploy multiple technologies depending on their situation. Granular activated carbon (GAC) is a proven technology used throughout the world and is very effective at capturing many common forms of PFAS but it is not as effective on shorter chains. GAC can also be reactivated and used again. While the cost for GAC reactivation is less than incineration, care must be taken not to release or produce PFAS as part of the reactivation process. Ion exchange is an effective technology on both long- and short-chain compounds and maintains a high throughput capacity with a modest footprint. Still, it requires extensive pretreatment and most applications require piloting. Plants may not have the time or budget for that. Treating PFAS with membrane technology provides a larger host of options, especially high-pressure membranes (reverse osmosis, nanofiltration) that are highly effective at PFAS removal and provide future-proofing benefits. After implementing a solution, additional testing and monitoring should be conducted to ensure continued compliance.

Above all, maintain a holistic view of PFAS reductions

PFAS treatment solutions are not one size fits all. Industrial companies that recognize this have an advantage in staying ahead of the evolving PFAS regulations. Developing a treatment plan that allows for flexibility is key to navigating the adapting regulatory landscape, mitigating PFAS, and future-proofing your plant.

Learn how Veolia | Water Tech can assist you in creating and executing a tailored, future-proof treatment plan for PFAS mitigation here.

Read PFAS Disclaimer

PFAS

remediation

municipal

regulations

John Peichel

What Coming Water Reuse Regulations Will Mean for Facilities

Admin — Mon, 13 Feb 2023 19:30:31 +0000

What Coming Water Reuse Regulations Will Mean for Facilities Admin Mon, 02/13/2023 - 14:30

A new year brings new regulations, and in most industries, that means a deadline whereby compliance must be demonstrated. Typically, regulations act as a hammer. Once it hits, organizations may need to adjust business priorities to meet specific timelines .

The emerging potable reuse sector of the water industry, where utilities are taking wastewater and recycling that to augment freshwater and drinking water supplies, is the exact opposite.

Instead, the water reuse regulations we expect to see in 2023 will act as an enabler, opening up new opportunities. For example, Arizona has created a Technical Advisory Group that will continue work in 2023 to create regulations for direct potable reuse, while California and Colorado also have plans to implement rules this year. Florida is in the rulemaking process of the same initiative, and Texas recently published a guidance document on their regulatory process.

These regulations serve not as a mandate for action but as a helpful planning tool for sustainability in the various communities within these states so they can augment freshwater supply. Regulators are implementing a framework because the state of water supplies has evolved into an emergency in many communities. The deadline, in this case, isn't about government action. It's more severe: Freshwater supply is running out.

According to WWF, two-thirds of the world population could face water shortages as soon as 2025. Communities want to invest to avoid that kind of disaster, and regulations serve as an enabler of recycling methods. Processes like direct potable reuse (DPR) — using treated wastewater for drinking — can help curb water scarcity. Regulation supports public perception and acceptance of those initiatives because it justifies what the community has chosen to do, backed by science-backed oversight.

Recycling projects begin with utility providers, requiring strong leadership, thoughtful planning and multi-year commitments. Regulations offer certainty for those efforts through a framework that lays out what's allowed as utilities spend on planning, development, and setup.

Let's take a closer look at how water reuse regulations have helped communities achieve goals, what utilities should be doing to plan for 2023 regulations, and the role technology plays in that process.

Where regulations have spurred success

DPR efforts are already underway for the Colorado River and South Jordan, Utah, among other locations. For example, the Colorado River Municipal Water District in Texas began its operation in 2013, and its plant produces roughly 1.5 million gallons of reclaimed water per day. Nearly ten years after operations began, it's clear how vital these efforts are. With the river drying up so rapidly that the federal government warned it might impose supply cuts, reusing treated water can help meet the area's water needs.

California leads the way in DPR regulation development, which has been several years in the making. In 2017, the California State Water Board's Division of Drinking Water developed the criteria to define its DPR efforts and protect public health. Its forthcoming regulation will be mandated by the end of 2023. This massive effort continues to be on track as the State Water Resources Control Board is finalizing language through engagement with its Expert Panel and all of the key stakeholders.

What utilities should plan for

The deterioration and disappearance of the freshwater supply should be enough to initiate the necessary action from any utility. The regulation sets the framework for how it can future-proof its water supply.

With regulations, utilities can better understand where the goalposts stand and help reduce uncertainty around what they need to do. Regulations also help inform the costs of reuse programs and what available technologies are part of the equation.

Utilities should first consider their existing infrastructure and what local challenges exist to begin designing what a water recycling program would look like.

Is a program demonstration necessary as a public tool to prove the importance of the project? As a regulatory tool? As an operator training tool? As a tool to prove out different technologies? The power of a demonstration is significant and the role of demonstrations is growing, as evidenced by projects in San Diego, El Paso, Virginia Beach, Los Angeles, and South Jordan, to name a few.

Once a project has a structure in place, utilities can see the benefit of picking a path forward that they can build upon as they transition to new freshwater supplies.

How to identify the right technology

A regulatory structure or even a regulatory path can enable technologies that support treatment objectives. In reuse, there are many unit operations and certain technologies that provide value for many types of reuse outcomes. Since all water is recycled, no matter if you’re treating water today for pollution abatement or doing advanced recycling to augment freshwater supplies you’re somewhere on a continuum or spectrum of recycling. Understanding the recycling continuum can inform a technology roadmap and enable smart decisions today that put you in the right place to achieve future goals as there is movement along the continuum.

Once you know what the regulations enable or forbid and consider local challenges, you can evaluate different technologies like membrane bioreactors, ultrafiltration, reverse osmosis, ozonation, and UV disinfection as part of the solution that redirects discharge to a sustainable mean of augmenting your freshwater supply. Finding a partner that can help determine which technologies best suit your needs is key to a successful reuse program.

Learn more about Veolia | Water Tech reuse and reclamation expertise, how we’ve helped communities achieve their goals, and what solution is right for you.

water reuse regulations

Trends

Stephen Katz

Waterside Chats: Meet Global Culture HR Communications and People Development Leader Abla Filali Meknassi

Admin — Thu, 09 Feb 2023 19:49:28 +0000

Waterside Chats: Meet Global Culture HR Communications and People Development Leader Abla Filali Meknassi Admin Thu, 02/09/2023 - 14:49

We’re shining a spotlight on some of these talented individuals, so they can share more about their current roles and the personal career journeys that brought them to where they are today. In the latest video of our “Waterside Chats” series, we caught up with Global Culture HR Communications and People Development Leader Abla Filali Meknassi, who works to shape and enhance the working environment for employees.

In her role, Abla aims to promote diversity and inclusion, personal and professional development for employees, and the company’s shared passion for doing good for the environment.

Watch below for more.

Employees

Waterside chat

Veolia | Water Tech

How Bottlers Can Get Ahead of EPA Guidance on PFAS Limits

Admin — Wed, 14 Dec 2022 12:48:40 +0000

How Bottlers Can Get Ahead of EPA Guidance on PFAS Limits Admin Wed, 12/14/2022 - 07:48

Typically, most consumers assume that drinking a bottled beverage is safe because it has been purified in some way and bottled in an FDA compliant facility. But when Johns Hopkins University researchers pulled bottled water off store shelves last year, there was cause for concern.

Nearly four in 10 bottles of water contained a family of chemicals known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), which are used to make a wide range of stain-resistant, water-resistant, and non-stick products. PFAS are present in food packaging, outdoor clothing, carpets, ski wax, certain types of firefighting foam, and more.

New tests and research have found that PFAS are more common in our water supplies than previously thought. In addition, they cannot easily break down or be eliminated — their carbon-fluorine structure is the strongest known chemistry bond, the reason they are known as "forever" chemicals.

In June, the EPA signaled future regulations when it issued new drinking water health advisories for PFAS and announced $1 billion in federal funding for states to address PFAS and other emerging contaminants in drinking water. It’s only a matter of time until the EPA goes beyond advisories and defines limits for PFAS in drinking water.

Manufacturing facilities, including food and beverage manufacturers, will be pressed to take action and should start preparing. We now know how PFAS moves through products, homes, drinking water, and wastewater, and manufacturers that take steps to evaluate and enhance their ability to mitigate PFAS will be a step ahead of future EPA action.

Evaluating the Risks

At one of our recent webinars, we found great interest in PFAS in food and beverage manufacturing, but not much knowledge or experience.

A survey of webinar attendees revealed that 69% of food and beverage professionals knew little or nothing about PFAS. Moreover, only 17% of those surveyed tested for PFAS at their food and beverage manufacturing facilities.

Those numbers could soon change as either public opinion or regulation leads to required testing and treatment of bottled water and other beverages. Getting ahead of such requirements and knowing your potential risks allows you to prepare for detecting PFAS in your water. It’s important to carefully evaluate whether to test for PFAS because once its presence is known, several additional steps must be taken to address it.

Known PFAS means you'll need decision criteria for PFAS disposal, an understanding of cost for transportation and disposal or destruction, the level of risk associated with future liability, or the need for additional equipment or operators.

What You Need to Know About PFAS Testing

There are more than 9,000 types of PFAS, a figure that continues to grow. Labs, however, are only analyzing up to 40 types of specific PFAS as technology catches up to discovery. Laboratories continue to develop and validate ways to analyze PFAS that lead to EPA standard methods, which are used for targeted or total analysis of PFAS.

A targeted analysis involves testing for a specific type of PFAS and determining whether it is present in the sample. If the result is above the reporting limit, the test will indicate how much of the targeted PFAS is present. Total PFAS surveys, which are costly and provide a fuller view of contamination, are becoming more common for water supplies and wastewater as concerns over potential contamination increase.

Because the number of recognizable PFAS is still somewhat limited, comparison studies between total analysis and targeted analysis of PFAS have identified the need to test for total PFAS. In the future, however, it may be prudent to test for total PFAS by measuring Total Organic Fluorine (TOF) and compare it with results from previous Targeted Analysis results. As testing capabilities for more types of PFAS become available, new methods will include additional common types of PFAS in the standard method. EPA PFAS testing should be reviewed for more details.

Another aspect of PFAS testing involves understanding lab facilities and their reported results. Concentration units common in PFAS include parts per trillion, parts per billion, and parts per million. Regulations are often stated in parts per trillion or parts per billion. Labs may have different standards and reporting limits depending on timing and analyte, so it’s vital to keep units of measurement straight.

Methods of PFAS Removal Depend on Context

If PFAS is detected in your water, you have several options for removal.

Bottling facilities are increasingly utilizing a multi-barrier approach, similar to the three purification steps, or barriers, in place at drinking water and wastewater facilities. If this approach is unfamiliar at your bottling facility, it's worth exploring how combining filtration steps to treat source water can achieve stricter quality control. Assessing this at an early stage enables a more efficient selection and implementation of filtration solutions.

Granulated activated carbon (GAC) and reverse osmosis (RO) membranes are common and effective solutions for PFAS removal. Still, it's important to understand how they work and how system designs can impact treatment efficiency, disposal options, and more. Since these technologies are so widely used, understanding feed PFAS, types of PFAS to be treated, and how they perform while new versus at the end of GAC media and RO membrane life helps update operating and maintenance decisions.

While PFAS regulations currently vary by state, the EPA is working on setting forth drinking water limits for PFAS in addition to existing health advisory limits. The emerging reality is that the PFAS environment is rapidly escalating and reducing the consumption of PFAS in drinking water is critical to reducing its overall presence in the air, rainwater, food, and elsewhere.

Solutions are never one size fits all. Veolia | Water Tech offers many ways for bottlers to get ahead of the race against PFAS. Learn more about PFAS treatment technology, remediation, and removal.

Read PFAS Disclaimer

PFAS

removal

bottles

water

EPA

John Peichel

YieldUp* Catalytic Coating Relieves Tube Fouling, Increasing Yield for Ethylene Producers

Admin — Mon, 12 Dec 2022 17:35:22 +0000

YieldUp* Catalytic Coating Relieves Tube Fouling, Increasing Yield for Ethylene Producers Admin Mon, 12/12/2022 - 12:35

We’ve all faced high-pressure situations in our professional careers. But, when the stakes are highest – closing a big end-of-month sale, plugging a critical security vulnerability, or responding to a complaint or crisis – the pressure heats up.

Ethylene producers know a thing or two about pressure, especially those that utilize a steam-cracking furnace. It’s one of the most energy-intensive processes in the chemical industry and operating as efficiently as possible has always been challenging. With the global ethylene market expected to grow by 6% annually through 2030 - driven by rising demand for polyethylene for packaging, automobiles, and electronics, as well as technological advancements in bio-based production methods - operating efficiency is even more critical.

Consumer appetite for consumer-packaged goods products and their fast delivery continues to be a leading factor for ethylene demand. Additionally, ethylene is also used in the sterilization of medical and surgical devices and supplies, gas purification, and the production of unsaturated polyester resins, polyurethanes, solvents, antifreeze, and more. In addition, demand for ethylene will likely increase for Linear Low-density Polyethylene (LLDPE) in food and pharmaceutical packaging sectors because of its high tensile strength and puncture resistance.

With this much demand and growth potential, ethylene producers have a lot at stake. But, inside the steam cracking furnace is where the most pressure lives. Due to the vigorous heating in the hottest, radiant section of the furnace coil, which represents about 20-25% of all furnace coils, these radiant tubes are recoiled typically every 4-6 years. However, ethylene producers can save energy and reduce maintenance while extending tube lifetime and increasing yields with suitable coating for those coils.

Reducing Coke Buildup with a Thin Layer of Coating

The buildup of coke is common on furnace coils, and decoking must be performed roughly every 40 – 60 days. What’s more, the radiant tubes require recoiling and depending on the plant’s operations schedule, this take place every 4 – 6 years. Ethylene manufacturers can find new efficiencies by extending the life of these coils and extending the periods between maintenance.

In order to provide relief in such a pressurized environment, Veolia | Water Tech developed patented technology, a 25-micron-thin soft catalytic coating – YieldUp – to apply to the inner surface of the radiant section furnace tube. Before the coating is used, the tube surface must be prepared and sintered at about 1,000 degrees Celsius in an inert atmosphere to build the microstructure and strengthen the coating’s adherence to the surface. This inert layer migrates into the chromia layer and functions as a catalyst to convert catalytic and pyrolytic coke to mainly carbon di-oxides.

Increased Efficiency, Higher Yields

Successful application of the YieldUp coating can double furnace run length from about 40 days up to 80 days, reducing the need to decoke as often and thereby increasing ethylene production capacity by 3% annually. Fewer decokes also translate to 4,000 MW in annual energy savings (for a midsize furnace -30 t/h) and a reduction in fuel consumption that cuts CO2 emissions by about 3% annually.

As more petrochemical operators utilize YieldUp, and we continue to define and prove the value of our catalytic coating for ethylene production, we remain committed to developing innovative solutions to relieve pressure in other applications. In addition, enhancing operations and the environmental footprint of ethylene production will make it possible to compete better and attract investors as market forces continue to drive up demand and urgency.

*Trademark of Veolia; May be registered in one or more countries.

YieldUp

Ethylene producers

Martin Willis

Waterside Chats: Meet Global Market & Applications Development Manager Mark Knight

Admin — Mon, 21 Nov 2022 12:00:02 +0000

Waterside Chats: Meet Global Market & Applications Development Manager Mark Knight Admin Mon, 11/21/2022 - 07:00

We’re shining a spotlight on some of these talented individuals, so they can share more about their current roles and the personal career journeys that brought them to where they are today. In the latest video of our “Waterside Chats” series, we caught up with Mark Knight, Global Market & Applications Development Manager at Veolia | Water Tech, who leads the company’s global sustainability and ESG strategy.

Mark has always had a passion for and focus on sustainability, and enjoys the opportunity to now help WTS and our customers understand their sustainability goals, make a plan to achieve those goals, and how to best put the plan into action. Watch below for more.

Employees

Waterside chat

sustainability

The Blogger Team

Use This Roadmap to Transition to Real-Time Testing for More Control Over Water Quality

Admin — Mon, 07 Nov 2022 20:16:05 +0000

Use This Roadmap to Transition to Real-Time Testing for More Control Over Water Quality Admin Mon, 11/07/2022 - 15:16

Pharma is getting faster. With shifts toward decentralized clinical trials and precision medicine ushering in the era of Pharma 4.0 for manufacturing, the industry must deliver positive health outcomes for patients at a more rapid rate and with equal or greater accuracy. In addition, manufacturing facilities of the future need the flexibility to adapt to changing production demands and Process Analytical Technology (PAT) to ensure control of manufacturing processes.

Quality is one factor that still limits how quickly pharma operations can produce and release therapeutics to the market, as many quality assays take multiple days to garner results. Gaining speed without compromising quality standards or compliance requires optimizing efficiencies while continuing to mitigate or eliminate risks.

One area poised for improvement is the monitoring of water for pharmaceutical use. Water is used throughout pharmaceutical facilities – as an ingredient in final products and intermediates or processes such as cleaning – and must be tested for impurities and contamination such as total organic carbon (TOC), conductivity, endotoxins, and bioburden. Therefore, the speed and frequency of water testing is critical for efficient quality control and production.

Real-time testing (RTT) promises an accelerated pathway to quality control and increased efficiency. RTT incorporates online instruments that enable the release of ultrapure water into production in real-time, avoiding unnecessary delays or loss of product.

Online instruments have supported process monitoring and control applications for years with standard installation, operational, and performance qualification (IQ, OQ, and PQ) packages. Now with the desire to release water into production based on data from an online instrument, solutions providers are beginning to develop and support online instruments in RTT applications with additional validation support packages required to align with the regulation around RTT – ASTM E2656. RTT is currently supported for TOC and conductivity testing, and it is only a matter of time before effective and viable online technologies emerge for endotoxin and bioburden testing. Once efficacious online endotoxin and bioburden platforms exist, validation packages will be built to support RTT for these quality attributes as well.

Growing product pipelines increase risks posed by the conditional release of water

As pharma manufacturers scale operations to meet rapidly developing demand, especially around new therapeutics, they need to optimize R&D and production process efficiencies. Yet, when pharma quality control teams perform water quality testing, they often wait anywhere from a day to up to two weeks for results, depending on the type of test. As a result, many pharma companies make a risk-based decision to improve speed to market by conditionally releasing water into production, assuming it will pass necessary testing. Through collecting enough historical data, pharmaceutical companies accept this risk while they await confirmation of acceptable test results.

However, if the water does not pass, the resulting delays can last days or weeks and cost millions. That's a calculated risk pharma companies regularly take to optimize production uptime. Still, it threatens their timelines and budgets and can potentially result in the opposite effect - delaying positive impacts on patient health.

RTT directly addresses this kind of risk, but when companies are looking to implement it, it’s essential to follow a proven roadmap to ensure success now and in the future. Here’s how to get started.

Real-time testing roadmap

In working with many pharma customers worldwide over the years, Veolia | Water Tech has developed an RTT roadmap with Sievers instruments to ensure successful implementation. However, manufacturers seek more than just streamlined installation of instruments; they need full solutions that account for regulatory requirements, data management, and efficiencies across the enterprise. The integration of real-time testing practices can be broken down into five phases, as seen below.

Phase I: Organize and Define. Like any business-driven project, companies must identify and justify a need and understand the ROI for an RTT project. When building a team dedicated to the project’s success, leaders should ensure it is multifunctional, comprising individuals from quality control, process control, facilities, and validation, for example.

Phase II: Risk Assessment. Whether a company is transitioning from a lab-based or a different online instrument, evaluating current operations will help determine whether a new direction will deliver better results. This phase includes choosing technology and identifying where the online instrument will be placed on the operators’ water loop. Implementation teams must understand where along the water loop is most indicative of the water quality at every point of use. It will often be near the return to tank or reservoir where water is stored because, in theory, the water has traversed every part of the loop, and any contamination to which it was exposed will be detected.

Phase III: Implementation/Validation. This phase is as much about mitigating the risk of the transition as it is about the actual implementation. This phase can be broken down into method and process validation. Method validation requires a new instrument to be validated for monitoring and control purposes, often referred to as installation, operational, and performance qualification. The first step of process validation is method transfer – a more targeted bridge study – where the performance of a lab instrument is documented and transitioned to an online instrument. This step identifies from a regulatory perspective, based on U.S. Pharmacopeia (USP) <1225> monograph, that the new equipment is suitable for its intended use. Additionally, solutions providers often supply system suitability or accuracy and precision standards to compare lab-based instrument results with the latest online instrument. The next step of process validation is establishing measurement system equivalency, a step that’s regulated based on the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) E2656-16. It’s essential to validate that the online instrument performs equivalently or better than the laboratory instrument, meaning the online instrument measurements must be lower than the laboratory measurements. The final step of process validation continues with a point-of-use (POU) comparability study to mitigate the risk associated with having a singular instrument monitoring the entire water loop.

Phase IV: Data Recording and Handling. With heightened concerns and regulations around data integrity, security, and transfer, it's ideal to have software capable of handling and transferring data to a quality control lab. Lab-based practices dictate collecting between one to five data points on a singular vial. An online-based release continuously collects multiple data points. Some solutions providers couple software platforms with online instruments to enable real-time review and verification sign-off of the continuously generated data used in RTT applications. During this phase, it is also critical that teams set action and alert limits, considering how failed tests will impact operations and prompt further investigation.

Phase V: Maintenance. There are multiple components to this phase, starting with instilling redundancy. For example, manufacturers transitioning from lab-based practices to online instruments must be able to revert to a lab-based sampling if there's a failure and have a standard operating procedure in place to do so. Along these lines, they'll also want to build preventative maintenance schedules for the online instrument and investigation procedures (based on FDA guidelines) for when they learn of out-of-specification (OOS) results.

How to put this plan in place

Timelines for RTT projects can vary widely. The impacts of COVID-19, and the turnover among talent in the industry have made RTT implementation a high priority for many. Companies with more urgent projects can expect to complete the five phases in as little as three months, but lower-priority projects could take up to a year. Because teams drive most of the phases above, they must fully understand whether they have the resources to complete the entire RTT project or identify how a third party can better assist in providing solutions.

The Sievers Instruments team is working hard to bring more RTT options to pharmaceutical customers. For example, our software platform DataShare Elite, ties data from all instruments, lab and online, into one centralized location for convenient, expedited access to testing results. In addition, our Sievers M500, designed with RTT in mind, automates sampling while enhancing data integrity and security for TOC testing.

Optimizing efficiencies while continuing to mitigate or eliminate risk are necessities for modern pharma companies working diligently to deliver life-saving treatments to market faster. Find out how Veolia can help your team incorporate RTT into your expanding Process Analytical Technology portfolio here.

Real-Time Testing Pharma 4.0

bioburden testing

DataShare Elite

Sievers M500

Kaitlyn Vap

Sustainability Update: 2021 GHG Emissions Lowest on Record

Admin — Fri, 04 Nov 2022 18:28:54 +0000

Sustainability Update: 2021 GHG Emissions Lowest on Record Admin Fri, 11/04/2022 - 14:28

Our teams, equipment, and chemicals are responsible for treating some 11.4 million m³ of water every day. That’s 10,000 employees deploying 10,000 technologies for 50,000 customers. And we’re doing it more sustainably than ever.

We've long held sustainability as a core focus of our business activities, always looking to optimize our production sites to make a difference and set a leading example as a business and individuals.

As part of our commitment to sustainability, we reviewed our own operations. As a result, in 2021, Veolia | Water Tech decreased GHG emissions at its operation sites for four straight years, with 2021 the lowest ever recorded. We also reduced waste quantities and water consumption significantly across the board.

Each year, our work grows more vital. Industrial customers increasingly want to solve complex water challenges and make their operation more resilient while at the same time reducing their carbon footprint. Our municipal customers, meanwhile, are trying to turn their wastewater treatment plants into resource recovery centers.

This progress is only possible with the latest expertise, technology, and chemical solutions that Veolia develops and implements.

Sustainable Development in Action

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a collection of 17 interlinked global goals designed to be a "blueprint to achieving a better and more sustainable future for all." Established in 2015 by the United Nations General Assembly, these goals are intended to be achieved by 2030.

As a global organization often working in some of the most remote locales, we look to the SDGs as a blueprint for impact and how our solutions drive global sustainability. Veolia remains committed to solving the world's most pressing water and process challenges, including reducing GHG, expanding access to affordable and clean energy, and ensuring clean water and sanitation. The SDGs help us better understand and replicate our results with progress and impact that's measurable worldwide.

Major Challenges Being Met Every Day

In the last four years, we've already reduced our Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions by 8.6% for our product operations, including membrane and chemical manufacturing sites. The reduction trends result from a continuous focus on improving energy efficiency and process optimization initiatives in alignment with SDG 13. That focus is demonstrated at our chemicals blending plant in Hoskote, shifting from grid-supplied electricity to on-site solar power generation with a rooftop PV solar installation. The solar power generated there will avoid an estimated 80 tons of CO2 annually and cut the site's GHG emissions by 30%.

Veolia is also expanding access to affordable, clean energy for all in alignment with SDG 7. This year, we will complete a renewable energy asset for Montréal's newest organic waste treatment center, which is expected to divert 60,000 tons of organic waste from local landfills. This project will transform what had once been trash into pipeline-quality renewable natural gas, producing enough to power around 3,600 households. The Veolia Advanced Anaerobic Digestion Technology (ADT) is at the heart of the plant, which transforms the organic waste slurry into methane-rich biogas and other valuable byproducts and bacteria in the absence of oxygen. The plant will recover organic waste produced by nearly 1.5 million residents of the east side and city center, converting it into biomethane. Biogas produced through the ADT system will then be refined into renewable natural gas using the MemGas Membrane biogas upgrading system.

Veolia also ensures clean water and sanitation for all, in alignment with SDG 6. Fast-growing Norfolk is one of the United Kingdom's driest counties. So, when Anglian Water had to ensure a ready water supply for people's daily lives and local industry, it turned to Veolia's ZeeWeed* Ultrafiltration (UF) hollow-fiber membranes, which enabled an additional water intake downstream from the Wensum River's environmentally sensitive areas. As a result, Anglian Water can intake water from the river without damaging the delicate ecosystem near Costessey Pits. This area provides natural storage for water from the Wensum before its treatment and has a rich and diverse ecosystem sensitive to variations in water levels.

Our work at Veolia continues daily in pursuit of the loftiest, most vital goals. Join our mission if you share our passion for sustainability and are excited about solving complex, sustainability challenges. See the latest opportunities on our career page.

GHG Emissions

Membrane

sustainability

Zeeweed

Mark Knight and Philippe de Susanne

Mobile Water Solutions Save Tacora Resources 1.35M$CAD, Reduce CO2 Emissions

carlos-javier.garciajulian.ext@suez.com — Thu, 27 Oct 2022 18:11:04 +0000

Mobile Water Solutions Save Tacora Resources 1.35M$CAD, Reduce CO2 Emissions carlos-javier… Thu, 10/27/2022 - 14:11

When Tacora Resources’ No. 1 electric boiler failed, there weren’t many options for a solution. The global iron ore mining and development company didn’t have parts for repair and couldn’t get them or make the necessary fixes for several months.

The failure impacted Tacora’s operation, as its two electric boilers work together. The No. 1 boiler uses softened (low purity) feedwater, while No. 2 uses only the condensate return (high purity) from the first boiler as feedwater. With No. 1 out of commission, it could no longer supply condensate to the No. 2 boiler.

Tacora also has two oil-fired boilers in wet shut-down, which are only used when steam demand cannot be met or when there is a problem with the electric boilers, such as loss of power and limitations on demand for power, or maintenance. Tacora primarily operates electric boilers because of their reduced ecological footprint when compared to oil boilers and the low cost of electricity compared to the price of fuel oil.

Relying on the oil-fired boilers for the months it would take to repair electric boiler No. 1 would mean significantly increased CO2 emissions and operational costs. Tacora needed a quick solution to keep costs and emissions down, while continuing to meet the plant’s operational goals.

The challenges of remote sites

This Tacora Resources plant is located in a remote area of Canada in Wabush, Newfoundland and Labrador. Tacora purchased the Scully Mine there in 2017 to restart operations, and now has an annual production capacity of 6 million tonnes of iron ore concentrate.

As older ore and other mineral sites are depleted over time, mining operators are increasingly moving to more remote locations to develop deposits. Since water is a significant part of mining operations, sources of water and treatment options are critical to resource development companies.

At the same time, water scarcity and population growth are accelerating the demand for high-purity water across industrial applications. Tacora maintains the efficiency and integrity of its boilers by supplying them with previously treated water. Pretreatment depends on the type of boilers (electric, oil-fired, high-pressure, or low-pressure) and manufacturer recommendations.

New water treatment technologies are rising to meet the challenge. However, when problems arise in these remote areas, especially when they yield environmental concerns or disrupt operations, it’s essential to enlist solutions that can be implemented safely and quickly to meet the desired results.

Mobile solutions can be deployed rapidly

Tacora required a solution that would reduce operating costs of the plant and maintain steam production to meet demand, while also ensuring water usage and greenhouse gas emissions remained at the lowest levels possible.

Tacora contacted a local Veolia Chemical Control and Monitoring Services team member to inquire about a mobile water treatment system that could quickly supply Scully Mine with high purity boiler feedwater.

Veolia boasts North America's largest fleet of mobile water treatment purification systems. So it sent its Engineering Services team to the site to analyze the system and situation and determine the best solution. After evaluation, Veolia initially recommended Tacora use the No. 2 electric boiler at full capacity. But since the current pretreatment system cannot provide water with a conductivity lower than 20umhs, which is required for the feed water of the No. 2 boiler, the superintendent proposed using Veolia mobile demineralization units.

These mobile units consist of trailers containing the equipment necessary to produce demineralized water. Specifically, Veolia recommended its ion exchange demineralized solution instead of a reverse osmosis system to better sustain operations with high suspended solids in the feedwater.

In collaboration with Tacora, Veolia implemented the mobile treatment system and operated it within two weeks of the initial failure. For the next two months, as the No. 1 electric boiler was repaired, the system successfully treated the feedwater to the high purity level required by the No. 2 electric boiler without any interruption of steam production.

Operating the No. 2 boiler at full capacity enabled Tacora to meet the demand for steam while decreasing CO2 emissions and the steam plant’s operational costs. In the meantime, the parts for electric boiler No. 1 arrived and repairs were successfully completed.

An award-worthy collaboration produces winning results

If the oil-fired boilers had been running during the two-month wait for repairs, the plant would have emitted more than 5,500 tons of CO2. In addition to avoiding emissions, the mobile water treatment solution from Veolia saved $1.35M$CAD in total operational costs, spanning fuel, water, and chemical treatment expenses.

Because of the high impact of the collaboration with Tacora, Veolia presented the firm with its Return on Environment (ROE) Award, which recognizes Veolia customers for significantly surpassing and improving environmental and industrial operational goals while balancing industrial demands. Veolia honored Tacora with the award for its direct reduction of CO2 emissions and operational costs while maintaining the integrity of the equipment.

Veolia Mobile Water Treatment Solutions covers many applications in a variety of industries to avoid disruptions, maintain sustainability, and increase equipment integrity, no matter where problems arise. Find out more about what Veolia can do for your industry.

From left to right: Steve Collins, VWTS, Regional Manager - Eastern Canada, Sharlene Baird, Tacora Resources, Superintendent Environment, Steve Malangu, VWTS, Account Manager - Eastern Canada, Edward Brown, VWTS, Field Service Representative, Tania Anderson, VWTS, General Manager - Canada, Heng Vuong, Tacora Resources, CFO, Achile Njike, Tacora Resources, COO, Joe Broking, Tacora Resources, CEO, Subeg Gill, Tacora Resources, Asset & Energy Manager, Pascal Tremblay, Tacora Resources, Superintendent Steam Plant

Veolia

Gregoire Poirier Richer

Veolia | Water Tech Speaker Line-up at WEFTEC 2022

carlos-javier.garciajulian.ext@suez.com — Tue, 04 Oct 2022 18:23:09 +0000

Veolia | Water Tech Speaker Line-up at WEFTEC 2022 carlos-javier… Tue, 10/04/2022 - 14:23

WEFTEC 2022 is fast approaching, and there will be numerous opportunities to hear from Veolia | Water Tech experts who will provide their perspectives on the hottest issues in the water industry.

Make sure to check out as our thought leaders and subject matter experts cover a range of timely industry topics— including wastewater treatment, water reuse, sustainability, and much more. Additionally, we’ll have several sessions at the show will be moderated by Veolia professionals.

We are also sponsoring WEF InFLOW, a program to enhance diversity and inclusion in the water workforce and will have a great line-up of presenters discussing their journey through water, providing tips and tricks in networking and career paths in the water industry.

Below is a schedule of the Veolia speakers and presentations throughout the week. Be sure to drop by booth #6425 to see demos of our latest solutions transforming the water industry's future.

You can also continue to find the latest updates on the show via our social handles: LinkedIn and Twitter.

InFLOW Speakers

Career Paths in Water (VIRTUAL - 9/28)- Delroy Hector
Tricks of Networking & Getting a Job in Water (VIRTUAL – 9/29) –IIona Torres
Journey Through Water Panel (WEFTEC – 10/11)- Crystal Lacey

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Speakers

WEFTEC

The Blogger Team

Everything You Need to Know about Getting an Internship with Veolia Water Technologies & Solutions

carlos-javier.garciajulian.ext@suez.com — Mon, 03 Oct 2022 14:19:48 +0000

Everything You Need to Know about Getting an Internship with Veolia Water Technologies & Solutions carlos-javier… Mon, 10/03/2022 - 10:19

Veolia | Water Tech continually seeks to hire the best minds in technology, engineering, and environmental sustainability. Our internships give students real-world experience and understanding of what it's like to work at the company. We make sure that our interns do meaningful work that makes a significant impact on our business.
As an intern, you’ll get a sense of pride and accomplishment knowing you’re working for an organization that positively contributes to the planet's future and its resources while being exposed to new, innovative technologies, solutions, and practices. We understand that you may have questions as you go through the application process, so we pulled together answers below to some of the most frequently asked questions about our internship program.

What kind of internships do you offer, and where can I find your current openings?
We offer two types of experiential programs for students and graduates: the global 2023-2024 Graduate Rotational Program (GRP) and 2023 Summer Internship Program across all our business functions in the US, Canada, and the Caribbean. From engineering, IT, marketing, and supply chain, students can expect to find an array of fields that meet their interest. Although the deadline is rolling, we encourage students to apply sooner rather than later. Please note, that we currently, we are not able to accommodate students and graduates who require visa sponsorship. Our internships for the next season are now open so check them out on our career site.

How long are the internships?
The duration of the summer internships varies according to location; at least six weeks in the United States and the Caribbean and 12-16 months in Canada. The internship typically begins in late spring and early summer. The GRP is an 18-month program and begins in September.

How can I prepare for an interview?
We recommend that students take some time to learn the basics about Veolia before their interview. Information can be found on our website. We also recommend that you prepare for situational questions and gather any questions you may have regarding the position, department, and organization to ask the interviewer.

What are the requirements to apply for an internship at Veolia?
Students applying for a summer internship must be a rising sophomore, having completed their freshman year of university. A minimum GPA of 3.2 is required for undergraduate applicants. To be eligible for the GRP, you’ll need to be a graduate by the time the program begins in September and have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.

What schools do you typically hire interns from?
We remain committed to an environment of diversity, equity, and inclusion which is why we recruit from hundreds of colleges and universities around the world. The best talent comes from a variety of backgrounds and academic experiences. Our past intern classes include Ivy leagues, state and liberal arts schools, technology and research intuitions, as well as historically Black colleges and universities.

What does a typical workday look like as an intern?
Your typical day varies based on your position. Our internships involve real, hands-on work, such as working in one of our labs, traveling to customer sites, and completing projects with various teams on-site. The nature of the work is diverse and can involve everything from analyzing water samples in a lab environment, to equipment and technology trouble shooting in an industrial setting. All internship positions will be full-time and on-site unless otherwise stated.

Will I get paid or receive college/university credits for this internship?
This program provides interns with competitive pay. Interns will also be given the opportunity to attend trainings and hands-on work experience throughout the program.

Will I be hired after the completion of my internship?
Internships are designed to prepare our intern talent for successful and fulfilling careers with Veolia. Our goal is to hire most of the people who successfully complete the program!

Will I be expected to use my own equipment, such as a personal laptop?
Interns are given company laptops and other required equipment to use during their internship. You bring your curiosity and desire to learn, we’ll take care of the rest!

Internships programme

National Disability Employment Awareness Month

carlos-javier.garciajulian.ext@suez.com — Sat, 01 Oct 2022 13:01:18 +0000

National Disability Employment Awareness Month carlos-javier… Sat, 10/01/2022 - 09:01

Today kicks off National Disability Employment Awareness Month. To recognize this event, we caught up with Kristina Butcher, the co-leader of the Veolia | Water Tech North American chapter of our newly formed Employee Resource Group (ERG) called the Disabilities Network.

We asked Kristina about her role at Veolia, her work with the Disabilities Network, and the importance of representation in the workplace. Here’s what she had to say:

What is your role at Veolia and your priorities in that role?
I am the Customer Care Global Quality Leader responsible for delivering a quality framework that drives compliance and continuous improvement in the customer experience cycle. My team leads internal audits, training, ISO quality compliance, operating experience and lessons learned, and partners with global process leaders and the Brilliant Fulfillment team on continuous improvement projects.

Tell us about the Disabilities Network and why you joined the group.
Veolia recently launched a new Disabilities Network ERG devoted to cultivating a workplace where employees feel valued, empowered, and connected across all dimensions of ability. The charter year focus will be on awareness, building organization knowledge on accessibility and support, and providing connection opportunities for our employees. Employees of all dimensions of ability are encouraged to join the ERG to help build the Veolia culture of connection and support.

I got involved with the Disabilities Network because I wanted to plug in at Veolia after being active in diversity and inclusion throughout my career. In addition, I have held previous ERG leadership roles in other companies and have a real hunger for connection and purposeful work in this space.

I am the parent of two newly diagnosed neurodivergent kids and am passionate about connecting with support systems and resources. My family's journey to understand the way the brain works, how to connect with resources, how to drive an Individualized Education Program(IEP) in the school system, and how to adjust parenting styles to help neurodivergent kids bloom has been one with many ups and downs in a short period. I serve as co-leader for our county's Autism Society of North Carolina chapter. I want to share the sense of support, friendship, and change I've gained in this experience, but on a broad scale, with the Disabilities Network.

What are you most excited about as it relates to the Disabilities Network?
I am most excited about the line of sight we have to incremental changes with business processes for support technology/site accommodations and a focus on awareness/connection to drive retention of current employees with disabilities. We need to foster a culture that potential disabled job candidates can see themselves flourish in.

Work has begun via a partnership with Disability:IN, a global organization driving disability inclusion and equality in business. In addition, Veolia is 1 of more than 400 corporations utilizing their Disability Equity Index survey process to assess and define opportunities to strengthen recruitment of persons with disabilities, foster employee engagement, and improve retention of employees with disabilities.

Why is visibility/representation important in the workplace?
Visibility of people with disabilities in the workplace is key to creating an environment of comfort where inclusion becomes part of the flow of the way we plan customer events, the content we share on social media, internal meetings/training we conduct, and on a personal level, how we interact with others and empowerment for carving out successful career paths. We need a transformation from awareness being on an ‘as needed basis’ to an everyday inclusive norm mindset where resources are readily available, and all employees know where to go, who to talk to, and how they can positively impact the culture.

disability

Diversity

Inclusion

The Blogger Team

Decentralizing Pharmaceutical Water Testing Reduces Risk and Enables Stronger Data Integrity

carlos-javier.garciajulian.ext@suez.com — Thu, 18 Aug 2022 18:15:41 +0000

Decentralizing Pharmaceutical Water Testing Reduces Risk and Enables Stronger Data Integrity carlos-javier… Thu, 08/18/2022 - 14:15

The pharmaceutical industry is quickly decentralizing. More major pharmaceutical players are incorporating Blockchain technology for secure communications up and down the supply chain. Advances in cell and gene therapy and precision medicine require remote capabilities. Decentralized clinical trials (DCT) have fast-tracked vaccines and boosters to help prevent serious illness worldwide. Decentralization can also improve the efficiency and integrity of water quality testing.

Those who received COVID-19 shots and boosters likely didn’t think much about the quality of water that went into manufacturing the vaccines.

Water quality, however, is a cornerstone of pharmaceutical production. Whether used as an ingredient or for processing, formulation, reagents, intermediates, or cleaning, water is fundamental in adhering to Current Good Manufacturing Practices (CGMPs) – the primary regulatory standard for ensuring pharmaceutical quality – and must be monitored as such.

Decentralized water quality testing, enabled by technology, can ensure pharmaceutical manufacturers meet every regulatory expectation with maximum efficiency.

Real-time testing is now within reach
Keeping up with regulations can be daunting for manufacturers, particularly those with older testing instruments and processes that can lead to more complex challenges and impede efficiency. But they’re always seeking better ways to accomplish their daily, weekly, or monthly water testing requirements by incorporating innovative technologies that keep up with industry trends such as decentralized water quality testing.

That’s why real-time testing (RTT), or real-time release testing (RTRT), has quickly moved to the forefront of water testing today and will likely be a core focus for the next several years. Right now, real-time testing for online water release is only available for two of the four compendial parameters – total organic carbon (TOC) and conductivity. Traditional testing processes are still being used for endotoxin, with a typical turnaround time to results of 1 hour, and bioburden testing, with typical results in 3-7 days. For these parameters, a shift to automated endotoxin testing and rapid microbial detection demonstrates significant forward progress in the industry’s drive for faster, easier analysis.

Along with real-time testing, automation, and rapid monitoring, processes for testing data reviews and approvals must also be streamlined. The pandemic spurred the adoption of various software and tools that enabled work to continue in a distributed and remote environment. During this time, many pharmaceutical manufacturers implemented software that enabled testing sign-off to happen remotely instead of at the lab, enabling them to keep pace with the speed of innovation demanded, while maintaining safety and compliance requirements.

Real-time testing maximizes productivity with streamlined data reviews and sign-offs, but companies must achieve this without compromising compliance or patient safety. That means putting the proper monitoring systems and process controls in place. Managing risk will be increasingly important as established pharmaceutical players and drug development startups adopt these new technologies to streamline quality control practices.

To drive adoption of real-time testing and software tools, technology providers should deliver validation support and protocols for prospective pharmaceutical customers, assisting with risk analysis and bridge studies along the way to accelerate the implementation process.

Maintaining data integrity while driving productivity gains
Data integrity remains a key requirement for the pharmaceutical industry even through the transition to automated water quality testing. Facilities must assure data integrity for compliance and its role in patient safety, without sacrificing the efficiency and productivity they need to keep up with today’s production demands.

The ability to easily manage electronic data and metadata from a single repository is often a specification for new software in pharmaceutical manufacturing. Previously, instrumentation was tied to one computer in a lab, and results could only be reviewed and approved from that specific location. Even with the review of data, traditional lab-based testing is susceptible to human error and data integrity risks. A more precise and automated audit trail, for example, helps monitor human error and provides a more complete view of potential vulnerabilities.

The ability to review and trend real-time data simplifies processes, allowing release testing to happen much faster through secure, encrypted data transfer. Digitally signing records with unique user signatures, for example, results in even faster record review.

An elite software solution for real-time testing
Sievers* DataShare Elite software is an example of the power of testing that can be managed from a single dashboard anywhere. This technology allows global customers the ability to manage data from any site and review regularly, all while maintaining data integrity and achieving 21 CFR Part 11 compliance. For now, the software is a great tool for maintaining TOC and conductivity data, but who knows what the future holds?

Learn more about how Veolia | Water Tech can help your organization improve data integrity and efficiency of compendial water testing with DataShare Elite, serving a faster, more precise future of pharma.

As the industry looks to decentralize more of its operations, patients around the world stand to benefit from decreased time to market and more effective treatments.

*Trademark of Veolia; may be registered in one or more countries.

Kaitlyn Vap and Meg Provenzano

Transforming an Industry: Oil & Gas Push to Improve Operations, Profitability, and Sustainability

carlos-javier.garciajulian.ext@suez.com — Thu, 11 Aug 2022 17:47:58 +0000

Transforming an Industry: Oil & Gas Push to Improve Operations, Profitability, and Sustainability carlos-javier… Thu, 08/11/2022 - 13:47

It’s no secret that the downstream oil and gas industry faces several significant and simultaneous transitions.

Environmental concerns fuel efforts to improve sustainability with new products and processes to reduce carbon intensity and lower greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. At the same time, reduced demand for fossil fuel-derived products prompts a greater focus on improving operations and reducing costs to remain profitable in the short-term and drive further integration of oil to chemicals in the long-term. Meanwhile, years of experience are retiring from the industry, creating critical knowledge gaps and reducing expertise now when oil and gas producers need innovation the most.

Adopting sustainable practices and digital technology in the oil and gas industry offers a path forward, opening avenues to redefine performance through greater data availability, advanced analysis, and automation. Here are some items oil and gas operators might consider as they make plans to adjust.

Improving sustainability to reduce impacts
Environmental concerns are fueling efforts to improve sustainability in several ways, with new products and processes coming online that reduce carbon intensity and lower GHG emissions.

Crude oil derived from fossil fuels has always been the starting material for gas and petrochemical products, but producers are shifting to using renewable feedstocks. For example, vegetable, seed, and waste oil, animal fats, used cooking oil and feeds from plastics recycling all offer a lower carbon impact. Still, compatibility is often challenging when integrating them with traditional fossil fuel refining systems or converting systems from processing fossil fuels to renewable feedstocks. Marathon Petroleum and Valero are two examples of companies already producing fuels from renewable resources, with plans for expansions and new plants underway.

Oil and gas production requires elevated temperatures for nearly every operation, but the feeds used and products they sell are stored at ambient temperature. Since the oil must be heated and cooled constantly throughout the refining process, there is a big focus on using less energy to do the same job. The best way to achieve this is by keeping heat transfer surfaces clean and preventing fouling in distillation tower overhead units, which minimizes the overall energy required to keep systems operating.

Reducing water footprint is an ever-pressing challenge for the many refineries that operate in water-stressed areas. Refining oil is a water-intensive operation, using the resource to generate steam, remove heat through complex cooling systems, and remove contaminants to improve processes and final product quality. Technology investments can help refiners reduce the water required, clean it up after use to return the water to the environment in compliance with discharge regulations, and even reuse water inside the plant to reduce freshwater needs. For example, the Federated Co-operatives, Limited refinery in Regina, Canada, reduced its freshwater requirements by 28% by installing a system to purify and recycle its wastewater.

Changing demand outlook requires a focus on reliability and flexibility
As the oil and gas industry makes sustainable shifts, dwindling demand for motor fuels and increasing demand for petrochemical products are ushering in a new era.

Embracing technical advances can provide a pathway for oil and gas companies to improve operations and preserve industry expertise that can drive evolution. New process measurements, such as advanced analytics, better define performance and improve equipment uptime and reliability. In addition, technical advances can drive the digitalization of the industry to enable broader remote operations, reducing manual measurements and sampling to further reduce personnel exposure to risk.

For example, sensors can be used to replace manual lab measurements of water samples from distillation towers. The traditional method of manual sample collection, transporting to a lab, queuing for analysis, and responding with manual adjustments, causes a delayed response that can exacerbate corrosion when out-of-control conditions occur.

Refineries can now outfit distillation towers with sensors that provide continuous data that allows teams to monitor, calculate needed changes, and make real-time decisions. Those same models with control outputs can then be used to automate system changes in minutes, not days.

The distillation tower sensors speed up data retrieval and system evaluation time for improved visibility and control, leading to longer equipment life and extended run times. Sensor technology and remote monitoring also enable less frequent maintenance and more flexibility in operations, like optimizing product yields from the same distillation tower and using various feedstocks, allowing operators to adjust to commodity prices quickly.

Changes are underway, so finding the right kind of partner is critical
Changes can be uncomfortable but leaning into these shifting trends in the oil and gas industry can take operating performance to new levels of reliability and profitability. This is precisely what the oil and gas industry is doing from all indications.

Occidental Petroleum is partnering with a Canadian build a plant that will capture and bury 500,000 metric tons of CO ₂ annually.In Houston, TX, over a dozen companies are collaborating to collectively capture and store 50 million metric tons of CO ₂ annually by 2030 and 100 million by 2040. In addition, China National Offshore Oil Corporation signed an agreement with Shell to supply China’s first imports of carbon-neutral liquefied natural gas (LNG).

Oil and gas executives have a positive outlook for their companies and the industry to persevere through these transitions into more diversified energy companies while continuing to supply essential products that support our modern way of life.

Veolia | Water Tech (Veolia) is one of the companies at the center of these transformations, developing trusted relationships with oil and gas clients to provide solutions that can:

Improve asset reliability through digital analytics and advanced corrosion management
Increase operating flexibility for both feedstock options and yield improvements
Design carbon capture and wastewater treatment systems to meet today's and future environmental demands.
Provide chemicals and technologies that help keep heat transfer surfaces clean while also providing the flexibility to run various opportunities and renewable feedstocks through the refinery.

Learn more about how Veolia is helping our clients through these significant transitions.

oil

gas

sustainability

Jeffrey A. Zurlo

Waterside Chats: Meet Field Area Manager Brianna Morales

carlos-javier.garciajulian.ext@suez.com — Mon, 25 Jul 2022 13:58:31 +0000

Waterside Chats: Meet Field Area Manager Brianna Morales carlos-javier… Mon, 07/25/2022 - 09:58

We’re shining a spotlight on some of these talented individuals, so they can share more about their current roles and the personal career journeys that brought them to where they are today. In the latest video of our “Waterside Chats” series, we caught up with Brianna Morales, Field Area Manager at Veolia | Water Tech, where she talks about how her first experiences with the water industry helped shape her career and fuel her passions.

Employees

Waterside chat

The Blogger Team

Water Industry Talent Shortage Increases Demand for Outsourced Solutions

carlos-javier.garciajulian.ext@suez.com — Thu, 21 Jul 2022 14:46:01 +0000

Water Industry Talent Shortage Increases Demand for Outsourced Solutions carlos-javier… Thu, 07/21/2022 - 10:46

Around the world, water industry talent is aging, and the sector can’t fill jobs fast enough.

In the U.S., the median age of water industry workers is 48 years old and 30-50 percent of them will be eligible to retire in the next decade. In fact, many countries anticipate water industry labor shortages. In New Zealand, it’s up to 9,000 jobs. In the U.K., it’s 27,000 jobs.

If they aren’t already, water and wastewater plants should be considering how bringing in help to streamline certain aspects of operations and improve operational efficiency.

Jumpstart needed expertise with guaranteed performance
Specialized water expertise is already something facilities struggle to maintain. With many industry experts retiring and talent shortages expected, this issue will likely be exacerbated.

As organizations who manage their water operations in-house are faced with dwindling specialized expertise and resources, they may be forced to hire ‘generalists’ who will need added guidance to effectively navigate the complexities of water and wastewater treatment.

In these instances, organizations should consider enlisting solutions providers with specialized expertise in water and wastewater treatment to provide supplemental support and guidance to in-house staff.

Veolia’ OnBoard* service provides organizations with guaranteed water quality and quantity for their water and wastewater plants while not directly operating them. This allows customers to own their operation and maintenance activities, while enhancing such activities with Veolia expert guidance. For example, Veolia’s OnBoard services improves processes to reduce/optimize power and chemical consumption, increase resource recovery and extend equipment life, while complying with Environmental Health & Safety requirements.

OnBoard’s expert guidance services are delivered through an assigned project manager for the duration of the term. The project manager ensures process and KPI guarantees are met, and any concerns are addressed. The project manager also coordinates the services included with OnBoard such as: On-site services, InSight* monitoring, Process analyst services, and 24/7 technical support.

Navigating the shift to long-term operation outsourcing
Some facilities experiencing talent and expertise challenges may choose to outsource water operations to a service provider for an extended period of time. In these agreements, the service provider can provide many different agreements for a wide range of capabilities and technologies to supply make-up/process water, ultrapure water or treat effluent/wastewater. Typically, the service provider will serve as an extension of the onsite plant teams. Adopting this model can also help maximize the water or wastewater plants’ reliability, while also minimizing overall operating costs.

RWEn Power, one of Europe’s oldest coal-fired power plants, had a water treatment plant that was nearing the end of its serviceable life so they needed a flexible solution that could improve efficiency while helping to reduce their emissions by reducing the power consumption to run the water plant. RWEn Power turned to Veolia to build, own, and operate the water treatment plant equipment, resulting in long-term reliability, predictable economics, and an optimized water treatment system.

As part of the water treatment solution, Veolia installed a new brackish water reverse osmosis (BWRO) system with energy recovery devices. The BWRO system reduced the water plant’s energy consumption by 50% which accounts for a reduction of CO2 by 850 tons per annum. The efficient operation of the water plant also allowed the Tilbury plant to increase power output meeting the needs of 80% of England’s Essex County. Through the Veolia operations outsourcing agreement, RWEn Power has realized savings totaling more than $300,000 over five years.

Looking to the future of water and wastewater treatment
Without a sufficient workforce, industry will be challenged to maintain operational and quality standards of their water and wastewater plants. A services solution provider like Veolia, can provide a variety of water and wastewater treatment agreements through supplemental support like Veolia’s OnBoard service or a flexible operational outsourcing contract like the one implemented at RWEn Power. These services agreements improve water/wastewater plant performance, reduce costs, and allow the customer to focus on their core capabilities. To learn more about how Veolia can support your plant, visit our Water & Wastewater Service Programs page.

*Trademark of Veolia; may be registered in one or more countries.

OnBoard service

InSight

RWEn Power

Francis Vaillancourt

Pride Month Employee Spotlight: Michele Mazakas

Admin — Wed, 22 Jun 2022 21:38:14 +0000

Pride Month Employee Spotlight: Michele Mazakas Admin Wed, 06/22/2022 - 17:38

Veolia | Water Tech (Veolia) focuses on creating and promoting inclusive work environments for our employees. We have nine employee resource groups (ERGs) that provide a sense of community for like-minded employees, offer personal and professional growth opportunities, and sponsor educational and informational sessions to inform and inspire a broader audience on topics relating to inclusion & diversity (I&D).

During this Pride Month, we're highlighting Michele Mazakas, who serves as co-lead for the North American (NAM) chapter of our LGBTQ+ Alliance. LGBTQ+ advocacy is a passion of Michele's. She and her family enjoy Pride festivals and have marched in the Philly Pride Parade thrice. In addition, Michele and her oldest child speak to school administrators at libraries, churches, and local workplaces about their journey and the importance of LGBTQ+ support (social, medical, and legal).

We caught up with Michele to discuss her role, connection to the LGBTQ+ community, and work within the company's LGBTQ+ Alliance. Here's what she had to say:

What is your role at Veolia and your priorities in that role?

I am a Product Operations Manager for the Chemical Monitoring Solutions (CMS) business. I have systems knowledge, allowing me and my team to implement solution architects' strategic initiatives and facilitate the introduction of the PQ and new chemical products. In NAM, I am are often asked to negotiate the maze of requirements needed to bring a formulation to the point of being ready for sale. In addition, I am responsible for the final book pricing and activation of all NAM chemical products. I also coordinate global CMS Product Operations procedures and assist with product rationalization, cost savings projects, and NAM renewals.

Tell us about the LGBTQ+ Alliance and why you got involved with the group.

After my oldest child came out as transgender and pansexual, I was looking for support and a community, which I found through PFLAG and the LGBTQ+ Alliance. Not long after joining the Alliance, I was asked to co-lead. This has afforded me a platform to help educate allies about the community and foster an increased understanding of gender identity.

What are you most excited about as it relates to the LGBTQ+ Alliance?

The LGBTQ+ Alliance continues to spread its message of allyship and support for this marginalized community. Chapters are beginning to spread past NAM (starting soon in Europe and MEA), making it a global movement. As a result, we are having more meaningful conversations, which leads to a deeper understanding of how we are different than others and how alike we are.

Why is visibility/representation important in the workplace?

I work with the LGBTQ+ Alliance to help create a work environment where everyone can be their most authentic self. Authenticity leads to people being more productive and efficient, which benefits them, the people they work with, and the company.

Employees

Diversity

Inclusion

Pride Month

I&D

Veolia | Water Tech

Creating a Cleaner and Sustainable Steel Industry as Demand Rises

Admin — Mon, 20 Jun 2022 16:35:23 +0000

Creating a Cleaner and Sustainable Steel Industry as Demand Rises Admin Mon, 06/20/2022 - 12:35

Steel is ubiquitous in modern society, forging the buildings we work in, cars we drive, and bridges we cross. As one of the primary elements in nearly every industry worldwide, the steel market is expected to expand by nearly 20% by 2028.

Although steel is 100% recyclable and a core component in many of the sustainable technologies that are critical to the green energy transition (i.e., wind turbines, solar system bases, electric vehicles generators, and motors), the industry is facing external and internal pressures to reduce its carbon footprint, from producing more carbon-friendly steel to operating its facilities more efficiently.

With the industry in transition, improving uptime and product quality while reducing water and energy usage across operations is even more necessary.

Times have changed for steel mills

The steel industry is undergoing a generational perception shift as customer requirements evolve, carbon emission regulations for producers tighten, and interest in sustainability among investors and customers continues to grow.

Many North American steel producers have started converting from the traditional blast furnaces of integrated steel mills to electric arc furnace (EAF) technology. This enables steel to be made from almost 100% scrap metal feedstock and significantly reduces steel's carbon footprint and water usage.

Plants with EAF technology, also called "mini-mills," have popped up all across North America, with nearly 200 in operation. They are traditionally smaller in operation, require fewer resources, reduce costs, and offer additional operating flexibility since they can be rapidly started and stopped to adjust output to demand.

Still, a dozen or so integrated steel mills are currently operating in North America. Legacy integrated steel mills are 5-10 times larger than mini-mills and capable of producing more than one million tons of steel annually from raw iron ore.

Though the legacy steel mills, which generate coke oven gas and typically have larger boiler systems, hold a bigger opportunity for decarbonization, there are a few ways both mini-mills and integrated mills can improve their overall operating efficiency (and therefore reduce their environmental impact).

How steel mills can operate cleaner and more sustainably

Like many other industrial plants, process heating and cooling accounts for a large portion of energy demand in the steel-making process, and the input fuel represents a costly and recurring operational expense.

Keeping boiler systems, heat transfer equipment and cooling water systems clean will increase the plants' overall operating efficiency and cycles of concentration, leading to reduced fuel and water usage. This can be done by using influent water treatment systems to remove dissolved solids and additive chemicals to control deposition, corrosion, and microbiological growth.

Digital monitoring and automation tools can provide added control and visibility into the performance of systems and help optimize chemical, water, and fuel usage based on real-time data and predictive modeling.

Steel mills can also minimize their water consumption and fugitive air emissions by spraying dust control binding agents on the facilities' unpaved service roads. Unlike the traditional method of spraying copious amounts of water on service roads for short-term dust relief, dust control binding agents can reduce the watering requirements by up to 90%, decreasing both water usage and CO2 emissions from water spray trucks, while improving fugitive dust emissions. These environmentally friendly additives can not only help save water and reduce air pollution, but they also help keep equipment and vehicles free of dust, reducing maintenance costs.

It is vital to create efficiencies while reducing the environmental footprint Regulatory, environmental, and financial challenges are daunting enough. With supply chain disruptions and geopolitical concerns continuing beyond the pandemic, it is more important for North American steelmakers to increase output and meet homegrown demand.

With chemical and equipment solutions to help manage water and operational needs, mill costs can be reduced to generate greater efficiencies, maintain reliability, and improve production quality while lowering steel mills' environmental footprint.

Learn more about how Veolia | Water Tech can assist your organization with steel industry solutions here.

sustainability

steel industry

steel mills

Rick Toste

Increasing Ethanol Production Efficiency and Yield to Unlock the Sustainability of Biofuels

Admin — Thu, 16 Jun 2022 16:28:30 +0000

Increasing Ethanol Production Efficiency and Yield to Unlock the Sustainability of Biofuels Admin Thu, 06/16/2022 - 12:28

As the global energy demand continues to grow in the coming years, so will pressure to mitigate the environmental impacts of that increase. Biofuels produced from renewable feedstocks, like ethanol as biofuel, provide a sustainable and renewable energy source for the future by positively impacting the economy, environment, and society.

At last year’s COP26, research and data were presented supporting ethanol as an immediate solution for transportation greenhouse gas (GHG) mitigation, particularly as it applies to developing and deploying sustainable aviation fuels and supporting the EU’s renewable energy directive.

For example, in the U.S., ethanol generated significant GHG emissions reductions in California (42 %) and Oregon (45%) thanks to clean fuel standard policies. In addition, a USDA analysis found that some biorefineries could produce ethanol that offers a 70% GHG reduction versus gasoline as soon as this year when adopting conservation on corn farms and implementing efficiency improvements in refineries. Such impact drives more state ethanol mandates in Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, and Minnesota.

The Biden Administration and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently announced incentives and funding for biofuel development and infrastructure and an emergency waiver from the EPA allowing E15 gasoline (fuel that uses a 15% ethanol blend) this summer. The recent announcements indicate biofuels and ethanol's critical role in attaining energy independence and achieving sustainability goals.

With many countries promoting biofuels through various policy measures and mandates focusing on GHG emissions to fight against climate change, it is increasingly essential that ethanol producers create a robust and sustainable ecosystem that can meet growing demand and surges.

Corn ethanol has been an established industry in the U.S. for more than 30 years and is thriving, with Brazil ranking a close second. Together the countries produce 84% of the world’s ethanol.

Next to corn, energy is the second most costly input for ethanol production in the U.S. Most cane sugar and sugarcane ethanol plants in Brazil, Florida, Louisiana, and Texas are energy self-sufficient, using bioelectricity generated from bagasse – a byproduct of crushed sugarcane stalks – as a source of heat and energy for the plants. At corn ethanol plants in the U.S., natural gas is the dominant thermal energy source for ethanol production. In Brazil, corn ethanol plants burn eucalyptus or other types of biomass as a source of heat and energy to power mill operations.

As natural gas prices continue to rise and pressures to reduce GHG emissions mount, ethanol producers should consider switching to renewable energy sources. For example, plants can install anaerobic digestion technologies to convert organic waste materials (food waste, animal waste, wastewater sludge, etc.) into renewable natural gas (RNG) to meet the heat demand for ethanol production.

Beyond energy reduction, ethanol plants should also look to improve overall plant performance and reduce downtime to optimize profitability. For example, adopting clean-in-place (CIP) technologies in heat exchangers, fermentation coolers, tanks, and evaporators to shorten cleaning downtime, utilizing deposit control chemicals to manage organic and inorganic fouling/deposit formation in evaporators and beer columns, and leveraging digital monitoring tools and analytics, such as IVAP* to better track equipment performance and maintenance needs, are all ways operators can drive up plant efficiency and profitability.

Veolia | Water Tech provides various solutions for the biofuels industry, focusing on improving overall plant performance and efficiency, reducing downtime, and optimizing profitability. Learn more about how Veolia | Water Tech is helping ethanol plants meet the growing demand, improve their bottom line, and be the needed bridge to a cleaner energy future here.

Ethanol Production

sustainability

Biofuels

Raquel Rinke

EPA Action Drives Flurry of Coal Ash Storage Pond Cleanup Activity

Admin — Mon, 13 Jun 2022 20:36:13 +0000

EPA Action Drives Flurry of Coal Ash Storage Pond Cleanup Activity Admin Mon, 06/13/2022 - 16:36

Last year, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) moved to reinstate more stringent wastewater effluent regulations for coal-burning power plants that were rolled back in recent years. The EPA’s first significant enforcement of the 2015 wastewater effluent rule limiting coal ash came early this year when it denied requests for extensions on three coal ash facility closures in the Midwest.

Coal-fired power plants are taking this decision as a signal to address their ash ponds – and any associated groundwater pollution – by moving to close or remediate them.

The significance of the EPA ruling

Coal ash, also referred to as coal combustion residuals (CCRs), is primarily produced from burning coal in coal-fired power plants and contains byproducts that can contaminate groundwater if not treated and managed appropriately.

An analysis of coal ash groundwater monitoring reports performed by the Environmental Integrity Project found contaminants in groundwater surrounding 91% of coal-fired plants with unlined ash storage ponds. Approximately 500 coal storage ash ponds at aging or retired coal-fired power plants need to be addressed to meet the stricter wastewater effluent limitations.

While a few states, such as North Carolina and Virginia, enacted their coal ash management laws requiring reworking and, in some cases closing coal ash impoundments, coal-fired power plants in other regions were impacted. In 2015, the EPA enacted the first federal regulation targeting the design and use of coal ash impoundments to store coal. The rule requires plants to monitor groundwater, close leaking ash ponds, clean up contaminated groundwater, and disclose their results; however, the rule was not strictly enforced until recently.

The recent EPA ruling sets the stage for a high amount of focus and activity on remediating these storage ponds and monitoring and treating groundwater over the next five years. This wave of closures and ash pond work is a reset for the industry, as power plants build new storage ponds to meet changing regulations.

How to start the decontamination or closing process

Some coal-fired power plants have delayed addressing the closure of ash ponds, but with the recent EPA ruling signaling stricter enforcement of the 2015 rule, plants are moving to act now to ensure they comply.

First, according to the rule, a source of groundwater contamination must be eliminated or reduced to the maximum extent feasible. In the case of coal ash ponds deemed a source of groundwater contamination, the remedy in many cases is to close the pond to prevent further contamination. Then, existing materials sitting in the pond must be moved to a safe landfill or left in place with a proper cap installed on top. Other additional actions may be needed to mitigate further leaching of contaminants.

For plants still in operation, this process is complicated with the need to divert active coal ash streams from non-compliant storage ponds and find a new outlet for storage that meets current standards. This often means installing a system to treat the coal ash streams before discharging them to a properly designed storage pond with a liner. Active plants can also consider utilizing mobile treatment solutions as a temporary means for treating diverted ash streams while new solutions are built and installed.

Finally, plants can also consider converting their water-based sluicing technique to a dry ash system directly to the landfill, diverting the ash from onsite storage ponds and providing a more controllable process.

Getting solutions in place quickly is vital. With more coal-fired power plants shutting down, timelines will be further accelerated. Therefore, it will be essential to have flexible options, especially for sites with multiple storage ponds or changing water needs over time.

Veolia | Water Tech (Veolia) has the expertise and solutions to treat coal ash streams, assist in closing ponds, remediate the surrounding contaminated groundwater, and more. Find out how Veolia can help by reading more about our CCR compliance services.

Coal

Coal Ash Storage

EPA

Bill Heins

Waterside Chats: Meet Digital Marketing Leader John Neilson

Admin — Thu, 05 May 2022 20:51:17 +0000

Waterside Chats: Meet Digital Marketing Leader John Neilson Admin Thu, 05/05/2022 - 16:51

Employees

Waterside chat

Veolia | Water Tech

Filtering off the weight: Change comes to FPSOs

Admin — Mon, 02 May 2022 23:05:56 +0000

Filtering off the weight: Change comes to FPSOs Admin Mon, 05/02/2022 - 19:05

The number of floating vessels targeting offshore reserves is increasing rapidly. Oil companies have approved and budgeted for many new floating production storage and offloading vessels (FPSOs), all of which will come online in the next five to seven years. A dozen more are following close behind.

The weight of topside equipment has a significant impact on the cost of developing a FPSO. With construction activity high, lighter equipment would present significant cost savings to the industry.

But using lighter equipment often means using newer technology that has only rarely been used in FPSOs. Operators have long struggled to balance the competing risks of adapting lightweight technologies to the rigors of offshore development with the demands for cost savings.

One area in which operators have had success in reducing weight while maintaining performance is in the water treatment systems. They are turning to all-membrane systems to achieve these outcomes.

The interest in all-membrane systems comes as the oil industry is increasingly looking to standardize the design of FPSOs to speed construction, a shift from the traditional FPSO design, which were converted from older oil tankers and outfitted for project conditions.

At the same time, oil companies remain wary from the 2014 collapse of oil prices, and have been more receptive to new designs when they promise lower CapEx or OpEx.

A new project illustrates how membrane technology is being adapted for deoxygenation and sulphate removal to reduce weight and cost on FPSOs.

Sulphate Removal

In instances where FPSOs require sulphate removal units (SRUs) to reduce the risk of barium or strontium sulphate scaling, nanofiltration (NF) has served as the offshore oil sector’s preferred solution.

Nanofiltration systems, which are designed to have a pore size of 1 nm, require pretreatment to remove suspended solids and contaminants prior to injection into the NF membrane. Until recently, most FPSOs have relied on media filters or cartridge filters.

Ultrafiltration, where the nominal pore size of the membrane is <0.1μm is a proven technology receiving significant attention from FPSO designers and fabricators as a pretreatment step because it is more robust and lighter in weight than conventional media filters. These factors result in measurable improvements to the lifespan of the NF system and reduce the overall risk of downtime.

Deoxygenation towers

Prior to injection, seawater is usually deoxygenated to reduce the potential for corrosion and to create an anaerobic environment that inhibits microbial growth. The vacuum towers used to deoxygenate injection water are usually extremely tall, and concentrate weights in excess of 250 tons into relatively small footprints. The weight usually requires extra reinforcement of the deck. Some vacuum towers pass through several decks, requiring special structural engineering. However, towers cannot be set too low in the structure to assure proper pump performance. That means the tower rises significantly above the deck and requires multiple levels of steel walkways.

All of these factors combine to add immense weight. In turn, this adds significantly to material costs of construction, while raising questions about whether deoxygenation towers constitute an efficient use of space. The location and height of the vacuum tower impacts the ship’s center of gravity and performance in a storm, while constraining the location of the vessel’s crane swing arm.

When looking at onshore operations, membranes have been used to deoxygenate injection water for decades, and the process is common to microelectronics and semiconductor manufacturers, where flow rates can be similar to offshore facilities.

At the same time, membrane deoxygenation systems offer significant weight and height advantages. Membrane systems can be as much as 80 percent lighter than vacuum towers with equivalent capacities.

Paired together, membrane-based SRU and deoxygenation assets can be constructed modularly, as was the case for Equinor’s Johan Castberg FPSO, which will deploy the world’s first all membrane water injection plant when it produces first oil in 2022. Together, an SRU module with membrane deoxygenation offers a broad range of benefits. At one level, they can be designed to eliminate narrow and awkward access points, and they lend a familiarity to maintenance crews. More broadly, they offer a greater degree of operational stability.

Changing customer expectations

Operators are realizing new efficiencies by partnering with a solutions provider capable of offering services ranging from technical expertise to chemical and monitoring solutions. They are finding willing partners in those with intimate knowledge of membrane plant operation and maintenance for the FPSO’s seawater injection systems. These partners can offer a single point of contact for the FPSO’s chemical supply.

Oil and gas producers, like others in heavy industry, are increasingly trending toward contractual service agreements. This not only allows them to focus on their core business, but can also turn variable costs into fixed ones, providing more predictability within a project.

In the foreseeable future, the sheer volumes and production needs of new FPSOs have the ability to alter business models. The possibility that the provision of membranes could be paired with a water injection plant services contract is attractive to some operators, who want guaranteed uptime and predictable costs for water injection. Such contracts might include chemical supply, digital monitoring, and contracted maintenance personnel.

Much of the available data suggests that membrane-based systems will be priced competitively on the capital end of the equation. More importantly, they will feature very favorable operating expenses.

Membrane systems have been used in onshore and offshore applications for decades. This suite of technologies has had a remarkable track record that FPSOs are only now starting to leverage. The resolution of competing priorities in the offshore oil and gas sector is leading to new ways of doing business that benefit both the operator and service companies in this sector.

Oil and gas

FPSO

wastewater treatment

water filtration

sulphate removal

Graeme Orr

Offering Water Sustainability Careers: How Our Talent Reflects, Strengthens Our Passion

Admin — Fri, 22 Apr 2022 22:31:45 +0000

Offering Water Sustainability Careers: How Our Talent Reflects, Strengthens Our Passion Admin Fri, 04/22/2022 - 18:31

Today is Earth Day, and it’s a reminder of our impact on the environment every other day of the year. At Veolia | Water Tech (Veolia), we pride ourselves on our commitment to sustainability in every aspect of our work, which directly and positively impacts the environment.

More than ever, sustainability is driving the decisions of consumers and business leaders around the world. The impacts of climate change and increasing pressure from stakeholders, regulators, and society have led companies to prioritize environmental, social, and governance and create value through green approaches.

One of the areas where value can be achieved is through the workforce. Sustainability is driving employee decision-making and engagement. A recent PwC survey found that 84% of employees are more likely to work for a company that champions for the environment. According to a global survey of professionals earlier this year, companies with a sound sustainability plan are also more likely to retain employees. What’s more, employees increasingly desire to personally make an impact, with 56% saying they want to upskill in sustainability to positively contribute to the environment, society, and the future of humanity.

At Veolia, our teams are performing crucial work that is helping improve our environment and create a more sustainable water future. One of our impactful strategies is to utilize socially responsible chemistries to reduce and eliminate the need for harsh or numerous chemicals and minimize other environmental impacts.

One example is our development of Engineered Carboxylate Oxide Film ( E.C.O.Film), an innovative corrosion inhibitor used to eliminate phosphates from industrial cooling systems. These systems are essential to just about every major industrial plant. Unfortunately, these industrial cooling systems have traditionally used significant amounts of water and phosphate-based corrosion inhibitors that, when discharged into waterways, contributed to algae blooms that are harmful to living beings. Our development of E.C.O.Film has paved the way for reducing water use in heavy industry and toxic algae bloom in the environment.

Veolia is also on the front line of the circular economy. For example, when the City of Morro Bay, California, was building a new wastewater treatment facility to create a more sustainable water future for its residents, it needed a cost-effective solution to develop a robust wastewater treatment process for indirect potable reuse. Morro Bay chose Veolia’ LEAPmbr* Membrane Bioreactor (MBR) technology because it produces exceptional water quality, ensures reliability and value, and fits within a small footprint. The MBR effluent will be further treated using reverse osmosis membranes and an advanced oxidation process before being injected into an aquifer. The new facility will treat one million gallons of wastewater per day.

Across all our product lines, we utilize a framework with a multigenerational product plan to ensure we build off learnings of previous iterations. This gives our employees endless opportunities to make the environmental impact they seek through sustainable water careers at Veolia.

Earth Day is every day at Veolia. If you are interested in making an impact on the environment, Veolia is always on the lookout for new talent. Check out our careers page to see our latest sustainable water job opportunities.

Earth Day

careers

sustainability

environment

Mark Knight

Reduce Potential Downtime with Wastewater Treatment Product Storage and Management Best Practices

Admin — Mon, 04 Apr 2022 15:07:11 +0000

Reduce Potential Downtime with Wastewater Treatment Product Storage and Management Best Practices Admin Mon, 04/04/2022 - 11:07

Using coagulants and flocculants to remove suspended solids during industrial wastewater or influent surface water source treatment is common practice. However, failure to properly store or manage these chemicals can lead to downtime, impact on production, accrued costs, decreased equipment reliability and shortened lifespan, on-site safety issues, and more.

For instance, poor water quality entering a process for boilers, cooling towers, or process makeup can severely impact the reliability of the equipment, potentially leading to downtime or reduced output, impacting a facility’s bottom line. Similarly, if wastewater is improperly treated due to chemical feed, storage, or supply issues, a facility risks violating wastewater discharge permit parameters, resulting in monetary fines and poor public relations.

Improperly stored and managed products used for water treatment can also lead to on-site safety issues for personnel dealing with handling and the disposal of these should a product’s integrity be compromised and require replacement.

As such, it’s important to ensure best practices on chemical storage and management are followed when putting together and executing a treatment program.

Storage basics for coagulants and flocculants

Understanding the characteristics of treatment chemicals is crucial to employing proper storage while building a successful treatment program.

Coagulants vary in chemistry type, each with different characteristics, such as viscosities, pour point, and freeze point temperatures. Available storage containers, as well as feed and conveyance equipment, are important aspects of setting up a program. For example, while many coagulants have a relatively low viscosity and are easy to pump with standard chemical metering pumps, some higher-viscosity coagulants require specialized pumps to ensure proper dosing occurs.

Similarly, flocculants come in several forms (emulsion, powder, solution, etc.), each of which requires unique storage, handling, and feeding needs to ensure optimal performance. For instance, powder flocculants should be stored in conditions that avoid moisture contamination.

The characteristics and capabilities of each product are also important when changing or reusing storage containers and tanks. Care must be taken to confirm if the new and old products are compatible, or if full removal of the existing product residual and container rinsing is needed. Container clean out may be required and supplier guidelines should be followed. Coagulants and flocculants often cannot be mixed, even with similar chemistries.

Product Safety Data Sheets (SDS) often have key information on chemical characteristics. Still, the end-user needs to work with the product supplier to ensure these factors are reviewed before implementing any program.

The end user’s Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) policies on where and how to store coagulants and flocculants, government regulations, and the purchaser and/or end-user’s company guidelines are critical to follow to ensure proper storage, use, and safety.

Identify product use rates and inventory management

Another important consideration involves how much product to order at any given time to keep in inventory. For liquids stored in larger tanks, tank level sensors may be used to collect data on real-time product use and monitor inventory. This can be vital in inventory management and purchase decisions. Full-service suppliers commonly work closely with customers to ensure the right amount of product is ordered.

Ensuring inventory levels are large enough that the product does not run out decreases the risk of requiring temporary water flow reduction through the system to meet discharge limits, short-term curtailment of water treatment, or worst-case scenario, reduced or loss of manufacturing production at the site. Products should be ordered to have enough on hand in case inlet water conditions change, which may drive up use rates.

In summary, coagulants and flocculants are commonly used to treat surface water and wastewater in various industries. Understanding how each product used should be stored, handled, and applied is important to ensure the best treatment outcome. To learn more about how Veolia can help your organization with your coagulant and flocculant needs, as well as other water treatment requirements, visit here.

wastewater treatment

wastewater chemicals

best practices

Larry Smith

How understanding your water through organics monitoring is correlated to sustainability and ensuring product quality

Admin — Wed, 23 Mar 2022 15:28:02 +0000

How understanding your water through organics monitoring is correlated to sustainability and ensuring product quality Admin Wed, 03/23/2022 - 11:28

The water industry is getting a lot of attention right now. It is great to see not only infrastructure but also quality, conservation and regulation in the headlines. There is a lot of passion around water, and companies are setting high standards and metrics for water efficiency as corporate drivers. We also see more interest than ever on the consumer side. Consumers are placing greater value on quality and sustainability over price, which results in the cost of quality increasing for producers. With the rising focus from both corporations and consumers, the current challenge for water professionals and water users (everyone) is to move from passion to action.

Water monitoring is a critical tool to help achieve production and sustainability goals, as well as improve process control. It is important to track the contaminants or contaminant classes that affect treatment effectiveness, product quality, or equipment assets. Being able to easily measure and consequently minimize organic contamination can help prevent product loss and gain better process understanding. Let’s look at some actions we can take.

Get more out of technology and data
New technologies have emerged to help track and treat existing and emerging contaminants. In addition, data visualization tools are increasingly used to assess trends and predict performance. Together, these analytical technologies and data visualization tools help to set corporate performance indicators. Yet, data for data collection sake is inefficient, and data are not useful without interpretation. Thus, there is a need for simple tools to turn data into action.

Ensure water is fit for purpose
There is also now a consensus that all water is one water. This means that utilities and companies must align their goals since all are sharing this single resource. However, water has a variety of uses and purposes, each with allowable quality or contamination. Treating and tracking water for its specific purpose is critical to optimizing the resource and the time, energy, and labor going into the treatment.

Track contaminants efficiently and effectively
With the increased demand on this limited resource, a tool that captures and tracks contaminants is extremely valuable to operators and facility owners and enables them to commit to actions that lead to data driven decisions. One such tool captures all organic compounds and tracks all carbon containing contaminants. Carbon readily exists in products and processes used in various industries, but is also found in contaminants of concern when these chemicals and pharmaceuticals get into the environment. Organic matter makes up the majority of contamination entering municipal treatment facilities and commonly contains plant and animal decay, as well as industrial effluents. With all these different organic compounds and contaminants, tracking them together in a sum parameter can be critical to success in productivity and compliance in many ways.

Here are some examples of various scenarios where it is beneficial to monitor organics to meet quality and/or compliance requirements:

Drinking water from a river needs to meet specific criteria for human health.
Wastewater discharge from a chemical factory needs to not harm the environment.
Boiler feedwater at a beverage facility needs to not damage equipment and not contain product.
Ultrapure water at a semiconductor fab needs to be free of organic acids or bases that could affect chip manufacturing.

Align with real-world challenges
Here are some examples of various scenarios where it is beneficial to monitor organics to meet quality and/or compliance requirements

1. Drinking water from a river needs to meet specific criteria for human health.

2. Wastewater discharge from a chemical factory needs to not harm the environment.

3. Boiler feedwater at a beverage facility needs not damage equipment and not contain product.

4. Ultrapure water at a semiconductor fab needs to be free of organic acids or bases that could affect chip manufacturing.

Knowing and understanding water’s purpose makes the step from driver to action much simpler. ‘Following the carbon’ by tracking different organic compounds and contaminants throughout a process enables companies to answer the question of what their water is telling them. This applies across many industries and applications, including drinking water, beverage manufacturing, power generation, steam production, and ultrapure water in semiconductor manufacturing.

We have a finite amount of water that is needed for countless purposes, so it is imperative that we understand and optimize water quality to ensure it is fit for use and best used. The more we can connect drivers and passions for sustainability and environmental compliance with meaningful monitoring data, the better we can deliver on our commitments and improve our use of this universal resource.

Learn more about the carbon monitoring and actions you can take and how Veolia can help here.

*This article was originally published in the September/October 2021 issue of Water Technology.

water monitoring

sustainability

Amanda (Scott) Tyndall

Celebrating World Water Day

Admin — Tue, 22 Mar 2022 15:20:39 +0000

Celebrating World Water Day Admin Tue, 03/22/2022 - 11:20

Today is World Water Day, an annual United Nations observance day that highlights the importance of freshwater. This year the theme is “Groundwater, Making the Invisible Visible.” Groundwater is essential as our food supply, sanitation, environment, and drinking water rely on this vital source. The Groundwater Project states that “worldwide, 2.5 billion people depend solely on groundwater resources to satisfy their basic daily water needs.” But the availability of freshwater resources is an enormous challenge faced worldwide because it is susceptible to pollutants, including per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), and can often face over-extraction due to increasing demands and a limited supply. Communities are exploring significant untapped opportunities to alleviate water stress, including those experienced in our groundwater sources, by recycling wastewater to augment freshwater supplies.

At Veolia | Water Tech, we know the importance of groundwater resources and the role of water reuse in sustaining its availability and quality around the globe. That’s why we offer a wide range of innovative water and wastewater solutions such as ultrafiltration, membrane bioreactor, reverse osmosis, electrodialysis reversal, and ozone that allow us to reliably treat different sources of groundwater, some of which are contaminated, for people everywhere.

Here are some recent examples of how we helped our customers and made a difference in the water world:

The Borough of Bellmawr in New Jersey found PFAS contamination in their wells for PFOS, PFOA, PFNA, and other variants. To address the Borough’s immediate need, Veolia rapidly deployed a containerized PFAS removal system that did not require a building or exposed tanks, could be placed directly on the ground and was protected against weather conditions. Placement and hookups were rapid and easily accomplished.
The City of Morro Bay, located on California's central coast, is in the final stages of construction of a new wastewater treatment facility away from the coast to avoid hazards such as sea-level rise, tsunami, and flood inundation. Veolia’s LEAP*mbr technology was selected because it will produce superior water quality, ensure reliability and fit within a small footprint. The MBR system is the first building block of advanced treatment designed to recycle wastewater to augment groundwater supplies used for drinking water.
The village of Ouhans in France uses the Loue spring to source its drinking water supply. However, because of the karstic underground nature, the water is subject to high turbidity peaks during rainy periods, and chlorination alone does not guarantee compliance with drinking water regulations, especially those related to the suspended solids and bacteriological content. Concerned with the health of its inhabitants, the municipality wanted to find the best solution that would provide consistent, safe drinking water for the population. It turned to Veolia and our aquasource Z-XS technology solutions, which guaranteed compliant, safe, and clean water with improved color, odor, and taste, all while optimizing the village’s water treatment facility.
Nitrate contamination of groundwater is a common result of agricultural fertilization. The Kfar Saba municipality in Israel has several nitrate-contaminated wells. The City issued a public tender for a 10-year Design, Build, Operate, Transfer of nitrate removal water treatment facility for one of its wells. Veolia’s EDR technology optimally met the user requirements and demonstrated excellent water quality results.

Veolia | Water Tech is committed to continually developing innovative solutions for our customers worldwide to address this critically important issue to preserve, treat and replenish groundwater.

Read PFAS Disclaimer

world water day

groundwater

freshwater

PFAS

Stephen Katz

Technology Upgrades Convert Municipal Waste and Wastewater Plants into Energy, Revenue

Admin — Thu, 10 Mar 2022 00:28:14 +0000

Technology Upgrades Convert Municipal Waste and Wastewater Plants into Energy, Revenue Admin Wed, 03/09/2022 - 19:28

Technology Upgrades Convert Municipal Waste and Wastewater Plants into Energy, Revenue

Municipal waste and wastewater treatment plants are necessary infrastructure requirements for urban development. While this infrastructure is vital, it requires significant money and resources. Fees for water discharge, electricity, chemicals, staff, maintenance, and sludge transport and disposal quickly add up. Not only do these plants require a large amount of energy to operate (electricity can make up 25-40% of the overall operating budget), they also can contribute a significant amount of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

However, established technologies, such as anaerobic digestion, can add efficiency and turn municipal waste and wastewater plants into resource recovery factories. This will generate additional revenue streams, offset energy usage, and reduce GHG emissions, benefiting plant operators and communities.

Creating more value from waste

Anaerobic digestion is a biological process (in the absence of oxygen) in which bacteria breaks down organic matter - such as wastewater sludge, food waste from commercial and residential sources, high strength liquid wastes (e.g., fats, oils, greases, etc.) - and converts them into biogas, a renewable energy source and a nutrient-rich digestate that can be beneficially reused.

Biogas contains about 60% methane and is an excellent renewable energy source that can be used onsite to power wastewater treatment plants and offset energy import requirements. Biogas can also be treated further and purified to make renewable natural gas (RNG), which can be injected into the national pipeline grid and sold at a premium for its environmental benefits to create a recurring revenue stream for plant owners. Furthermore, the digestate is a nutrient-rich material, which can be treated to make fertilizer - another byproduct that can be sold to generate additional income for plant owners.

Anaerobic digestion is an established technology commonly used to break down sewage sludge and stabilize biosolids at many wastewater treatment plants worldwide. In the U.S. alone, over 1,200 domestic wastewater treatment plants use anaerobic digestion in their process.

In recent years, we’ve also seen more cities begin to leverage anaerobic digestion to divert organic food waste from landfills, which only helps multiply anaerobic digestion’s impact on renewable energy production, reducing GHG emissions and increasing revenue generation. Instead of letting organic food waste naturally decompose in the landfills and emit GHG, anaerobic digestion breaks down the organics in a controlled manner without emissions.

In Europe, the food waste digestion market is more developed and commercialized due to organic landfill diversion regulations and premiums paid for renewable energy. In addition, some of Canada’s largest cities are in the process of implementing dedicated anaerobic digestion facilities for the conversion of residential source-separated organics into renewable energy.

How communities are benefitting

The Oakland wastewater treatment plant in Topeka, Kansas, generates up to 530 SCFM of pipeline ready RNG each year thanks to Veolia’s membrane biogas upgrading system installation. The project offsets the operating costs at the plant and generates additional revenue from the sale of RNG.

The City of Montreal has set an ambitious goal to cut GHG emissions by 80% before 2050. To help it get there, the city’s newest organic waste treatment center will be outfitted with Veolia’s suite of Advanced Anaerobic Digestion Technology. The facility will divert 60,000 tons of organic waste from local landfills, transforming what was once GHG emitting waste into pipeline-quality RNG and avoiding 150,000 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent per year. This represents enough thermal energy to heat over 27,000 homes.

Overall, Veolia has installed over 45 anaerobic digestion solutions and more than 600 digesters equipment installations globally. Each year these solutions divert over a million tons of organics from landfills, reduce more than two million tons of carbon dioxide equivalent, and produce over 2.5 million gigajoules of renewable energy.

Veolia’s process provides a holistic approach that takes anaerobic digestion solutions to a new level. Its entire system or any one of its components can transform wastewater or waste plants into resource recovery factories or optimize other anaerobic digestion technologies. To learn more about Veolia’s biowaste technologies, visit here.

anaerobic digestion

municipal waste

wastewater treatment plants

biowaste

Michael Theodoulou

International Women’s Day: Interview with Heather Peters

Admin — Mon, 07 Mar 2022 20:01:59 +0000

International Women’s Day: Interview with Heather Peters Admin Mon, 03/07/2022 - 15:01

In celebration of this year’s International Women’s Day (IWD) and continuation of our mission to foster the next generation of global water tech leaders and change agents, we caught up with Heather Peters, Veolia | Water Tech North American Human Resources Leader and Co-Chair of the Global Women’s Network. Heather discussed her career, workforce, and what IWD means to her. She also provided advice for women as they progress in their careers. Check out the interview below!

What does International Women's Day and its theme #BreaktheBias mean to you?

IWD is a time to reflect on the progress we’ve made as women, but it’s also a reminder that we need to continue fighting against gender inequality. My mom was a single mom until I was 16, and she worked very hard in a corporate role to #BreaktheBias so that things would be better for me. The stories she tells of her experience in corporate America are painful and outright disturbing. While I haven’t had to face overt sexual harassment and discrimination that my mom experienced, there’s still a lot of work to be done. Inequalities, big and small, still need to be broken. I have to do what my mom did for the next generation of women – I have to work just as hard to make change for women in the workforce. IWD reminds us that we need to keep making progress, and it inspires us to keep going.

Why do you think diversity in the workplace is so important?

Without diversity of gender, race, background, and experience, ideas become one-dimensional. Innovation and creativity hit limits. It is essential to be inclusive in order to maximize our potential as a business, as a team, and as individuals. Yes, it can sometimes feel frustrating to sift through various perspectives in a diverse group of collaborators. But in the end, outcomes will be richer, more meaningful, and ultimately, more powerful. I believe that we should always be looking for ways to celebrate our differences, which is why our employee resource groups (ERGs) are so important. In addition to allowing employees to be heard, feel valued, and get engaged, ERGs ensure alignment between the business and diversity strategies.

What are the challenges facing women in leadership? Have you faced any barriers in your career due to being a woman? If so, how did you overcome them?

I don't want to generalize, because everyone’s challenges are unique and personal. But for me, I struggled to recognize the subtle (and maybe not so subtle) inequities I experienced over the years. I was conditioned to be “nice,” so found myself stepping aside when I should have been stepping up. And, others let me step aside. I didn’t recognize this as an inequity - opportunities were denied to me and my voice was disregarded because I was a “nice girl.” I’ve since learned to own my voice, hold my power, and identify when someone tries to take it away. I can now face my challenges upfront and embrace my emotions. It's not always easy, but all change starts within.

What is your most significant achievement so far?

I’m a mother to a 13-year-old son who I adore. I also have a meaningful and rewarding career in the water industry. I am so proud to be the co-chair of my company's global Women's Network, which creates a community for women that promotes career development, provides mentoring and support, and helps facilitate professional collaborations.

What is an essential piece of advice you have been given and want young women thinking about their careers to know?

It’s hard to pick just one but being open to change is a good piece of advice. Try out different things to figure out what direction you want to take. For my career, internships and rotational programs were instrumental in helping me decide on future plans. We have a lot of great summer internships and a graduate rotational program at Veolia that students should definitely apply to! The path that I originally set for myself changed throughout my career, thanks to strong development programs that helped me reflect on my next steps. I started out in the mental health field but fell in love with HR when I took an HR internship. As I grew professionally, I took advantage of support systems, like mentoring programs, that gave me the confidence to take on challenging roles. We still have work to do, but I am proud to say that we are continuously working to refine our development programs for our employees at all levels.

What has you most excited about the future?

Women have done so much over the last couple of decades to advance technology, medicine, engineering, and more. I can’t wait to see what the next generation of leaders will do!

If you could have dinner with one or two inspirational women, who would they be and why?

I have a long list, but the immediate women that come to mind are Michelle Obama, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Oprah Winfrey, Brené Brown, Gina Davis, Tina Fey, Beyonce, Laverne Cox and my mother. All of them. Together. At the same time. How amazing would that be!?

IWD

Employee

Women

International Women’s Day

Diversity

Veolia | Water Tech

Waterside Chats: Meet Project Manager Fatima Gicquel

Admin — Wed, 23 Feb 2022 21:06:06 +0000

Waterside Chats: Meet Project Manager Fatima Gicquel Admin Wed, 02/23/2022 - 16:06

We’re shining a spotlight on some of these talented individuals, so they can share more about their current roles and the personal career journeys that brought them to where they are today. In the latest video of our “Waterside Chats” series, we sat down with Fatima Gicquel, Project Manager at Veolia | Water Tech, where she discusses her background and how she came to work in the water industry.

Employees

Waterside chat

Veolia | Water Tech

Mainstream Interest in Water Reuse and Available Funding Spurred by Recent Droughts. What’s Next?

Admin — Wed, 23 Feb 2022 20:41:06 +0000

Mainstream Interest in Water Reuse and Available Funding Spurred by Recent Droughts. What’s Next? Admin Wed, 02/23/2022 - 15:41

Severe droughts and growing water scarcity continue to wreak havoc across the globe. Historic droughts are continuing to impact Brazil, most of the Western United States, Madagascar, and more, leaving tangible and lasting impacts on residents, the industry, and the economy.

In the U.S., leaders declared local and state-wide drought emergencies and asked residents to cut water usage. Some areas even went as far as imposing fines on households for wasteful water use practices, such as hosing off a driveway or watering a lawn. In addition, water allocations for the agricultural industry were slashed, forcing ranchers to sell off livestock and farmers to fallow large portions of land, ultimately contributing to inflated food prices throughout the U.S.

Drought conditions have gotten so bad that some states have taken drastic and unprecedented measures to conserve water. For example, California's Department of Water Resources recently issued a 0% water allocation (other than what’s needed for critical health and safety) of the State Water Project for all local water agencies.

The severe impacts of persistent drought and water scarcity are being felt and have opened the eyes of citizens and lawmakers to the need for a solution.

In the U.S., several programs have blazed the trail to make advanced recycling a reality, such as the Hamby Water Reclamation Facility in Texas, the F. Wayne Hill Water Resources Center in Georgia, and the Edward C. Little Facility in California.

Today, several more water reuse programs and initiatives are pressing forward. One example is the Operation NEXT initiative in Los Angeles, which aims to maximize the production of purified recycled water from the Hyperion Water Reclamation Plant - the cornerstone to achieving the Mayor’s goal to recycle 100% of wastewater by 2035. Another example is the Regional Recycled Water Program led by the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California in partnership with the Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts, which will purify treated wastewater from the Joint Water Pollution Control Plant. Currently these massive treatment plants discharge the majority of their effluent into the Pacific Ocean. Recycling at this scale will offset the use of hundreds of thousands of homes in the area.

It's not just the big cities taking steps in the right direction. The town of Morro Bay, California is currently building a Water Reclamation Facility with advanced water purification to protect the environment and establish a safe and reliable water source for local homes and businesses. In eastern Virginia, a new SWIFT program will recycle highly treated wastewater using advanced water treatment processes and then inject the treated water into the Potomac Aquifer.

These are significant strides in the right direction and have taken years to bring to this point, but more still needs to be done.

Thankfully, funding is now available to make water reuse a widespread reality. In the recently passed infrastructure bill, one billion dollars has been set aside for water reuse projects over the next five years. This unprecedented level of funding provides municipalities with the opportunity to cement a stable and sustainable water future for their residents and local commercial and industrial users, but only if the budget is used strategically.

Municipalities must make smart investments in technologies that will serve today's needs, as well as the needs of tomorrow and beyond. Cities should be looking to invest in technologies and solutions that allow for safe and cost-effective water recycling for the appropriate use cases of today, as well as the potential end-use points in the future. In addition, it's critical to consider the future potential of the technologies being implemented today -- will they allow for more advanced recycling for direct potable reuse once regulation and public acceptance support it, or will they hold you back from continuing to adapt and evolve as the world changes?

Not too long ago, the idea of drinking recycled water, or potable reuse, seemed far-fetched. But as consumers begin to feel the lasting impacts of water scarcity personally, the stigma has shifted, and the general public is not only warming up to the idea of direct potable water reuse they see the need. However, we still have a way to go. In a 2020 study of American consumers, only one-third of respondents said they would drink recycled water, and just under half said they would be open to using it for irrigation.

We've also seen movement in the right direction on the regulation front, with several states beginning to outline regulations supporting direct potable water reuse. California, for instance, is mandated to complete direct potable water reuse regulation by the end of 2023 and has created a framework for the regulation of potable reuse projects. Other states are also making progress. Colorado and Florida, for example, have developed similar frameworks and are making advances in outlining regulations to support. Despite regulation sitting at the state level, the EPA has entered the mix to help accelerate reuse. They have spearheaded the Water Reuse Action Plan designed to support and drive progress on water reuse across the nation.

Once these elements solidify and the pieces fall in place, it’ll be critical that municipalities are prepared to implement potable reuse to continue building a sustainable water future in the U.S. Visit here to learn more about how Veolia can support water reuse projects.

Trends

Thought leadership

Potable reuse

Recycles water

Infrastructure bill

Stephen Katz

Process Intensification Solves Big Problems with Small Footprint

taylorcowan — Tue, 08 Feb 2022 19:01:35 +0000

Process Intensification Solves Big Problems with Small Footprint taylorcowan Tue, 02/08/2022 - 14:01

Population growth and urbanization put pressure on existing water and wastewater treatment plants, forcing them to expand treatment capacity to meet the growing demand and increasingly stringent treatment requirements. However, expanding the physical footprint or building a new, larger plant is often not possible due to limited land availability.  

These realities and the continued desire to make plants more efficient and sustainable drive a growing interest in process intensification. Utilities are looking to invest in compact and efficient technologies and solutions to expand their treatment capacity without increasing their physical or environmental footprint. 

Veolia | Water Tech’ ZeeLung* technology is a great example of this. Instead of building a new plant or adding new tanks in an existing facility, ZeeLung can be retrofitted into existing infrastructure to maximize treatment capacity while reducing energy consumption.

How It Works

ZeeLung cassettes are installed into existing bioreactor tanks to augment the conventional activated sludge process by increasing the biological inventory without increasing mixed liquor suspended solids or reactor volume. This avoids the need to build new tanks and allows for fast implementation. 

It’s also much more efficient. In conventional wastewater treatment, 60% of the energy used is consumed by blowers tasked with delivering oxygen necessary for biological processes. With ZeeLung technology, oxygen is delivered without bubbles through molecular diffusion, which reduces the energy required for oxygen transfer by a multiple of four.

All in all, ZeeLung’s process intensification results in up to 50% more treatment capacity in existing tank volumes and up to 50% energy savings. 

Making a Difference in Communities

Adoption of the Veolia ZeeLung technology enables communities to save money, space, and energy consumption. In Yorkville, Illinois, the Yorkville-Bristol Sanitary District (YBSD) operated its wastewater treatment plant near the design organic load. YBSD sought a cost-effective solution to accommodate new industries planning to move into the city. Increasing the treatment capacity of the existing facility would avoid the need to build a new treatment plant and therefore reduce the cost to YBSD’s ratepayers. The plant also wanted a solution to address future regulations regarding phosphorus discharge. So, YBSD selected ZeeLung technology to upgrade its treatment plant. The ZeeLung system has been in operation for more than four years.

In Toronto, Canada, ZeeLung is being deployed to demonstrate how it enables increased capacity and a higher level of treatment. The North Toronto Treatment Plant must achieve a high level of nitrification to produce a non-toxic effluent and requires upgrades to operate again at the original design capacity of 45.5MLD. The city uses the upgrade project to evaluate innovative technologies for reduced energy consumption and intensified treatment. If the evaluation goes well, MABR technology will enable the city to meet its treatment goals in a compact footprint and obtain valuable input for consideration in future capital upgrades at the city’s larger wastewater treatment facilities. 

These use cases show a clear value proposition for process intensification like the kind enabled by the Veolia ZeeLung solution. Process intensification can create a more sustainable path to operating in times of growth or changing regulations by squeezing more from existing infrastructure.

product innovation

Jeff Peeters

Waterside Chats: Meet Area Manager Damian Faccini

taylorcowan — Thu, 27 Jan 2022 20:41:12 +0000

Waterside Chats: Meet Area Manager Damian Faccini taylorcowan Thu, 01/27/2022 - 15:41

We’re shining a spotlight on some of these talented individuals, so they can share more about their current roles and the personal career journeys that brought them to where they are today. In the latest video of our “Waterside Chats” series, we caught up with Damian Faccini, Area Manager - Exploration & Production at Veolia | Water Tech, where he talks about how his work enables him to make a positive impact on the environment.

Watch below for more.

Oil & Gas

Veolia | Water Tech

Water source planning for data centers: 3 steps to ensure success now and in the future

taylorcowan — Thu, 06 Jan 2022 01:37:50 +0000

Water source planning for data centers: 3 steps to ensure success now and in the future taylorcowan Wed, 01/05/2022 - 20:37

Data centers are in high demand. The rise of remote work and online meetings, the increased use of video streaming sites and online gaming platforms, and the vast amounts of data generated from emerging technologies like 5G, have all created increased demand for computing power generated by data centers around the world.

As a result, the development of new data centers or the expansion of existing ones has accelerated dramatically over the past few years to meet the demands of the new data-intensive digital world. In fact, the number of hyperscale data centers has doubled over the past five years.

So why is Veolia writing about data center expansion and growth? The answer is simple: Water is one of the most popular ways to cool data centers, and the availability and quality of water can have major impacts on a data center’s operational costs, overall efficiency, and uptime.

Traditionally, data centers have relied on potable municipal water supplies for cooling purposes. However, this explosion in data center development and expansion comes during a time of increasing water scarcity. What happens if these municipal sources become overly stressed due to sustained population growth or water scarcity, and can’t support a new or expanded data center?

Luckily, data center owners can easily side-step these issues before they happen by following the steps below.

Evaluate all water sources at the onset of site planning

Putting all your eggs in one basket rarely works out. It’s no different when it comes to water sources.

Though it’s often overlooked in the early stages of site planning, characterizing available water sources should be one of the first steps taken. Be sure to evaluate every possible water source to determine which one provides the best quality for optimal operational efficiency. Too often, operators will only analyze the most obvious or available water source without considering other options.

For example, a data center developer was considering building on a parcel of land and asked us to analyze the groundwater before construction. The characterization revealed a very challenging composition of water that would only yield three cycles of concentration even with extensive water treatment chemistry, resulting in considerably higher operational costs and water use. These early findings enabled the developer to identify an alternate site with significantly better water quality.

What’s worse is not characterizing water sources at all. While many data centers draw from local potable water sources, it’s important to remember that not all potable water supplies are created equal. The quality and composition of water vary from place to place, and if you end up using a lower quality potable water source, your data center could experience added costs to treat the water and to maintain five 9s uptime. Unfortunately, it’s not unheard of for a data center owner to not realize there are issues with the water source until their water treatment costs increase substantially.

Consider current and future water needs early in the planning phase

Another key to success is considering both your current and future water needs during these early phases of initial site planning. Are there any plans for potential future expansions, and if so, how will your water needs change as a result? By engaging with the process early, it can be determined if the quality of water supplied to the site location will allow for full build-out of a campus long-term.

Alternatively, have you considered how other industrial sites in the area may impact your future water supply? For example, if there are multiple data centers operating in your area, the combined demand of those sites can stress the existing infrastructure of the municipality beyond its current design, forcing you to find alternative or additional water sources in the future.

If you’re building a new data center or thinking of expanding an existing facility, it’s critical that you consider your long-term water needs at the outset and evaluate alternative sources of water as early as possible to preserve flexibility in the future.

Enlist specialized expertise

Every water challenge can be solved, but some are easier than others. Water source planning for data centers is one of those challenges that can be more complex. Considering that water can significantly impact data centers’ uptime, efficiency, and operating costs, data center owners should look to enlist experts to help with water source planning.

Finding a third-party partner who knows the water landscape, can identify and solve problems early on, and has the foresight and expertise to ensure you have access to quality water sources throughout your data center’s lifecycle will pay dividends in the future.

Learn more on how Veolia can help support your data center water needs throughout every step of the life cycle, from development through operational support, and help overcome challenges in water operations here.

Water Reuse

David Kirkland

Waterside Chats: Meet Global Learning and Talent Development Leader Ash Podder

satheeshk — Wed, 08 Dec 2021 16:35:46 +0000

Waterside Chats: Meet Global Learning and Talent Development Leader Ash Podder satheeshk Wed, 12/08/2021 - 11:35

We’re shining a spotlight on some of these talented individuals, so they can share more about their current roles and the personal career journeys that brought them to where they are today. In the latest video of our “Waterside Chats” series, we caught up with Ash Podder, Global Learning and Talent Development Leader at Veolia | Water Tech, where she talks about her journey from Sydney, Australia to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and shares information on open opportunities for our graduate rotational and summer intern programs.

Graduate

Internships programme

Veolia | Water Tech

Applications for our Undergrad and Graduate Internships are Now Open!

satheeshk — Tue, 07 Dec 2021 20:11:52 +0000

Applications for our Undergrad and Graduate Internships are Now Open! satheeshk Tue, 12/07/2021 - 15:11

Veolia | Water Tech is excited to announce that applications for our global 2022-2023 Graduate Rotational and 2022 Summer Internship program are now open. We currently have more than 120 positions available worldwide for talented students to explore the water tech industry and business environment with hands-on experience, collaborating with some of the best minds in the industry. We're looking for enthusiastic, dedicated, hard-working interns who strive to deliver ideas that spur technological innovation, leadership, creativity, and unconventional thinking.

The graduate rotational program is an 18-month program. It provides a fast-tracked career pathway for qualified and talented individuals through industry-specific training, professional development, and networking opportunities. The program will challenge and enrich learning to develop skills, knowledge, and confidence. In addition, interns will be given hands-on experience and exposure to different parts of the business to provide them with a solid foundation to build their careers within Veolia.

Summer internships with Veolia last at least six weeks, and we have opportunities available across all business functions. Our internships are designed to be educational and impactful. Interns will begin in late spring/early summer and start with a comprehensive onboarding experience where you will connect with peers, managers, mentors, and subject matter experts. Plus, you'll get structured training and hands-on work experience throughout the program.

Both programs include competitive pay, phenomenal learning opportunities, and a global perspective, with opportunities available in multiple locations worldwide. A minimum GPA of 3.2 is required for undergraduate applicants. The application deadline is rolling until all positions are filled.

It's an exciting time to be a part of Veolia. To find out more and apply, please visit our website here.

Internships programme

Undergrad

Graduate

Ash Podder

Save the Horseshoe Crabs: Here’s how the pharmaceutical industry can conserve a vulnerable species

satheeshk — Mon, 01 Nov 2021 17:32:00 +0000

Save the Horseshoe Crabs: Here’s how the pharmaceutical industry can conserve a vulnerable species satheeshk Mon, 11/01/2021 - 13:32

For the pharmaceutical industry, moonlit nights in the spring along the coastlines of Cape Cod, the Delaware and Chesapeake bays, and South Carolina are crucial to its ability to supply safe, clean, injectable medications. It’s on these nights that horseshoe crabs make their way to beaches to spawn, a ritual carried out each year by millions of Atlantic horseshoe crabs.

So what are horseshoe crabs used for in the pharmaceutical industry? The answer starts with the advent of hypodermic needles and injectable drugs.

In the 1800s and early 1900s, doctors struggled to ensure needles were clean and safe. “Injection fever,” a condition resulting from receiving a shot contaminated with bacterial endotoxins, ran rampant. At the time, the purity of injectable drugs was tested on rabbits prior to distribution, a method that was time-consuming and prone to false positives.

It wasn’t until the 1950s that researchers made a discovery that held the potential to dramatically improve the safety of injections. When studying the immune systems of horseshoe crabs, researchers discovered that their blood clotted into stringy masses when injected with seawater, a reaction that persisted even after the seawater was sterilized. This indicated that the horseshoe crab blood wasn’t just reacting to bacteria, but also to the bacterial endotoxins.

Horseshoe crab blood contains factors that, if extracted, could be used to manufacture limulus amebocyte lysate (LAL), an aqueous in vitro reagent that held the potential to significantly improve our ability to test whether injectable drugs have been contaminated with bacterial endotoxin.

After more than 10 years of research, scientists developed a safe and reliable way to extract the amoebocytes required to formulate LAL from horseshoe crabs, and in 1977, the FDA approved LAL kits for endotoxin testing. With endotoxin testing, pharmaceutical companies could promise safer, cleaner injectable medicines.

Today, LAL is used in the vast majority of bacterial endotoxin tests. In fact, horseshoe crabs play an integral part in the continuous quality control testing for safety of the coronavirus vaccines.

But the ever-expanding pharmaceutical industry and increasing demand for LAL, puts pressure on horseshoe crabs and their blood. This has been accompanied by numerous sustainability initiatives led by the industry to ensure safe practices and long-term vitality of the species.

Each summer, horseshoe crabs are acquired from east coast shores and taken to facilities where about one-third of their blood is removed. They are then returned to the wild in a practice closely monitored by the biomedical industry and coastal regulatory bodies. Despite close monitoring, habitat loss and bait fishing have led to substantial decline in the horseshoe crab population, and in 2016, the species was classified as vulnerable.

As such, it’s critical that we find ways to conserve and optimize the use of this resource as much as possible.

So, why is Veolia writing about this? Because our Sievers Eclipse Bacterial Endotoxins Testing (BET) Platform can cut LAL use by up to 90 percent, while remaining compliant with all global pharmaceutical regulations.

Fig: Micro plate with Hand model

We were able to achieve this by leveraging expertise in microfluidics, which is the science of manipulating fluids in small spaces. Sometimes, those channels can be as thin as a few sheets of paper. Microfluidics has unlocked new applications in dozens of industries, including ink-jet printing and the emerging “lab-on-a-chip” solutions.

For the Sievers Eclipse BET Platform, we meticulously designed a novel microplate that facilitates accurate and rapid dispersion of LAL and samples using centripetal force, metering chambers, and microfluidic channels. The microfluidic system enables users to carry out the same biochemistry that is performed in traditional endotoxin assays but with minimal manual effort, greater consistency, and drastically reduced LAL consumption. The system is automated and reduces the number of steps required of technicians, resulting in not only greater efficiency, but also fewer retests.

In the past 70 years, horseshoe crab blood has gone from curiosity to vital in pharmaceuticals. We’re proud to help conserve this vital ecological resource. You can learn more about our Sievers Eclipse BET Platform here.

product innovation

David Wadsworth

Sustainable Lithium Mining: The Technology Behind Improving Yields and Reducing Waste

satheeshk — Tue, 19 Oct 2021 01:15:58 +0000

Sustainable Lithium Mining: The Technology Behind Improving Yields and Reducing Waste satheeshk Mon, 10/18/2021 - 21:15

The rapid rise of electric vehicles (EV) worldwide promises many benefits for the environment and the economy. Since 2016, EV growth has been at least 30% year-over-year, and the Biden Administration wants to further accelerate that. In August, President Biden set a goal to have EVs account for half of all new car sales in the U.S. by 2030. Though the goal is ambitious, it’s achievable, but only if there is enough lithium supply to manufacture the lithium-ion batteries that power EVs.

But while EVs are currently driving most of the lithium story, they’re not the only contributor to the increasing demand for lithium. There are over 70 types of products where lithium is a major component. From mobile devices to medications to heat-resistant ceramics and glass, lithium plays an essential role in improving the world around us.

Overall, global demand for lithium is expected to increase nearly 500% of 2018 levels by 2050. Demand for EVs and stationary storage alone is projected to increase the size of the lithium battery market five- to ten-fold by 2030. This explosive growth in projected demand has created urgency for U.S. leaders to increase domestic production of lithium.

Right now, most of the lithium used in the U.S. is imported from South America, Australia, or China. However, there is potential to change this as the U.S. holds about 10% of the world’s lithium reserves.

Increasing domestic lithium production would not only provide new job creation opportunities, but it would also decrease the U.S.’s dependence on other countries for lithium supply, a mineral crucial to creating a more sustainable future.

In June, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced funding to strengthen the nation’s domestic lithium battery supply chain, and in turn, support “long-term U.S. economic competitiveness and equitable job creation, enables decarbonization, advances social justice, and meets national security requirements.”

As the U.S. looks to onshore more lithium production, its sustainability and efficiency will take centerstage. In a follow up announcement that same month, acting DOE Assistant Secretary Kelly Speakes-Backman specifically called out the need to prioritize “sustainable mining and processing” practices.

Cleaning up the lithium supply chain

Both the public and private sectors are making big commitments to clean up the lithium supply chain and enabling sustainable, scalable, and profitable approaches to lithium mining.

Conventional lithium mining processes are slow, inefficient, and often chemically intensive, only resulting in the extraction of approximately 50% of the available lithium from the mine. Additionally, many of the proposed mining sites in the U.S. are located in already water stressed regions, such as Nevada, California, Oregon, and more.

Fortunately, better technology methods are being developed that will significantly increase the efficiency and effectiveness of lithium extraction and processing.

One of those methods is Direct lithium extraction (DLE), which is very fast and has a much smaller operational footprint. DLE extracts lithium from underground brine and uses technologies like nanofiltration or ion-exchange resins to aide in the efficient processing of the DLE lithium-containing eluant. The efficiency of this method and others in development offers many countries, including the U.S., a pathway toward a much more sustainable and economical lithium supply.

The growth of the global lithium industry is vital to building a more sustainable future, and we recognize that. Veolia | Water Tech (Veolia) is engaged in the development of new technologies and methods designed to overhaul lithium mining’s conventional wasteful approach and streamline it for a higher yield and a more environmentally friendly process. Having access to a wide range of in-house process technologies enables mining operations to optimize their entire flowsheet and achieve the lowest possible project costs.

As global demand continues to rise for lithium, we strive to help lithium producers overcome challenges by developing and optimizing the production process to reliably meet production targets. To learn more about how Veolia can help with your lithium mining needs, visit www.watertechnologies.com/applications/lithium-processing

Water Treatment

Policy

John Peichel

Waterside Chats: Meet Bid Manager Rebeca Borges Salum

satheeshk — Tue, 28 Sep 2021 13:56:52 +0000

Waterside Chats: Meet Bid Manager Rebeca Borges Salum satheeshk Tue, 09/28/2021 - 09:56

Every day, across the globe, our people are working to solve some of the world’s toughest water challenges. They are passionate, innovative and dedicated to doing the right thing for our customers and for our planet.

We’re shining a spotlight on some of these talented individuals, so they can share more about their current roles and the personal career journeys that brought them to where there are today. Take a look at the latest installment of our “Waterside Chats” series featuring Rebeca Borges Salum, Bid Manager, Complex Projects for Veolia | Water Tech.

Water challenges

Veolia | Water Tech

What’s next for addressing PFAS regulations and treatment?

satheeshk — Mon, 13 Sep 2021 15:22:01 +0000

What’s next for addressing PFAS regulations and treatment? satheeshk Mon, 09/13/2021 - 11:22

For environmental managers at industrial sites, or utility operators whose job it is to protect our water supplies, PFAS regulations have become one of the biggest topics in water treatment today.

Because of its major health implications, the Biden Administration has proposed new regulations that would require authorities to monitor and report the presence of PFAS. Some states, including California, Michigan, Minnesota, and New York, have gone farther and have set maximum contaminant levels for certain PFAS compounds in drinking water.

One impediment to designing a PFAS water treatment plan is that nobody really knows where future regulations of PFAS will end up. A site manager could develop a PFAS plan in accordance with local regulations only to see federal regulations impose more stringent requirements.

However, while the regulatory landscape is evolving, the good news is that there are multiple existing technologies that can treat for PFAS today while planning for the future.

In the video below, John Peichel, Global Market Development Lead at Veolia | Water Tech, shares suggestions on how municipal water authorities and industrial site managers can develop an effective PFAS water treatment plan in the midst of regulatory uncertainty.

Veolia | Water Tech has developed and introduced a range of removal and remediation technologies to address contamination in each of the industrial, military, and municipal applications encountered across the world. Our range of technologies is unmatched in breadth and capability and has the ability to be tailored to specific situations, at the lowest possible capital and operating expenditure. For more information on PFAS contamination treatment strategies and the technologies available, read our latest whitepaper or contact a Veolia expert to discuss specific solutions to your PFAS challenges

Read PFAS Disclaimer

Water Reuse

Water Treatment

John Peichel

The Future of Product Innovation Lives in Socially Responsible Chemistry

satheeshk — Tue, 31 Aug 2021 02:52:47 +0000

The Future of Product Innovation Lives in Socially Responsible Chemistry satheeshk Mon, 08/30/2021 - 22:52

Increasing mandates from governments, industries, and watchdog groups, along with growing interest from the investment community, are driving a new emphasis on sustainability.

At Veolia | Water Tech, we value socially responsible chemistry as a driving force in our efforts to promote a circular economy by simplifying approaches, mitigating environmental harm, and reimagining the role of waste byproducts. Everything we do across our product lines fall within the framework of a multi-generation product plan that builds off the learnings of every project. Each time we iterate, we get smarter and make a better, more sustainable product.

We are doing more with less, focusing on more biodegradable materials and utilizing waste to create more efficient and less harmful solutions. Here are just a few examples.

Focusing on Solutions with Higher Biodegradability and Less Chemicals

Industrial raw water and waste plant operators are accustomed to using harsh chemicals to reduce biofouling, bacterial growth, and a hard-to-remove biofilm that forms on the reverse osmosis (RO) membrane systems they employ. These chemicals can be both highly caustic and highly acidic, with many adverse effects on the environment and the membrane itself, causing permanent damage that results in lower permeate water quality and shortens its overall lifespan.

Through our extensive research and knowledge of membranes, Veolia was able to identify and isolate naturally occurring enzymes to create an Enzymatic Membrane Cleaner solution that more fully cleans RO membranes. The solution, otherwise known as MemChem* ENV920, ENV921, ENV922, and ENV923, has much safer pH levels (closer to those found in drinking water) and enables the cleaning to take place under milder temperature conditions, which minimizes the risk of membrane damage. Beyond its environmental benefits, the solution increases the lifespan of membranes, reduces overall chemical usage, and decreases the frequency of cleanings, resulting in cost savings for plant operators.

Utilizing Dairy Byproducts to Reduce SO2 Emissions

Many coal-fired power plants are challenged with stricter regulatory compliance for emissions or are at-risk of closing due to competition from other generation sources like cleaner natural gas. In particular, tighter sulfur dioxide (SO2) emission limits (now at 95%) have essentially made the plants’ FGD scrubber systems -- most of which were installed in the 1980s and 1990s and only removed about 80% of SO2 – unable to comply with the new standards.

Using organic acids reprocessed from dairy production waste, Veolia created FGD scrubber catalysts (FuelSolv* SOX 103 and FuelSolv SOX 104) to enhance the SO2 removal capabilities of existing FGD scrubbers. Not only do the SO2 catalysts help coal-powered plants sidestep the need to purchase new costly equipment or upgrades, but they also lower total operating costs by decreasing reagent and electrical usage and providing fuel flexibility, all while meeting the required emission targets.

Using a Paper Mill Byproduct to Reduce Water Use and Fugitive Emissions

Another common problem in the air is fugitive dust, the kind generated during the construction, maintenance, and operation of mining roads. It’s an environmental nuisance and a significant safety hazard as the inhalation of fugitive dust leads to increased health concerns. The dust can also hamper operational costs by increasing the frequency of equipment and vehicle maintenance.

To minimize the dust, mining and other operations sites would spray copious amounts of water or a harsh hydrocarbon product onto the road surfaces. These solutions weren’t very effective and only provided short-term relief from the issue. When a customer based in a water-scarce region asked Veolia to develop an alternative to minimize the amount of water and chemical products used, we looked to naturally occurring byproducts from trees.

Using a byproduct from the sulfide paper mill process, Veolia enhanced a leftover material typically burned or discharged to create a socially responsible dust control binding agent, DusTreat* DC9112. The binding agent is incredibly effective, enabling sites to create harder roads that last longer, using less water and trucks to pound out the surface. It completely eliminates the need for gravel and reducing dust issues for an extended period of time.

Expanding on the findings from previous products, the next generation of Veolia solutions will be more biodegradable, less harmful to the environment and equipment, and make better use of inherent waste. In its purest form, socially responsible chemistry will give us the tools to navigate the complex web of sustainability, economic, and societal problems that threaten our future.

product innovation

socially responsible chemistry

ESG

Peter Macios

Waterside Chats: Meet Global Supply Chain Leader Tesfa Haile

satheeshk — Tue, 10 Aug 2021 20:21:21 +0000

Waterside Chats: Meet Global Supply Chain Leader Tesfa Haile satheeshk Tue, 08/10/2021 - 16:21

We’re shining a spotlight on some of these talented individuals, so they can share more about their current roles and the personal career journeys that brought them to where there are today. Take a look at the latest installment of our “Waterside Chats” series featuring Tesfa Haile, Global Supply Chain Leader for Veolia | Water Tech.

Water challenges

Veolia | Water Tech

What’s next for remote services and IoT?

satheeshk — Wed, 28 Jul 2021 17:37:25 +0000

What’s next for remote services and IoT? satheeshk Wed, 07/28/2021 - 13:37

While the Internet of Things (IoT) gained an increasing foothold in the water sector over the past decade, the pandemic accelerated its adoption. Social distancing rules and stay-at-home orders made remote monitoring -- enabled by a robust network of IoT solutions -- an imperative.

And after experiencing the tremendous value that IoT and remote monitoring unlock – including improved safety, efficiency, asset performance, sustainability, etc. – there’s no going back. Now plant managers and operators can monitor performance from anywhere at any time, receive alerts against specific operating parameters, get automated reports, make more informed decisions based on real-time data, reduce operating costs, and more.

But while these capabilities have changed the game for many industrial companies, we’ve reached a point where remote monitoring and automated reporting have become the expected norm. So, what’s next?

Ralph Exton, Chief Marketing & Digital Officer for Veolia | Water Tech, sat down to share more on the benefits of IoT, digital monitoring, and advanced analytics, along with his thoughts on the future outlook of these technologies in the industrial sector. Watch the video below to learn more.

Asset Performance Management

Facilities Management

Food & Beverage

Oil & Gas

Water Treatment

Ralph Exton

An Opportunity for Sustainable Investment in U.S. Clean Water Infrastructure

satheeshk — Tue, 13 Jul 2021 00:23:07 +0000

An Opportunity for Sustainable Investment in U.S. Clean Water Infrastructure satheeshk Mon, 07/12/2021 - 20:23

The World Economic Forum’s Global Risks Report for 2021 identifies human-caused environmental damage and climate action failure as two of the most likely and highest impact risks we’ll face in the next decade.

Looking at the report, it would be easy to become discouraged. There’s no need to. While our challenges are great, our innovators and problem solvers are greater. And there’s added reason for optimism as governments and major companies take decisive action on sustainability issues and work to develop more resilient infrastructure.

In the U.S., Congress is debating competing infrastructure packages that, on the low end, call for $500 billion in spending, and could top $2 trillion. Early discussions indicate a desire to increase spending for water infrastructure including for things like municipal drinking water and wastewater plants, as well as flood control.

The momentum behind infrastructure spending is good news, because these proposals offer a chance to upgrade aging infrastructure with solutions that can increase resilience and sustainability. However, there’s also an opportunity to add new provisions that could encourage greener, more sustainable private sector business practices.

In recent years, companies have pursued environmental and sustainability initiatives with more fervor as climate change exacerbates water scarcity.

These projects aren’t performative gestures aimed at burnishing corporate credentials. These projects are being implemented because the world is waking up to the fact that doing nothing now is a recipe for future failure.

To broaden adoption of water-saving technology, government policy should support water reuse with tax incentives similar to the ones used in wind and solar projects. Investment Tax Credits (ITC) helped these industries grow and compete, but also increased the clean energy install base.

For areas where water scarcity threatens to derail economies, like southern California, a targeted ITC could make a big water security impact.

As the transition to clean energy continues, we should expand our focus to impactful ways we can promote more sustainable use of our water supply. About one-third of the public, municipal water supply in the U.S. is used for business. But this accounts for only a fraction of the water used in the U.S. Power plants, mining operations, and industrial facilities use nearly four times the amount of water generated by municipalities.

Water is essential to almost every industry and business out there. Think about it - the paper used to ink contracts and the products businesses manufacture and sell wouldn’t be possible without access to water.

However, because water is relatively inexpensive in the U.S., it is often cheaper for businesses to simply pull water from a potable water source than it is to invest in the technologies and infrastructure that would enable companies to reuse water and in turn, reduce their water footprints.

For example, the data centers that stream our favorite shows and connect us to friends on social media use water to cool their servers. Many rely on increasingly scarce fresh surface water or municipal-supplied drinking water to cool those servers. But instead of drawing on stressed municipal supplies, the industry could take wastewater and treat it so that they can reuse it for cooling and other purposes, thereby conserving water supplies for businesses and communities alike.

Luckily, the necessary technology and expertise to implement sustainable water solutions already exists and will ultimately enable us to be better stewards of our water supply.

As environmentalists and sustainability advocates, governments and consumers align around solving our climate and water crises, the water sector stands ready with energy and excitement to solve challenges that have been long overlooked. Now is the time to think big.

Water Reuse

Policy

Water Treatment

Veolia | Water Tech

What's the Solution to Increasing Global Water Scarcity?

satheeshk — Tue, 13 Jul 2021 00:19:41 +0000

What's the Solution to Increasing Global Water Scarcity? satheeshk Mon, 07/12/2021 - 20:19

You often hear people say that climate change and rising populations are leading to water scarcity. That’s true, but it’s only part of the story.

The vast majority of water usage in developed countries isn’t from household consumption (only 12%), but rather from agriculture, manufacturing, and other industrial activity.

The textile factory that makes your clothes, for example, uses more than 650 gallons of water to make one shirt. The cars we drive, the smartphones that connect us, the almonds we eat, and the paper we use in school all require surprising amounts of water. And these products are often made in areas facing the greatest water challenges, which means that water challenges in one part of the world have an impact in another.

By 2025, more than half of the global population will live in water stressed areas. Water scarcity poses a danger to human health, economic growth and living standards, making water scarcity both a global and local problem. However, there are political, financial, and technological solutions.

For instance, incentives to encourage the development of water reuse projects, and policies to remove or reduce barriers to adopting water reuse technology, can help advance water sustainability.

The benefits of water reuse

Water recycling is paving the way for a more resilient water supply. And it manifests itself in so many ways.

When an industrial facility uses water, it usually treats that wastewater to relevant local standards and discharges it into a local waterway. But what if that facility recycled and reused the water before finally treating and discharging it to the environment

Industrial facilities and data centers - both of which are major water users - can treat their wastewater to a quality appropriate for use as cooling tower water or boiler feedwater.

In the island city-state of Singapore, a closed loop process that recycles wastewater streams is increasingly being used in the manufacturing processes for semiconductors, which support industries vital to the entire economy.

And in southern California, partially treated municipal wastewater is being used for landscaping and agricultural irrigation. Water reuse is the single most promising solution to water scarcity, and the most sustainable strategy to fulfill our water needs.

Because, while a rising population, increased industrialization, and climate change are leading to global water scarcity, it doesn’t have to be that way. Nearly every water challenge we face has a solution that supports our way of life.

To learn more about water reuse, visit https://www.watertechnologies.com/waterreuse

Water Reuse

Water Treatment

Veolia | Water Tech

Sustainability Benefits of Industrial & Municipal Water Reuse

satheeshk — Tue, 13 Jul 2021 00:13:01 +0000

Sustainability Benefits of Industrial & Municipal Water Reuse satheeshk Mon, 07/12/2021 - 20:13

When you open up the tap to pour yourself a refreshing glass of water do you ever think about where that water originally came from? A river, lake, or even a reservoir may come to mind. But what would you think if you knew your town treated its wastewater to drinking water standards, and then recirculated it back to the community?

That concept used to give many people pause, but opinions are changing, especially as the world faces growing water scarcity challenges. According to a 2020 survey of 2,000 Americans, more than one-third of respondents would drink recycled water, and nearly half would use it to water their lawn. Just 5% of Americans said they wouldn’t be comfortable using recycled water for any purpose.

That’s a big contrast to years past, when a perceived “ick” factor mobilized opposition to water recycling projects.

However, more people are paying attention to sustainability issues, climate change, and resource conservation. That’s made them more willing to advocate and adopt solutions that combat water scarcity.

The survey also found that Americans are increasingly aware of, and alarmed by, climate change and sustainability issues. Water-related issues, like pollution, drought, and scarcity, occupied three of the top five climate concerns (air pollution and wildfires were the other two).

Our lifestyles require lots of water, and not just for obvious uses like growing food, drinking, or bathing. Power plants use water for cooling, as do the data centers that pipe streaming movies to your house.

We can use recycled water for all of it.

The survey found that 42% of respondents thought fighting fires was an acceptable use of recycled water. Slightly more than half thought it was ok to use recycled water to flush toilets. About one-third think it would be acceptable to use recycled water for manufacturing, power plants, and construction projects like concrete mixing.

So where does this leave us?

It’s clear that water reuse is gaining wider acceptance. That’s a good thing, because water recycling is the most sustainable source to solve our water scarcity issues. But right now, just 2% of water is recycled globally.

Interestingly, three-quarters of respondents appear to be so worried about water scarcity, they’re willing to see their taxes increase if it meant their city or municipality would invest more in protecting their local water supply.

But while Americans say they would accept higher taxes and are comfortable using recycled water in some form, more than two-thirds say there’s something of a stigma. It’s not entirely clear why people find recycled water acceptable for some applications but not others, however, those mismatches may be remedied by more education.

For example, in areas where recycled water infrastructure has been adopted, like Israel and Kuwait, public acceptance has grown in part because more people are exposed to how it works and its benefits. And in California, the Edward C. Little Water Recycling Facility produces more than 40 million gallons of water for 300 industrial partners per day. That’s enough for 80,000 households, and it’s been doing it since the 1990s.

These examples continue to prove that water recycling is safe and effective. And with sustainability and building resilience against climate change a growing focus, it’s safe to assume we’re going to be seeing a lot more of it.

Water Reuse

Water Treatment

Veolia | Water Tech

Climate Change, Scarcity, & Global Access to Water: A Conversation with Yuvbir Singh

satheeshk — Mon, 12 Jul 2021 23:28:12 +0000

Climate Change, Scarcity, & Global Access to Water: A Conversation with Yuvbir Singh satheeshk Mon, 07/12/2021 - 19:28

In 2020, seven in 10 Americans believed that at some point in their lives they’d need to move due to the impacts of climate change. Sixty-nine percent also agreed that water scarcity was a major environmental concern of theirs.

Communities across the globe share that concern. According to the World Economic Forum, by 2050 380 million people could face water stress.

For our CEO, Yuvbir Singh, water access is both a professional mission and personal passion. Growing up in India, where he still has a large extended family, he saw how some areas struggled to have consistent access to clean water. This firsthand experience has fueled his focus on helping communities achieve water security and partnering with industries to reduce their water footprints.

While everyone may have a different perspective or experience with water availability, we all understand the essential role it plays. Ahead of World Water Day, Yuvbir sat down to talk about what the value of water means to him.

Water Reuse

Water Treatment

Veolia | Water Tech

Veolia - Water Technologies & Solutions

Demystifying PFAS: A Beginner’s FAQ Guide

For processes that use media to adsorb PFAS chemicals, where does the PFAS or contaminant go after it has been captured?

Are any technologies capable of destroying these contaminants without disposing of them in landfills or incinerators?

What does Veolia do if a landfill or disposal company refuses to take PFAS?

What is the most promising technology for PFAS treatment in the short and long term?

What is the most challenging aspect of tackling PFAS from drinking water?

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Our Blog Has a New Home

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How Grasim Industries Created a Zero Liquid Discharge Benchmark in Water-Scarce Nagda, India

A clear set of goals

Innovation that pays off

Local and global impact

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National Engineers Week: Celebrating Veolia's Expertise in Addressing PFAS

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Sievers Boron Ultra Brings Unmatched Control to Microelectronics Manufacturing

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Celebrating Women and Girls in Science: Inspiring the Next Generation at Veolia

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Veolia Cares: Providing Time for New Moms

Our commitment to new mothers

Veolia voices

Join our team

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Leading India’s Water Treatment Revolution Through Innovation

Maximizing impact through process intensification

Expanding access to clean water

Your partner in urban water treatment innovation

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Waterside Chats: Meet Commercial Manager, Equipment Services Doen Gayle

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Celebrating One Year of Veolia Cares: Community Impact Through Volunteering

Supporting our employees to support their communities

Veolia voices

Join us and make an impact

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What Manufacturers Need to Know About Regulatory Changes to Endotoxin Testing

A move to synthetic alternatives

Sievers’ analyzers are ready

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How Dominion Energy Reached 5-year Water Reduction Goal in 18 Months

The water challenge

A quick resolution to a long-term goal

How Veolia partners with power providers

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How Sustainable Mining is Changing the Outlook in Latin America

Why we need sustainable practices

Solutions in action

Veolia’s role in sustainable mining

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Waterside Chats: Meet Director of Manufacturing Doris Ho

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How Ion Exchange Creates the Demineralized Water Many Industries Need

Meeting demand in North Texas

Your partner in sustainable water solutions

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Celebrating One Year of Veolia Cares: Spotlight on Paternity Benefits

Our commitment to new fathers

Veolia voices

Join our team

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Discover Veolia at WEFTEC 2024

Other sessions

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Waterside Chats: Meet Lead Quality Control Engineer Mary Augustine

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Launch Your Career with Veolia's Internship Program

Here is what you can expect from a summer with Veolia:

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Driving Ecological Transformation in APAC: Q&A with Ish Hakim, Executive Vice President of Asia-Pacific

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Waterside Chats: Meet North America Business Development Manager, Jesse Forth

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Artificial Intelligence is Using a Ton of Water. Here’s How to Be More Resourceful

Why data centers are so thirsty for water

Veolia’s water reuse solutions

Finding sustainability as technology evolves

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