Veolia Water Technologies has been selected to expand the wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) at Omer Vander Ghinste Brewery, a historic Belgian brewing institution near Kortrijk. Founded in 1892, the brewery continues to grow while prioritizing sustainable practices.
The WWTP expansion will not only meet the brewery’s increasing production demands but also reduce its environmental impact. Veolia’s upgrade integrates cutting-edge technologies, including a ZeeWeed™ 500 membrane bioreactor system, anaerobic Biobed® Advanced EGSB and CaptuRO™, a high-recovery reverse osmosis system.
A key aspect of the project is the transformation of wastewater into valuable resources. The EGSB technology plays a crucial role in converting wastewater into high-quality biogas, which is then used for heating water and buildings. This sustainable energy cycle prevents the release of 548 tons of CO2. each year.
The WWTP expansion will not only meet the brewery’s increasing production demands but also reduce its environmental impact
Additionally, the CaptuRO system allows 70% of the water used in brewing to be recovered and repurposed for cooling, bottle washing, and equipment cleaning. This water-saving initiative reduces freshwater consumption by an amount equivalent to the annual usage of nearly 3,000 Belgian residents, reinforcing Veolia’s commitment to a circular economy.
Anne Le Guennec, Senior Executive VP for Worldwide Water Technologies at Veolia, commented: "We are very proud to collaborate with the historic Omer Vander Ghinste brewery on this project that perfectly illustrates how our advanced technologies can improve both the sustainability and efficiency of an industrial site. By allowing 70% of water reuse and creating a renewable energy cycle, we demonstrate that ecological innovation can go hand in hand with operational efficiency, in connection with our GreenUp strategic plan."
