Industrial Project of the Year
PepsiCo Vallejo circular water system, Mexico
What is it?
Food and drink conglomerate PepsiCo’s first truly circular water treatment facility, delivered at its snack manufacturing site in Vallejo, Mexico. The water is treated by a membrane bioreactor coupled with reverse osmosis which has the benefit of producing World Health Organisation potable water standards with a reuse capacity of 1,971m3/d.
Who is involved?
PepsiCo made use of water giant Suez’s expertise and technology for end-to-end development of the circular water system. PepsiCo also demonstrated initiative through in-house development of water efficient technologies such as the Splash Cone, a specialised sprinkler used in food preparation.
What makes it special?
In 2022, the circular water system allowed the Vallejo plant to go an unprecedented 150 days without the use of freshwater between April and mid-October. This saved a volume equivalent to the annual water consumption of 4,000 local families. The system’s use of harvested rainwater and condensation, on top of in-house technologies which improve water efficiency contributed to this.
The scope of the plant reaches beyond PepsiCo by bringing in wastewater from four other local food manufactures – it is then recycled and reused within the PepsiCo Vallejo factory. This amplifies the benefits of the circular water plant and heightens the positive impact on local water sources. Municipally sourced water to the plant fell by a staggering 93% compared to 2019.
The plant has a near-perfect on-site reuse efficiency of 99%, acting as a blueprint to reduce freshwater consumption and expand circularity projects to over 1,000 PepsiCo sites globally. Overall, this makes a substantial contribution to PepsiCo’s goal to become net water positive by 2030.
Distinction
GSK Jurong wastewater facility, Singapore
What is it?
A 624m3/d wastewater treatment plant handling discharge from the Jurong facility owned by pharmaceuticals and biochemistry giant GSK, and sending treated effluent to Singapore’s national wastewater recycling system. The project, delivered as part of the industrial company’s 2030 environmental masterplan, features a membrane bioreactor and advanced oxidation process to tackle volatile organic compounds.
Who is involved?
The project was the result of a collaboration between local and international companies. The National University of Singapore carried out the technical evaluation and feasibility studies while Ramboll Environ provided plant design and consultancy. Wehrle-Werk designed and provided the ultrafiltration technology; Flotwegg supplied the centrifuge system; Novexx supplied the advanced oxidation unit. In-house contractors include PEC Ltd., Onyo, and Swee Builder.
What makes it special?
Efficiency is a core component of the new wastewater treatment facility. It utilises repurposed equalisation tanks with bioreactors that have an average efficiency of up to 99% before passing effluent through ultrafiltration and advanced oxidation stages with an average efficiency of 85%.
The site and its efficient technology reduce the quantity of wastewater that must be incinerated due to the presence of volatile organic compounds from 732m3 to just 125m3. The reduction in incineration has slashed the CO2 impact by 83% while boosting recovered water by 83% – this has translated to solid cost-savings.
The wastewater treatment plant facilitates a valuable contribution to national efforts in Singapore to increase water circularity – water demand in Singapore is expected to double by 2060. By making pharmaceutical wastewater safer to discharge, it can join streams heading into Singapore Public Utility Board’s plant to be reclaimed as NEWater, the city’s brand for potable quality treated wastewater.