Veolia and Sewerage and Water Board of New Orleans cooperate in wastewater treatment
NEW ORLEANS – Veolia North Americaan environmental solutions provider in the United States and Canada, and the Sewerage and Water Board of New Orleans (SWBNO) have formed a groundbreaking partnership to rethink the way the city collects, treats and manages its wastewater, using the byproducts of Wastewater treatment in environmental goods and improving the quality of life in New Orleans. The new partnership will save nearly $2 million per year, reduce energy and chemical use, reduce carbon dioxide emissions, and introduce new technologies for better environmental performance.
Karine Rougé, CEO of Veolia North America’s Municipal Water Divisionsaid, “Veolia has been proud to support New Orleans’ dedicated efforts to modernize its wastewater treatment infrastructure since 1992, and our partnership is now focused on implementing a new generation of physical and process improvements that will redefine this vital urban service. We are excited to work with SWBNO to develop a forward-looking plan that represents an important step toward delivering newer infrastructure and better public service.”
Veolia and the wastewater and water utility have worked together for over 30 years and have dramatically improved the environmental and financial performance of one of the city’s most important services. The partnership has rebuilt and expanded treatment processes at the city’s two wastewater treatment plants, improving water quality and operational efficiency, while providing exceptional operational support during hurricanes and natural disasters. A new five-year contract signed this month will put the partnership on a new path to redefine what wastewater treatment can do for the city’s future.
Ghassan Korban, CEO, New Orleans Sewer and Water Utilitysaid: “As part of our commitment to the reliability and resilience of our infrastructure and to modernizing technology, this investment will make our wastewater treatment plants in the East and West Bank far more efficient and effective.”
Digital upgrades to optimize future operations
The comprehensive investment and modernization program supports New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell’s goal of transforming the city’s infrastructure as a source of strength and a framework for growth and renewal. Veolia will use its state-of-the-art digital monitoring and analysis tools to continually optimize the performance of New Orleans’ wastewater system so that it works better, uses less energy, generates less waste, emits fewer greenhouse gases, and reduces the potential for unpleasant odors:
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New digital monitoring systems will make it easier for plant operators to respond to changing conditions and optimize the treatment process by enabling real-time monitoring of wastewater treatment for the first time.
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A new system for receiving, storing and treating sludge at the East Bank facility will increase efficiency, provide better odor control and help generate additional revenue in the future.
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New pumps, screens and other equipment will help both the East and West Bank plants improve their operations, while new bleach storage capacity at the West Bank plant will improve its disinfection capabilities.
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Veolia will also install a new system to dissolve oxygen in the aerobic digestion process of wastewater treatment, eliminating the need to deliver three truckloads of expensive liquid oxygen to the plant each week. The new system will save nearly $2 million per year, reduce chemical costs and electricity consumption by at least an estimated 10%, and avoid an estimated 12 tons of carbon dioxide emissions per month.
Veolia actively supports community needs and improvements
These improvements continue the renewal of New Orleans’ wastewater infrastructure, a hallmark of Veolia’s partnership with the Sewerage and Water Board of New Orleans. Veolia has continuously improved the day-to-day operations of the wastewater treatment system since 1992, while strengthening its long-term capacity, functionality and resilience. When New Orleans’ wastewater treatment system was devastated by Hurricane Katrina and later Hurricane Ida, flooding treatment plants, Veolia used its global resources to restore service to residents and recover from the damage without waiting for government assistance. As a leader in environmental services, Veolia intends to make the most of its global expertise to help America meet its need for sustainable growth. Last week, the Group announced its ambition to double its size in the country by 2030.
The renewal also gives Veolia the opportunity to Community supportEducational and environmental initiatives throughout New Orleans. Veolia has donated $35,000 to community groups over the past two years to support initiatives such as hosting the New Orleans East Festival, renewing Joe W. Brown Memorial Park, and establishing the Sankofa Wetland Park and Nature Trail in the Lower Ninth Ward. Veolia employees volunteer with the Sankofa organization to support its community events, in line with Veolia’s corporate mission of ecological transformation to address climate change.
Veolia has also entered into collaborative agreements with Delgado Community College and the Southern University System, one of the largest historically black college and university systems in the country, to create mutually beneficial partnerships that drive innovation, develop talent and foster a network within the academic community. Veolia also partners with neighboring high schools to create STEM education opportunities for students, and students from Veolia’s internship and apprenticeship program have leveraged that experience to join Veolia’s New Orleans team. More than 27% of Veolia’s contract spend in New Orleans is disbursed to disadvantaged local businesses.
