First South American Nereda Wastewater Treatment Plant Opens In Time For The Olympics

The Deodoro wastewater treatment plant in Rio the Janeiro is now operational, right in time for the Olympics. The plant with Royal HaskoningDHV’s sustainable Nereda technology is owned and operated by Foz Aguas 5 and treats the wastewater of 480,000 people. This plant is the largest Nereda so far and the first on the South American continent. Five more plants will follow across Brazil.

Located in Deodoro, where a number of Olympic events will be held from 5 till 21 August, the plant’s first task will be in the sewage treatment for the neighbourhoods surrounding the sports complex and in the longer term the plant has capacity to accommodate the region’s projected population growth leaving a significant legacy from the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

The new wastewater treatment plant has 10 times the capacity of the region’s original one and treats 64,800 m3/day, which means that there will be a significant reduction in the flow of domestic sewage to the rivers in the West Zone and Guanabara Bay where the sailing events will be held.

Giancarlo Ronconi, Engineering Manager Odebrecht Ambiental, shareholder of Foz Águas 5 said: “We are true believers regarding Nereda technology – as matter of fact we understand that we are developing in conjunction with Royal HaskoningDHV, a breakthrough solution for large WWTP with high process efficiency and excellent cost benefit ratio”.

Arjen Uijterlinde, Dutch Consul-General in Rio de Janeiro said: “The new water treatment installation in Deodoro – the first in the Americas with Dutch Nereda technology – will contribute to better living conditions of many thousands of inhabitants in these poorer parts of Rio and will help to make the Guanabara Bay cleaner. With only a couple of weeks left to go until the Olympics, the city of Rio is already celebrating this legacy and I am confident that other water sanitation projects will follow this lead.”

João Almeida, Director Quality, Water Products and Innovation at Royal HaskoningDHV said: “The Deodoro Nereda plant is not only a landmark project for its impressive capacity, but also for the actual contribution to the whole region of Rio de Janeiro. With an additional plant in Jardim Novo, Rio Claro under construction and several more under design in São Paulo and Recife we are looking forward to bringing Nereda technology to other regions in Brazil.”

The plant forms the core of wider improvements under the Foz Águas 5 scheme that is set to mobilize R$ 640 Million (€164 Million) for sanitation works to improve the health of the local population and the environment. Under this scheme 200km of new sewage networks, 11 pumping stations and 25 thousand household connections are planned as part of the first phase of investment. The Nereda technology combines high quality treatment with a smaller footprint and lower investment and operating costs.

About Foz Águas 5
Foz Águas 5 is responsible for the sewage collection and treatment of 21 communities of Zona Oeste of Rio de Janeiro, a region with 1.7 million people. Odebrecht Ambiental has a co-operation agreement with Royal HaskoningDHV for the delivery of Nereda technology in Brazil. Deodoro is the first plant to start up in Brazil, with an additional plant - Jardim Novo in Rio Claro - under construction and several more under design in São Paulo and Recife. Construction work began in September 2014.

About Royal HaskoningDHV
Royal HaskoningDHV is an independent international engineering and project management consultancy. Our 6,500 professionals are guided by a common principle – to enhance society together. Since 1881 we have been working with public and private clients on projects that have improved living conditions for many people. We deliver future-proof solutions while at the same time addressing the challenges societies across the world are facing in respect of cities, water, transport and industry.

Working alone, we cannot change the world. Working together with our clients, knowledge institutions, partners, stakeholders and communities, we are in the process of moving towards a better future for all. For more information, visit www.royalhaskoningdhv.com.

About Nereda
Nereda is the biological wastewater treatment technology that purifies water based on bacteria growing into compact granules. The technology was invented by the Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands and developed in a unique public-private partnership between the University, the Dutch Foundation for Applied Water Research (STOWA), the Dutch Water Authorities and Royal HaskoningDHV. Currently there are sixteen plants in operation and another sixteen under construction or design worldwide. For more information, visit www.royalhaskoningdhv.com/nereda.