IDE Water Technologies, a global leader in water treatment solutions, has announced the successful launch of its new drinking water plant on the Caribbean island of Bonaire. The new facility now produces 5,600 m3/d of drinking water to help with the output of an existing facility that processes 1,600 m3/d of seawater, to meet the demands of Bonaire’s nearly 22,500 inhabitants.
Following the agreement signed at the end of 2019 between IDE and water and electricity company, WEB Bonaire, both companies came together in celebration of the successful launch on October 28 in Hato, Bonaire. The ceremony welcomed guests to enjoy light snacks and a festive toast as leaders in the industry spoke about the promise of this new operational desalination plant and reflected on IDE and WEB Bonaire’s long and flourishing partnership to meet the drinking demands of the island.
IDE’s own Guy Sokol, VP, Projects Division, was among those in attendance at the ceremony and spoke about the joint efforts made by WEB Bonaire and IDE to transform the island into a more sustainable and prosperous region. In his speech, he shared how the two companies worked together and found ways to ensure this project remained on track despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Through this partnership, WEB Bonaire and IDE were able to design and build the facility under the COVID-19 constraints and complete the entire facility within a year and a half.
“We are very excited to see the Bonaire desalination facility fully operational, ensuring the island provides its residents with access to clean drinking water,” said Alon Tavor, CEO, IDE Water Technologies. “Our longstanding partnership with WEB Bonaire continues to drive innovation and show other islands the opportunities available to deliver sustainable and environmentally-conscious desalination solutions. It’s been an honor to work on this project with them.”
This plant offers a high level of preassembly of sub-systems, allowing efficiency in construction and erection. This, paired with the plant’s extremely low electrical consumption, achieving 15 percent savings on top of requirements, works together in support of the island’s sustainable operation. This latest project builds off the success of more than 30 years of business between the two companies. IDE is proud to assist WEB Bonaire as they deliver on their plan to provide drinking water to the island, showcasing how IDE supplies sustainable and environmentally-conscious desalination solutions.
“The impact our new desalination plant has had on the island showcases the benefits of prioritizing sustainable solutions to meet water demands,” said Alfredo Koolman, CEO, WEB Bonaire. “We’re extremely fortunate for the work IDE and WEB Bonaire has done to provide fresh drinking water to the citizens of Bonaire and are excited to see the benefits of this plant for years to come.”
The facility successfully passed an acceptance test in late July, and currently provides clean water to the islanders. To learn more about IDE’s Bonaire Project, visit here.