MILWAUKEE, WI, Sept. 22, 2015 -- Today, Veolia North America, a provider of environmental solutions and optimized resource management, announced that it has reached a milestone of hosting 20,000 visitors at the Jones Island Water Reclamation Facility, which the company manages and operates as part of its private-public partnership with the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD). The milestone was surpassed after over 2,100 visitors toured the plant on Saturday, Sept. 19, during the annual Doors Open Milwaukee event.
Situated on the shore of Lake Michigan, the Jones Island Water Reclamation Facility presents a unique backdrop for Historic Milwaukee's Doors Open tour and for the many visitors who have toured the facility over the years to learn about the importance of cleaning wastewater before releasing it back into the natural environment. In continuous operation since 1926, the plant was designated a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark in 1974 by the American Society of Civil Engineers in recognition for its innovations in providing high-quality wastewater treatment.
Jones Island was also one of the first facilities in the world to produce a fertilizer as the byproduct of the water reclamation process: Milorganite®. Doors Open is not the only time that Veolia provides tours, which are an integral element of the community outreach effort the company is charged with executing on a daily basis. Since Veolia started operating the Jones Island facility seven years ago, more than 20,000 visitors have toured the wastewater facility from over 22 different countries.
The private-public partnership between Veolia and MMSD is the nation's largest wastewater partnership serving 1.1 million people in 28 municipalities in southeastern Wisconsin. Capable of treating more than 300 million gallons of wastewater per day, the facility is critical to protecting Lake Michigan and the surrounding environment. While supporting MMSD's commitment to the highest standards of quality and ensuring its environmental compliance record, the partnership with Veolia has significantly improved overall operational efficiencies, which in turn is expected to save the MMSD and ratepayers $35 million over the contract term.
"The tour program here at Jones Island is one of the cornerstones of our outreach program," said Steve Jacquart, Intergovernmental Coordinator of Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD). "The annual Doors Open event is yet one more way to showcase our high standards for water reclamation at the Jones Island Water Reclamation Facility. It is my favorite day of the year, when visitors are able to see just how important the facility is for maintaining public health while learning something new about modern wastewater treatment processes."
Over the course of the partnership, MMSD and Veolia have been recognized through prestigious honors including annual Platinum Awards from the National Association of Clean Water Agencies as well as the Distinguished Service Award from the National Council for Public-Private Partnerships. In addition, Veolia's commitment to advancing water innovation includes a $1.5 million R&D program to support Great Lakes clean water initiatives and partnerships with the Milwaukee Water Council and the state of Wisconsin to bring pioneering ideas to the Milwaukee area.
See also:
"Veolia to supply advanced water units for pulp mill expansion in Brazil"
"Veolia, Water Council launch nationwide competition to advance water entrepreneurship"
About Veolia
Veolia group is a global specialist in optimized resource management. With over 179,000 employees worldwide, the group designs and provides water, waste and energy management solutions that contribute to the sustainable development of communities and industries. Through its three complementary business activities, Veolia helps to develop access to resources, preserve available resources, and to replenish them. For more information, visit www.veolia.com.
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