Waterleau x Martens

SUSTAINABLE BREWERY WATER INNOVATION PROGRAMME

Waterleau has redesigned Martens Brewery’s wastewater treatment plant under a design-build-finance-operate model, with a 10-year financing agreement. The redesigned plant includes advanced treatment technologies such as high-rate anaerobic towers, aerobic treatment, high-recovery reverse osmosis (RO), and a heating-cooling circuit with a heat pump. The high-recovery RO membranes enable 90% of the effluent to be reused as process water, making Martens the most water-efficient brewery in Europe, requiring only 1.2 liters of water per liter of beer produced. The anaerobic towers facilitate energy efficiency by treating high organic loads and generating 1750 Nm3/day of biogas, which powers a combined heat & power unit. The partnership introduces the WaterLease model, offering a capex-free upgrade and focusing financial resources on brewing capacity expansion. Waterleau will operate the plant, incorporating the SmartLab digital suite for remote monitoring and optimization.

Microsoft x FIDO Tech

REDUCING WATER LOSSES WITH ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

FIDO Tech and Microsoft have initiated a collaboration aimed at addressing water losses, specifically in London and the broader Thames Water region. FIDO Tech, known for its AI-driven solutions for leak detection, is leveraging Microsoft’s technological infrastructure to enhance its capabilities. This partnership aims to support Microsoft’s commitment to becoming water positive by 2030 by reducing non-revenue water through AI-powered leak detection, which is anticipated to save millions of cubic metres of water annually. Thames Water aims to reduce leakage by 20% by 2025 and halve it by 2050, performing over 1,300 repairs weekly.

Apple x Gravity Water

RAINWATER SOLUTIONS FOR RURAL VIETNAM

In partnership with Apple, Gravity Water is bringing safe, clean water to 131 schools in northern Vietnam. This collaboration is connected with Apple’s water strategy to address water availability, water quality, and water accessibility in its supply chain around the world. With its innovative, climate-resilient rainwater harvesting and filtration technology, Gravity Water is providing over 38,000 students in Hòa Bình province with a clean water source. The partnership introduced the “Gravity Water Box” for standardized treatment, integrated low-tech sensors and cloud-based IoT for efficiency, and developed a Climate Education toolkit to teach students about water conservation. These steps represent a significant leap forward in providing safe water access and fostering water stewardship among the next generation.

Cirtec x Severn Trent

NET ZERO HUB CELLULOSE RECOVERY PIONEER PROJECT

Construction of the world’s first large-scale cellulose Recovery Plant at Severn Trent’s Net Zero Hub Sewage Treatment Works in Strongford (UK) is underway. This groundbreaking project aims to extract digestible residual streams and clean cellulose from influent. The process involves re-treating the residue stream on-site to produce biogas and drying and hygienising the cellulose to create a marketable semi-finished product. It signifies a major advancement in resource recovery and sustainability within the water treatment industry, emphasizing the collaboration between CirTec, Severn Trent, AtkinsRealis, JN Bentley, and the project team at the Net Zero Hub to reduce waste, conserve resources, and protect the environment.