Sustainable brewing in dry regions: SAB Ibhayi
The Ibhayi SAB brewery fosters a circular economy. Energy, nutrients as well as process water are recovered from the brewery wastewater, limiting its environmental footprint. The new Ultra Filtration plant recovers 5.000m³ of precious water, each month.
Gqeberha, South Africa – A Milestone in Sustainability
On December 9th, SAB ABInBev Ibhayi Brewery and Waterleau inaugurated an Ultra-Filtration Recovery Plant in Gqeberha, South Africa, marking a breakthrough in sustainable water management. Co-financed by Waterleau and the Flemish government through UNIDO, the plant embodies a circular economy approach, addressing water scarcity while supporting local communities.
Closing the Loop in Water Reuse
The containerized UF unit reclaims up to 250,000 liters of water daily for brewery operations like cleaning and cooling. “This plug-and-play system requires minimal intervention and can scale to meet higher demands,” explained Christopher Groenewald, Project Engineer at Waterleau. Integrated with SmartLab, it ensures real-time monitoring for optimal performance.
Beyond environmental benefits—saving 5,000m³ of potable water monthly—the initiative generates employment through wetland biocrop cultivation. “It’s a model for sustainable economic growth,” said Jean-Luc Désire, CEO of Waterleau. This project not only demonstrates cutting-edge engineering but also highlights the impact of partnerships in tackling global water challenges.
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LUCAS® Municipal Wastewater Treatment Infrastructure supported by Egypt's Holding Company for Water and Wastewater (HCWW).
Watermonsters: Measuring water pollution in Flanders.
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