Veolia Advances Industrial Water Reuse in Brazil
Veolia’s Vitória WRS uses MBR and RO to recycle 85% of municipal wastewater, securing industrial supply while preserving Brazil’s freshwater resources.
www.veoliawatertechnologies.co.uk
Veolia 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: “For Veolia, partnering with organizations like GS INIMA, who share our commitment to sustainable water resource management, exemplifies how we bring our strategic GreenUp program to life. By leveraging our most advanced proprietary technologies, we’re helping our partners achieve their goals while actively preserving water resources. This project is a true breakthrough for Brazilian sanitation and sets a new benchmark for sustainability across Latin America.”
Paulo Roberto, president of GS INIMA in Brazil, commented: “Our presence in Brazil has been marked by pioneering efforts and innovation. Since the 1990s, we’ve introduced several groundbreaking technologies to the Brazilian market, either developed internally or through strategic partnerships. Incorporating Veolia's technology into this Vitória project has resulted in a winning and competitive partnership, ensuring greater technical, economic, and environmental feasibility. Our mission is to enhance Brazilian sanitation with quality and operational excellence, expanding sustainable water solutions in the country, such as water reuse and desalination. We already oversee Aquapolo, the largest water reuse project in Brazil, and now, in Vitória, we lead the first water reuse subconcession, catering to major industrial clients — a milestone in Brazilian sanitation aligned with our corporate purpose.”
www.veoliawatertechnologies.com
