Following the first stage completed in 2020, Qatar’s leading dairy producer Baladna renewed its trust in Veolia Water Technologies to extend the wastewater treatment capacity at its farm in Al Khor, north of Doha. Baladna is home to over 24,000 cows that are spread over 2.6 million square meters, and will now recycle 22,000 m3/day of wastewater.

Veolia Water Technologies is working with Baladna Food Industries to support their sustainability plan and recycle their wastewater. The partnership started in 2020 with the design and construction of a 6,000 m3/d wastewater treatment plant, allowing for the treated water to be reused for irrigation within the farm and, following further treatment by reverse osmosis, to spray and cool the cows during hot summer months. Based on this successful project, Baladna decided to go further in 2021 by tripling the treatment capacity to 22,000 m3/d.

“After a first successful project with Veolia, we strengthened this partnership in line with Baladna’s commitment to sustainable water management,” Baladna CEO Piet Hilarides said. “The holistic approach to reuse treated wastewater and limited environmental impact of open lagoons are key developments. We are enthusiastic to expand the treatment capacity of reusable water on a larger scale, reducing our freshwater consumption by more than 50%. This project marks a major milestone on the sustainability journey of Baladna and will significatively contribute to improving the environment for the surrounding  Al-Khor area.”

The system includes an initial separation step with a capacity of 22,000 m3/day. Twelve thousand cubic meters per day will be recirculated for flushing barns, with the remaining 10,000 m3/day further treated in an MBR system followed by a polishing reverse osmosis step to produce water to replace the potable water currently used in the soaking and misting systems of the farm.

Thierry Froment, CEO Veolia Water Technologies Middle East, said, “This project will reduce the strain on freshwater resources while eliminating the need for huge water treatment lagoons and the visual and odor pollution caused. This collaboration also highlights a significant achievement in the sustainability plan of Baladna and, in line with Veolia’s purpose of ecological transformation, showcases a holistic way to reuse treated wastewater. We are extremely proud of the relationship between Baladna and Veolia in Qatar.”