The largest recycled water production plant in Latin America celebrates 10 years in an event with authorities and professionals from the sector.
The largest undertaking for the production of recycled water for industrial use in Latin America and the fifth largest on the planet, Aquapolo Ambiental, the result of a partnership between GS Inima Industrial and Sabesp, celebrated 10 years of activity. The event was attended by the main personalities of the environmental sanitation, among them, Pedro Maranhão, National Secretary of Sanitation of the Ministry of Regional Development, Marta Verde, CEO of GS Inima Environment, Paulo Roberto Oliveira, CEO of GS Inima Brasil, Benedito Braga, president of Sabesp, as well as representatives of environmental entities, authorities of the ABC municipalities, the industry partner clients and Aquapolo’s employees.
At the event’s opening, the National Secretary of Sanitation pointed out that reused water is seen nowadays as an innovative solution to face the water shortage. “Imagine the value of Aquapolo, which has been recycling water for 10 years to supply the industry,” analyzed Pedro Maranhão. “This plant should have a multiplier effect so that many other projects like this are implemented in the country.”
Marta Verde, CEO of GS Inima Environment, said that the group will continue investing and supporting the development of Brazil: “Aquapolo is an example of what more we can do in the country and a world reference in the production of reused water”.
Paulo Roberto Oliveira, CEO of GS Inima Brasil, reminded that Aquapolo is a project with high social and environmental impact, which has just completed the production of 100 million m3 of recycled water for the industry: “This volume would be enough to supply a city of up to 50 thousand inhabitants for 45 years. Brazil today has almost 4,900 cities of this size.”
Aquapolo’s president, Márcio da Silva José, said the company’s purpose is to “transform and inspire society through water recycling to perpetuate life.” And he announced the goal of neutralizing 62% of carbon emissions by 2025 and becoming zero carbon by 2030. “Our commitment is to zero the water footprint of direct use by 2025, that is, to use only reuse water in the operation and no longer from springs,” said Márcio José.
The plant has the capacity to supply up to 1000 liters/second of recycled water to the Petrochemical Pole of the ABC Paulista Region, from domestic sewage treatment of the ABC Sewage Treatment Station, of Sabesp, the equivalent to the supply of a city of 500 thousand inhabitants.
Aquapolo Ambiental started operating in November 2012, contributing to the socioeconomic development of the region and to sustainability, since the water used by the industries is no longer taken from the springs that serve for human consumption.
This economy of drinking water in the industry plays an important role from the point of view of water security, and Aquapolo points to viable solutions for the best use of water resources within the concept of circular economy, contributing to five of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
This year, Aquapolo Ambiental was recognized as a Climate Smart Water Utility company by the International Water Association (IWA), an institution with members in 140 countries and that is an international reference for the water and sanitation sector. The award recognized 42 companies from 30 countries and considered Aquapolo Ambiental one of the 13 most inspiring companies of the year.