South America | H2O Global News

Veolia enables Rhodia to achieve 94% water reuse at Brazilian textile production site

H2O Team — Thu, 09 Oct 2025 16:38:00 +0000

H2O Global News
Veolia enables Rhodia to achieve 94% water reuse at Brazilian textile production site

Veolia has helped Rhodia, part of the Solvay Group, achieve 94% water reuse at its textile chemical production facility in Santo André, São Paulo State, Brazil — saving the equivalent of 133 Olympic swimming pools of water annually. The achievement represents a major step forward in Rhodia’s industrial water circularity and sustainability strategy.

Following more than a year of successful operation under a 10-year service contract, the project demonstrates the results of decades of investment and continuous innovation at the site, transforming an existing effluent treatment plant into a modern water reuse facility through Veolia’s advanced technologies and operational expertise.

Veolia implemented a comprehensive technology-as-a-service model that leverages existing infrastructure and flexible investment agreements to accelerate project delivery. By integrating a state-of-the-art ZeeWeed™ MBR (membrane bioreactor) system and advanced effluent homogenisation processes, Veolia converted the site’s wastewater treatment operations into a high-performance reuse production system capable of supplying top-quality water for Rhodia’s industrial processes, including cooling systems.

This project is particularly impactful in São Paulo State, an area frequently affected by drought and water scarcity. By reducing groundwater extraction and increasing resource efficiency, the facility supports regional water resilience and contributes directly to local conservation efforts.

“The project in partnership with Veolia contributed to the Santo André site reaching the milestone of 94% water reuse, an impressive achievement. It also brought significant improvement in water quality, which can now be used in other applications. The solution is fully aligned with the principles of the circular economy and with Rhodia’s sustainability programme.”
Ronia Oisiovici, Senior Sustainability, Research and Innovation Manager, Rhodia

By reusing existing equipment and optimising installed systems, Veolia minimised new infrastructure needs, reinforcing its circular economy commitments. The modernised facility ensures compliance, enhances process reliability and reduces the environmental footprint of Rhodia’s operations.

“This project reflects Veolia’s ability to integrate high-performance engineering with a robust, results-oriented operational model. It exemplifies our GreenUp strategic programme, where water technologies serve as a catalyst for ecological transformation. We are proud to accompany clients such as Rhodia to transform environmental goals into scalable solutions that prove performance and sustainability go hand in hand.”
Mauro Cruz, Executive Vice President and Head of Water Technologies for Latin America, Veolia

The collaboration underscores Veolia’s commitment to driving industrial water reuse and decarbonisation as part of its global GreenUp strategy, placing ecological transformation at the heart of industrial performance.

Veolia enables Rhodia to achieve 94% water reuse at Brazilian textile production site
H2O Team

Veolia’s advanced technologies set new standards for large-scale water reuse in Brazil

louise davey — Thu, 31 Jul 2025 10:25:14 +0000

H2O Global News
Veolia’s advanced technologies set new standards for large-scale water reuse in Brazil

Veolia, the global leader in water treatment technologies, has been selected to design and deliver Brazil’s most advanced municipal wastewater reuse system for industrial applications. The new Águas de Reúso de Vitória Water Reclamation Station (Vitória WRS) marks a major milestone in the country’s fight against water scarcity and sustainability ambitions.

With a 450 liters per second (l/s) processing capacity — or 38,880 cubic meters per day (m3/d) — the system will recycle 85% of municipal wastewater from Vitória’s Camburi basin. By redirecting reclaimed water to industrial users, the project frees up freshwater resources equivalent to the needs of nearly 200,000 people. This solution enables industries to increase their resilience through alternative water resources while preserving natural water supplies, transforming an underused waste stream into a valuable resource.

As the first project of its kind in Brazil, Vitória WRS addresses the country’s long-standing challenge with water reuse — currently representing less than 1% of total water consumption, according to the Brazilian Water Agency statistics (ANA). By setting a precedent for advanced, decentralized water reuse, it aims to pave the way for widespread adoption of sustainable water recycling solutions across Latin America.

The project stems from Brazil’s first public tender for water reuse. Led by Águas de Reúso de Vitória — a strategic partnership between GS INIMA and the Espírito Santo Sanitation Company (CESAN) — the station will provide a secure and sustainable water supply to major industrial players such as ArcelorMittal and Vale, both essential to the region’s socio-economic development.

Vitória WRS will be the world’s first large-scale facility to convert a municipal wastewater treatment plant into a water reuse production station using membrane bioreactors and reverse osmosis. The facility will integrate Veolia’s high-performance technologies for biological wastewater treatment intensification, including:

memDENSE™ membrane bioreactor for ultra-compact biological treatment.
ZeeWeed™ 500-EV ultrafiltration membranes for high-efficiency solids separation.
PROflex™ high-recovery reverse osmosis for advanced contaminant removal.

These combined technologies target key challenges such as biological phosphorus and nitrogen removal, delivering a cost-effective and reliable supply of high-quality water fit for industrial use while preserving natural freshwater sources.

Estelle Brachlianoff, Chief Executive Officer of Veolia, added: “This project sets a new benchmark for sustainability across Latin America. By leveraging our most advanced proprietary technologies, we’re transforming challenges into opportunities and helping our partners achieve their goals while actively preserving water resources. As part of our GreenUp strategic program, we’re committed to contributing to sustainable water management and are very pleased to bring our expertise to Brazil, expanding our strong presence in the country.”

Paulo Roberto, president of GS INIMA in Brazil, commented: “This pioneering project represents a significant step forward for Brazilian sanitation, combining innovative technologies with environmental stewardship. Incorporating Veolia’s technologies into this Vitória project has resulted in a winning and competitive partnership, ensuring greater technical, economic and environmental feasibility. The project will enhance Brazilian sanitation with quality and operational excellence, expanding sustainable water solutions in the country. As the first water reuse subconcession catering to major industrial clients, it sets the bar and paves the way for a more sustainable future.”

Veolia’s advanced technologies set new standards for large-scale water reuse in Brazil
louise davey

Acquaint and 4pipe-hidropig introduce innovative solutions for pipeline inspection in Brazil

H2O Team — Fri, 17 Jan 2025 15:31:50 +0000

H2O Global News
Acquaint and 4pipe-hidropig introduce innovative solutions for pipeline inspection in Brazil

Acquaint BV and 4Pipe-Hidropig proudly announce their new partnership. Together, they combine their strengths to bring Acquaint’s proven inspection technology to Brazil. For 4Pipe-Hidropig, the market leader in South America in the field of pigging and PIG production, and for the Brazilian market, this advanced technology is a valuable addition. With this partnership, both companies aim to provide innovative and sustainable solutions for the Brazilian water and sewage sector. The collaboration has already started with a joint project that was conducted last month.

The Brazilian Market: Opportunities and Challenges

Globally, there is growing awareness that underground water pipelines are aging, and there is often insufficient reliable information available about their condition. This awareness is leading to an increasing demand for innovative and reliable methods to gain insights into the state of these pipelines. This need is also growing in Brazil. The Brazilian market offers huge opportunities but also presents unique challenges. Customer needs vary greatly: pipelines are made of different materials, often with multiple internal diameters, and subject to varying temperatures and pressures. Additionally, logistical issues are particularly complex. The country is vast, with customers located in many different regions, and landscapes vary greatly, resulting in significant differences in the depth and location of the pipelines. This requires an approach that is not only flexible but also well adapted to local conditions and needs. The collaboration between the two companies addresses this by combining the local expertise of 4Pipe-Hidropig with Acquaint’s advanced technology.

“Within the Brazilian market, the need to gain insight into the condition of their pipelines is growing more than ever,” says Mateus Nobeschi, Commercial Manager of 4Pipe-Hidropig. “Through our partnership, we can work purposefully and offer valuable solutions that truly help customers move forward.” Acquaint also sees great potential in the Brazilian market. “The needs in Brazil are similar to those in Europe due to the aging underground infrastructure, but the scale and context make it unique,” says Erik Driessen, CEO of Acquaint. “Together with 4Pipe, we can effectively enter this market.” The partnership opens the door for Acquaint to provide services to Brazilian pipeline operators. “We were looking for a partner who understands the market, is technically strong, and values innovation. 4Pipe stood out on all fronts,” says Driessen. “Their years of experience in pipeline cleaning and inspection, combined with their customer focus, make them the ideal partner.”

First Project: Inspection of a Water Pipeline for Anglo American

The partnership immediately takes shape with an impressive project: the inspection of a 13-mile-long, 30-inch steel water pipeline for Anglo American, an international mining company. This pipeline transports water from Rio de Peixe to the mining site near Belo Horizonte. In preparation, 4Pipe conducts a major cleaning operation, removing sediment and corrosion from the pipeline. This not only makes the pipeline suitable for inspection but also restores its full transport capacity for Anglo American.

The inspection itself is carried out using the newest generation of the Acquarius tool from Acquaint. The 4Pipe team supports this process by launching, receiving, and tracking the tool, while simultaneously learning how to independently perform inspections with this technology in the future.

A Shared Vision for the Future

The partnership between 4Pipe and Acquaint is more than a one-off collaboration; it lays the foundation for a long-term strategic alliance focused on innovation and growth. Both companies share ambitious plans to strengthen their impact in Brazil and the surrounding regions.

The first objective is to expand inspection services by conducting multiple inspections annually in Brazil. Additionally, with 4Pipe-Hidropig’s extensive experience, the goal is to begin local production of the PIGs essential for the Aquarius inspection technology. Ultimately, 4Pipe-Hidropig aims to independently perform various annual inspections for its clients using Acquaint’s advanced technology.

“We believe this partnership not only strengthens the position of both companies but also makes a valuable contribution to improving Brazil’s underground infrastructure,” said Driessen. Nobeschi added, “Together with Acquaint, we can better support our clients and contribute to a sustainable future for the water and sewage sector in Brazil.”

Acquaint and 4pipe-hidropig introduce innovative solutions for pipeline inspection in Brazil
H2O Team

Solenis has completed the acquisition of the stock of the Grand Invest Group Acquisition provides new market opportunity and enables direct go-to-market strategy

hello — Tue, 07 Feb 2023 10:26:38 +0000

H2O Global News
Solenis has completed the acquisition of the stock of the Grand Invest Group

Acquisition provides new market opportunity and enables direct go-to-market strategy

Solenis, a leading global producer of specialty chemicals, completed the acquisition of the stock of the Grand Invest Group on February 6, 2023. As part of the acquisition, Solenis will acquire all Grand Invest Group operating assets, including key strategic production and warehousing facilities.

Headquartered in Lima, Peru, the Grand Invest Group serves a range of industries, including pulp and paper, power, petroleum refining, municipal, oil and gas, mineral processing, fish processing and sugar production. The acquisition of the Grand Invest Group aligns with Solenis’ direct go-to-market strategy to provide customers in the region with improved chemical and water treatment product and service offerings.

“Grand Invest Group has a talented team of professionals with in-depth knowledge of customer needs in the Peruvian market. The opportunity to integrate their capabilities with Solenis will provide enhanced value for customers in Peru and other Andean countries,” said José Armando P. Aguirre, vice president and general manager of Solenis in Latin America.

“Solenis’ ability to combine our strong product portfolio and in-depth knowledge of water-intensive industries with regional businesses has been a successful formula for growth and provides more expertise and offerings for customers in these regions,” said John Panichella, CEO, Solenis.

The Grand Invest Group transaction marks the fifth add-on acquisition since Platinum Equity acquired Solenis in 2021.

“We are delivering on our promise to help Solenis accelerate its growth internationally in key markets like Latin America,” said Platinum Equity Partner Jacob Kotzubei and Platinum Equity Managing Director Nathan Eldridge in a joint statement. “We are excited to continue working with John and the management team to find more opportunities to help the company extend its reach.”

Solenis has completed the acquisition of the stock of the Grand Invest Group

Acquisition provides new market opportunity and enables direct go-to-market strategy

hello

Arsenic challenge unites water teams in the Netherlands and Argentina

hello — Fri, 02 Dec 2022 11:35:56 +0000

H2O Global News
Arsenic challenge unites water teams in the Netherlands and Argentina

Water treatment experts from the Netherlands and Argentina are uniting to help find a sustainable solution to remove arsenic from groundwater.

A naturally occurring substance present in the environment and soil, arsenic has been found in high concentrations in several parts of Argentina.

Two pilot projects are underway between Argentina’s major water utility Agua y Saneamientos Argentinos S.A. (AySA) and partners Royal HaskoningDHV, TRAIDE, and KWR Water Research Institute (KWR) with support of the Embassy of the Netherlands in Buenos Aires, according to KWR Project Manager Gerard van den Berg.

As part of the two-and-a-half-year LEAF (Low Energy Arsenic Free) project, the initiative took place over three months at the Ezeiza water treatment plant. KWR developed the project set up, designed the pilots, and defined the research. Work was carried out by the AySA research team, in close cooperation with KWR.

One pilot is based on co-precipitation followed by rapid sand filtration (C-RSF), and the other on co-precipitation followed by ultrafiltration (C-UF).

Ron Jong

Going above WHO arsenic limits

World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines for arsenic stand at 50 micrograms per litre. Countries such as the Netherlands have gone further, mandating 10 micrograms per litre. In Argentina, current arsenic parameters settled by the WHO are accepted as valid and epidemiological studies are being carried out to verify if it is mandatory to be more demanding with the regulations.

The pilot projects in Argentina showed positive results during the first three months of implementation, reducing arsenic levels in the treated groundwater down to 10 micrograms per litre and lower, complying with the outlet concentration with Argentine regulations. Although the results obtained are encouraging, a longer period is required to draw conclusive conclusions. Furthermore, significant energy and chemical savings were achieved.

Ron Jong, a senior water treatment specialist and researcher from KWR, said: “Many of the existing technologies, such as reverse osmosis membranes or absorption processes use a lot of energy and chemicals, respectively, and operational costs can be high. The new solution developed by KWR, together with the Dutch drinking water companies, requires minimal energy. We apply this process in the Netherlands but as there’s already iron in the water, it works naturally. In Argentina, as the water is iron-free, this iron has to be added.”

By correctly dosing, the arsenic connects to the iron in the water as iron flocs, which can then be removed either using the sand filtration or ultrafiltration.

Jong believes the partnership will eventually help to disseminate knowledge and solutions to other parts of the world, with Argentina acting as a gateway into Latin America.

“Many other countries in Europe and the rest of the world have arsenic problems seriously affecting drinking water safety. For example, Bangladesh and Serbia, as well.”

Gerard van den Berg

Modifying existing processes

Cost calculations to date have shown that if AySA’s current adsorption processes are modified to the co-precipitation rapid sand filtration set-up, these costs would be recuperated in relatively short time.

Jong added: “After proving that arsenic can be removed at the location, we’re looking at adapting the process circumstances to apply it at the bigger water treatment plants. This will further evaluate and test the ability to modify and operate the process, at a larger scale.”

He says that the challenge of processing the by-product remains with scaling the process in Argentina.

“Waste liquid streams from the current absorption processes can be disposed of into surface waters. However, the waste stream from this new process is an iron sludge containing arsenic. As questions remain over the potential and reuse options in Argentina, this will require further research.”

AySA considered the partnership with KWR to be very valuable, going beyond knowledge exchange to include new ways of working. It has received support from company president, Malena Galmarini.

Christian Taylor, planning manager at AySA, said: “The technology is suitable for removing arsenic and is aligned with our energy efficiency strategy. It is necessary to continue studying this process at different scales, as it can be very useful for rural populations in Argentina.”

– For more information, visit: https://www.kwrwater.nl/en/ and https://aysa.com.ar/

Arsenic challenge unites water teams in the Netherlands and Argentina
hello

Brazilian Porto Colombia hydropower plant will be modernized by Voith Hydro With this undertaking operator Furnas will ensure increased reliability of the plant, guaranteeing renewable energy generation.

hello — Fri, 30 Sep 2022 08:55:36 +0000

H2O Global News
Brazilian Porto Colombia hydropower plant will be modernized by Voith Hydro

With this undertaking operator Furnas will ensure increased reliability of the plant, guaranteeing renewable energy generation.

In September, Voith Hydro and Furnas signed an agreement to modernize the Porto Colombia hydropower plant located on the Grande River on the border between the states of São Paulo and Minas Gerais. Construction of the plant started in 1970 and it went into operation in 1973 with an installed capacity of 320 MW. The project marks Furnas’ first large-scale contract after privatization.

The scope of work includes the refurbishment of the Kaplan turbines, generators and the plant’s overhead crane. Also the replacement of mechanical and electrical auxiliary systems and digitization of measurement, protection and control systems will be covered. This will lead to an increase in availability of the Furnas system that supplies the National Interconnected Grid.

“With advances in technologies applied to hydroelectric plants, we will be able to obtain better performance and production from our equipment and systems,” comments Furnas Engineering Director, Sidnei Bispo.

Ricardo Lee, Head of Modernization at Voith Hydro Latin America points out: “We are happy that we can contribute to this project with our advanced technologies and solutions. The customer will benefit from the local engineering team and factory in Brazil.”

Voith Hydro modernization projects all over Brazil

Voith Hydro has extensive experience in modernizing hydropower plants in Brazil. From Paulo Afonso II and IV, Xingó I and II, and Henry Borden, the company has steadily developed its technologies and knowledge in modernization projects that require a special approach.

Earlier this year Voith Hydro signed an agreement with a subsidiary of Eletrobras to modernize the Paulo Afonso II hydropower plant. In 2021, it already started the modernization work for Paulo Afonso IV in the same hydroelectric power complex – the fourth largest plant in terms of installed capacity in Brazil which has been in operation since 1979.

A couple of years before, the overhaul of four 355 MW power units at the Salto Santiago hydropower plant on the Iguaçu River was completed. Voith Hydro also upgraded the Chavantes and Capivara power stations and increased their installed capacity. CTG Brasil, which holds the concessions of the plants, also contracted Voith Hydro to refurbish four generating units at their Ilha Solteira and Jupiá plants.

“Modernization projects like these increase the useful life of the plants based on technological tools, better control and regulation and ensure reliability and operational safety. This increases the reliability of the National Grid, which distributes energy, avoiding downtime for repairs,” says Andreas Wellmann, President and CEO of Voith Hydro Latin America. “With the increased power and operating range of the machines, the grid will have more energy available, even during periods of drought,” he adds.

Brazilian Porto Colombia hydropower plant will be modernized by Voith Hydro

With this undertaking operator Furnas will ensure increased reliability of the plant, guaranteeing renewable energy generation.

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Training utility staff is key to improving water efficiency and access to water

Abby Davey — Tue, 13 Sep 2022 12:47:33 +0000

H2O Global News
Training utility staff is key to improving water efficiency and access to water

Meeting the targets to provide access to drinking water, especially in developing countries, has highlighted the need to generate solutions which guarantee efficient and sustainable water treatment processes, within a context of integrated water resource management.

Water is key to the economic and social growth of countries. This is why different international organizations, such as the World Bank and the United Nations, have underscored the fact that utilities must make the necessary investments and interventions to strengthen their ability to supply safe and sustainable drinking water. “These interventions must be accompanied by policies to promote water efficiency and improve water allocation” (World Bank, 2021).

This interview with Alfredo Castro, Production Manager at Idrica Colombia, summarizes the main conclusions of the diagnosis and optimization process being carried out at the drinking water treatment plants belonging to Aguas del Sur del Atlántico E.S.P. (Aqsur), by the joint venture between Idrica (Aguas de Valencia) and Naunet (Saur).

What were the main features encountered during the process?

Aqsur has five conventional plants located in the municipalities of Luruaco, Repelón, Campo de la Cruz, Santa Lucía and Manatí, and two compact plants in the towns of Compuertas and Rotinet.

These differ from each other in terms of their process units (flocculation, sedimentation, filtration and disinfection), as well as in their supply sources, which made it necessary to monitor operations individually.

What strategies were implemented and how did they boost the efficiency of the water treatment processes?

The project started with a preliminary assessment to check the operating conditions of each plant through visits and the verification of operating parameters. The inlet flow levels, the concentration, dosage and volume of chemical products, and the quality attributes related to pH, color, turbidity and the presence of chlorine in the water were all assessed. Similarly, the operating conditions of each plant were checked according to the water catchment conditions, pumping hours and overall performance.

Based on this initial assessment, a work plan was drawn up to provide technical support and implement the improvement measures required in each case. Likewise, risks were assessed through a Failure Modes and Effect Analysis (FMEA) to check whether the measures were viable.

What is the key to plant optimization?

I think that the three main things required to optimize a water treatment plants are the review of the infrastructure’s technological and technical operations, the optimization of chemical dosage parameters; and last but not least, ongoing staff training. For plants to function properly, operators must be prepared and need to understand the process so that they can make better decisions when a problem occurs.

What are the main financial and sustainability benefits achieved?

Each treatment plant has its own particular specifications. Pinpointing these details enables us to make a proper diagnosis according to each client’s specific needs, which can be financial, technical or related to quality, staff or water production, to cite a few examples, and all of them obviously bring financial benefits.

In addition, it is important to note that the implementation and sustainability of these measures depends to a large extent on human resources. Therefore, it is essential to carry out constant training, including practical workshops that help the staff in charge make good decisions, applying the concepts learned, and even proposing ideas for improvement.

In economic and financial terms, plant operating costs have been reduced by 32% per month in Repelón and by 20% in Luruaco, thanks to the adjustments made in chemical dosing, which have not affected the quality of the treated water or service continuity. Similarly, by implementing the proposed measures, operating savings of up to 42% per month have been estimated in Manatí.

Read more Idrica Articles and News on H2O Global News. Do you have an article or video that you would like to share? Submit your article here or keep up with the latest news from the water industry and wastewater industry by subscribing to our weekly newsletter

Training utility staff is key to improving water efficiency and access to water
Abby Davey

IDE Water Technologies to Design Largest SWRO Desalination Plant in Brazil IDE Water Technologies to Design Largest SWRO Desalination Plant in Brazil

Abby Davey — Wed, 29 Jun 2022 15:30:07 +0000

H2O Global News
IDE Water Technologies to Design Largest SWRO Desalination Plant in Brazil

IDE Water Technologies to Design Largest SWRO Desalination Plant in Brazil

IDE Technologies, a world leader in desalination and water treatment solutions, announced that it will design, engineer and supply a seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO) desalination plant in northern Brazil, bringing a new, sustainable water solution to the region. Secured through the Water and Sewage Company of the State of Ceará, and in partnership with Marquise Infrastructure, the leader company of the Águas de Fortaleza Consortium, the Fortaleza Desalination Plant will be the newest IDE-engineered desalination plant and the largest desalination plant in Brazil. The plant will serve the city of Fortaleza, capital of Ceará.

The Fortaleza Desalination Plant will have a nominal production capacity of 86,400 m³ of potable water per day, (1,000 liters per second), bringing high-quality water to the municipality of the city of Fortaleza. The project is a permanent, secure and sustainable fresh water source for this semi-arid region and its increasing population of more than 720,000 people. IDE will supply equipment for the plant in accordance with Brazil’s stringent environmental requirements and regulations. The project supports the government’s objective to increase the supply of potable water in the region by 12 percent.

“As a world leader in water technology, with extensive expertise in desalination technology, IDE is proud to bring our industry-leading solution to Brazil, and specifically to Fortaleza where the population is in need of a sustainable, reliable water source,” said Lihy Teuerstein, CEO, IDE Assets. “We are confident this new desalination plant will successfully suit and exceed the needs and goals of Fortaleza.”

“We are excited about the progress of this massive project and look forward to the benefits this desalination technology with bring to the region and people of Fortaleza,” said Renan Carvalho, Director of SPE, Marquise Infrastructure.

The Fortaleza Desalination Plant in Brazil will join the ranks of many notable IDE-engineered plants across the globe, including those in the U.S., Israel, Chile, India, Singapore and Taiwan.

For more information on IDE Water Technologies’ desalination technology and other comprehensive water solutions, please visit, https://www.ide-tech.com.

Read more IDE Technologies Articles and News on H2O Global News. Do you have an article or video that you would like to contribute? Submit your contribution here or keep up with the latest news from the water industry and wastewater industry by subscribing to our weekly newsletter

IDE Water Technologies to Design Largest SWRO Desalination Plant in Brazil

Abby Davey

500 Billion Gallons of Water Prevented from Flooding Communities in 2021, Using Xylem Technology

Abby Davey — Tue, 31 May 2022 13:11:44 +0000

H2O Global News
500 Billion Gallons of Water Prevented from Flooding Communities in 2021, Using Xylem Technology

Xylem’s Latest Sustainability Report Tracks Progress in Solving Global Water Challenges

Company on pace to achieve net-zero carbon emissions. Net GHG emission intensity reduced 12%
More than half of Xylem’s 22 major facilities now operating on 100% renewable energy
Helped customers reuse more than 285 billion gallons of water in 2021

Solutions from global water technology company Xylem, helped prevent more than 500 billion gallons of polluted water from flooding communities in 2021, according to its annual Sustainability Report. The report highlights the Company’s work with customers and partners to solve the world’s greatest water challenges. It also details Xylem’s progress to reduce its operational footprint, including cutting Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas (GHG) emission intensity by 12 percent and water use by 22 percent, versus 2019.

“It’s a great privilege to have a leading portfolio of technologies and services to help our customers and communities solve the water challenges so central to a more sustainable world,” said Patrick Decker, president and CEO of Xylem. “We have a responsibility to make a difference, working alongside our customers and partners, and the communities we all serve. That’s why our sustainability report is more than a set of numbers. It’s a report card on the difference we’re making, together, and a dashboard of progress in our mission to solve water.”

“Last year, we intensified our efforts around three key areas. First, we’re helping our customers become more effective stewards of their water resources, particularly through our digitally enabled solutions and services. Second, we’re addressing climate mitigation by helping decarbonize the water sector through high-efficiency technologies and our own net-zero carbon commitments. Lastly, we continue to work to advance equitable access to clean water and sanitation around the globe.”

Xylem provides advanced solutions and services that enable utilities, industrial companies and other water consumers to optimize their networks while achieving their own sustainability goals. As one of many examples, in 2021, Xylem’s technologies helped customers reuse more than 285 billion gallons of water. Building on its work to accelerate the decarbonization of the water sector, the Company’s solutions helped customers reduce their carbon footprint by 0.73 million metric tons of CO2.

Last year, Xylem formalized its commitment to achieve net zero carbon emissions across its own value chain before 2050. In addition to reducing its Scope 1 and 2 net GHG emission intensity by 12 percent, Xylem is now running more than half its major facilities on 100 percent renewable electricity. In 2021, the Company embarked on an ambitious fleet electrification program which delivered a 31 percent reduction in fleet GHG emissions in Europe in its first year of the program, and cut fleet GHG emissions in the US by 19 percent.

In 2021, amid intensifying severe weather events, Xylem increased its humanitarian support for communities impacted by water-related disasters, providing expertise, technology and equipment to more than 15 countries. Xylem reached 1.4 million people with water education, in large part driven by the launch of a new three-year partnership with UNICEF in India.

“2021 was a year in which we continued to operationalize our sustainability commitments throughout the organization,” said Claudia Toussaint, Xylem’s Chief People and Sustainability Officer. “We built more robust internal reporting and controls, established subject matter expertise across functional areas like product development, operations and supply chain, and integrated sustainability into all that we do — from factory floor to the boardroom. Crucially, we also took steps to structure our workplace in a way that best supports the personal and professional growth of our diverse, 17,000-strong team – the driving force in our mission to solve water.”

Other key highlights detailed in the report, and driving progress toward Xylem’s sector-leading 2025 sustainability goals, include:

Engaged nearly 6,000 diverse global youth in water innovation programs such as Xylem Ignite and Stockholm Junior Water Prize, fostering the next generation of water sector talent;
Contributed 113,000 employee volunteer hours, with 78 percent of employees participating in activities to solve water in their local communities; and
Engaged 400 suppliers in the WASH4WORK pledge for access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH).

To learn more about Xylem’s sustainability progress, download Making Water’s Future Sustainable.

Read more Xylem Articles and News on H2O Global News. Do you have an article or video that you would like to share? Submit your article here or keep up with the latest news from the water industry and wastewater industry by subscribing to our weekly newsletter

500 Billion Gallons of Water Prevented from Flooding Communities in 2021, Using Xylem Technology
Abby Davey

Idrica deploys its solutions in northern Peru to help reduce non-revenue water

hello — Thu, 26 May 2022 12:07:27 +0000

H2O Global News
Idrica deploys its solutions in northern Peru to help reduce non-revenue water

A pilot project to reduce drinking water losses in the network operated by EPS Grau, the water supplier in the Piura region of northern Peru, has been successfully conducted over the last few months.

The project has been funded by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). In addition to the IDB, the Peruvian Ministry of Housing, Construction and Sanitation and EPS Grau itself are also participating in the initiative, which is part of IDB’s support for the Ministry in a global modernization process that seeks to establish and strengthen the roles and functions of public agencies with different responsibilities, including EPS Grau.

The Spanish-based multinational Idrica was awarded the tender by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) to work with the Peruvian water utility. The company has successfully provided a consultancy service to roll out a system which reduces non-revenue water. This was carried out as a pilot project in sector IV of the Piura network.

The project’s timeframe was approximately one year. “The main objective was to support EPS Grau’s staff in classifying, analyzing and monitoring consumption, as well as characterizing water losses and detecting irregularities that prevent them from providing a good service,” said one of the main project managers at Idrica, Francisco Javier Salguero.

To achieve this objective, the GoAigua solution was deployed and the methodology that Idrica is successfully applying to similar systems was implemented. The aim was to boost water efficiency, monitor flow and pressure, and transfer knowledge to EPS Grau’s sales, operation and maintenance departments.

Cutting-edge solutions applied to water management

Idrica implemented its GoAigua FlowSens (Leaks) smart software, which monitors drinking water distribution networks for the early detection of leaks and fraud, using intelligent algorithms. This helped to detect major incidents such as unreported leaks and changes in the sectors’ behavioral patterns during the monitoring and operation phase.

In addition, GoAigua Meter Insights (Smart Metering) was used for the integration, management and advanced analysis of data from different types of meters, and GoAigua Water Twin (Smart SCADA) was deployed to obtain a global vision of the company’s operating status, through the integration of decentralized data and advanced algorithms for decision-making.

As a result of the project, more than 20 events were detected in the sectors, supply tanks and micro-meters analyzed. This, together with EPS Grau’s operations to solve the irregularities which had been discovered, was directly reflected in the amount of unbilled water, which decreased by 15% during the monitoring and operation phase.

Digital transformation, key to improving water efficiency

Reducing non-revenue water (NRW) is one of the main challenges for water utilities. There are many reasons for NRW including unbilled, unmetered, unauthorized and inaccurate metered consumption. It can also stem from leaks in transportation and distribution networks and service connections, or from leaks or overflows in supply tanks.

Deploying a digital, centralized, fully integrated system across the water cycle enhances water efficiency. “After implementing these solutions, some utilities have achieved savings of up to 20% in maintenance costs, 15% in energy costs, 70% in implementation costs, 35% in hydraulic performance improvements and a 60% drop in complaints due to billing errors,” says Salguero.

Six subsidiaries in South America

Idrica’s operations in Peru are part of its internationalization plan in South America which is a priority area for the firm. The Spanish company opened two subsidiaries in Chile and Brazil in 2021. These openings come on top of those in Peru, Mexico, Colombia and Ecuador, which have been operating since 2020.

Idrica deploys its solutions in northern Peru to help reduce non-revenue water
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