PATERNA, Spain, July 17, 2018—Archer Daniels Midland Company (NYSE:ADM), Global Omnium and Aguas de Valencia are partnering to recover and protect the biological systems of wastewater treatment plants through a project called BACTIWATER. The 30-month-long project, which is funded by the European LIFE program, focuses on maintaining microbial balance in wastewater treatment plants and ensuring adequate treatment of wastewater before it is released into the environment.
Wastewater treatment plants are a crucial component of keeping external water bodies safe. Part of their process involves a biological system including bacteria, fungi and archaea growing together in a complex environment, but if these microorganisms spill into a larger body mass, it could disturb the surrounding ecological equilibrium. In addition, some spills can severely disrupt a plant’s microbiological makeup, hindering its ability to correctly treat the wastewater, causing damage to the environment if this insufficiently treated water is then released.
As part of the BACTIWATER project, teams from ADM Biopolis will combine biotechnological approaches with ADM Lifesequencing’s next-generation DNA and microbiome-sequencing technology to identify the microorganisms present in the wastewater treatment plants managed by Global Omnium and Aguas de Valencia. With their deep expertise in fermentation and probiotic production, ADM Biopolis teams will then produce microorganisms needed for supplementation.
Ultimately, the aim of the project is to develop a bacterial enhancer that will help restore microbial balance in the treatment plant if it has been damaged following a spill. The team will also develop a DNA-based detection kit to quickly detect changes in bacterial composition in the plant, which can help restore balance and avoid the release of untreated water into larger water bodies. The project is aligned with the Council Directive 91/271/EEC objective: to protect the environment from the adverse effects of the wastewater discharges.
“By combining ADM Biopolis’ biotechnological expertise with ADM Lifesequencing’s high throughput DNA and mircobiome sequencing, this project helps build synergies within our robust R&D portfolio,” said Carles Palanca, technical development manager. “By developing biobased technology to help wastewater treatment plants recover faster from microbial imbalance following spills, we can help prevent further discharges of insufficiently treated water to the environment.”
For more information on the project, visit https://www.bactiwater.com/en/.
Images are available on request:
Caption: Industrial water treatment
Source: Bactiwater photo gallery (may be reprinted for free if source is cited)
Caption: Reduction of waste discharge
Source: Bactiwater photo gallery (may be reprinted for free if source is cited)
About ADM
For more than a century, the people of Archer Daniels Midland Company (NYSE: ADM) have transformed crops into products that serve the vital needs of a growing world. Today, we’re one of the world’s largest agricultural processors and food ingredient providers, with approximately 31,000 employees serving customers in more than 160 countries. With a global value chain that includes approximately 500 crop procurement locations, 250 ingredient manufacturing facilities, 38 innovation centers and the world’s premier crop transportation network, we connect the harvest to the home, making products for food, animal feed, industrial and energy uses. Learn more at www.adm.com
Archer Daniels Midland Company
Media Relations
Aurelie Giles
media-eu@adm.com
+41 21 702 84 00
About Global Omnium
GOMSA (Global Omnium Medioambiente S.A. and formerly SEASA) belongs to the Global Omnium group of companies and is in charge of BACTIWATER project management as the coordinating entity. GOMSA was founded in 1818 as “Sociedad Espanola de Abastecimientos S.S. (SEASA)” and became part of the Global Omnium group in 1993. The company is mainly specialized in drinking water supply, wastewater treatment and other services related to the integral water cycle including consultancy services. Currently, Global Omnium is a business group composed of 16 companies specialized in different areas related to water management. The main activities of the business group include drinking water supply, sanitation, purification, irrigation, construction and maintenance of hydraulic works. Learn more at www.globalomnium.com
Gonzalo Belenguer Telf: 963 980 782 G.V. Marqués del Turia, 19. 46005 Valencia Correo-e: gbelenguer@globalomnium.com
About Aguas de Valencia
Aguas de Valencia SA is the core of Global Omnium, a group of companies that focuses its activity on integral water cycle management, developing several complementary lines of business to optimize the water resources. The activities of this project partner range from the catchment, treatment and distribution of drinking water to the collection and treatment of wastewater as well as the solid waste management. Aguas de Valencia serves more than 3.5 million residents mainly in Valencia, Catalonia, Aragón and Northern Spain. Learn more at www.aguasdevalencia.es
