• Partnership will focus on meeting Hollister's infrastructure needs
HOLLISTER, CA, Aug. 24, 2010 -- A new $100 million, state-of-the-art wastewater treatment facility in Northern California will be operated and managed by Veolia Water North America (Veolia Water) under a 10-year public-private partnership that will serve approximately 35,000 residents.
Valued at $688,000 per year (initial 10 year term), the contract calls for Veolia Water to manage a 2.1 million-gallons-per-day (MGD) membrane bioreactor (MBR) facility, along with a significant water reclamation system and associated services. These include grounds maintenance, water reuse and recycling, emergency response, odor control, computer management and maintenance systems, laboratory work and management of the septic receiving station.
"This new MBR facility was designed to meet Hollister's growth plan for the next 20 years," said Philip Ashcroft, president of Veolia Water West Operating Services. "We're excited to be part of the city's plans for the future."
The treatment process for the new wastewater plant consists of an influent lift station, preliminary treatment, activated sludge treatment, membrane separation process, disinfection, water inventory management and biosolids treatment. Service improvements will be phased in during the contract period.
Per the contract, the City of Hollister will continue to own all of the assets and set user rates; Veolia Water will manage the facilities.
"In selecting Veolia Water to manage its wastewater treatment facility, Hollister joins other progressive California communities in thinking long-term about its environmental future," said Ashcroft. "The city's decision means that funding, capital, policy and other decisions stay in the hands of local officials, while Veolia Water helps the city achieve compliant, safely operated and economically managed treatment facilities."
Based in Chicago, Veolia Water North America is the leading provider of comprehensive water and wastewater partnership services to municipal and industrial customers, providing services to more than 14 million people in approximately 650 North American communities. The company is part of the Veolia Environnement companies in North America, with 30,000 North American employees providing sustainable environmental solutions in water management, waste services, energy management, and passenger transportation.
Veolia Water, the water division of Veolia Environnement, is the world leader in water and wastewater services and technological solutions. It is number 1 in the world for publishing research works on water and has a portfolio of more than 600 patents. Its parent company, Veolia Environnement (NYSE: VE and Paris Euronext: VIE), is the worldwide reference in environmental services. With more than 312,000 employees, Veolia Environnement recorded annual revenues of $50 billion in 2008. Veolia Environnement is in the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index (DJSI World) and Dow Jones STOXX Sustainability Index (DJSI STOXX). Visit the company's Web sites at www.veolianorthamerica.com and www.veoliawaterna.com.
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