USTDA Supports Efficiency Improvements to Brazil's Wastewater Treatment Systems

(USTDA) SALVADOR, Brazil – Today, the U.S. Trade and Development Agency signed a grant agreement with the Empresa Baiana de Águas e Saneamento S.A. (EMBASA, or Bahia Water and Sanitation Company). The grant will fund a feasibility study to evaluate the technical, economic and financial feasibility of implementing targeted improvements to the Salvador metropolitan area’s wastewater treatment system in order to increase energy and operational efficiency.

“The Agency is proud to support Brazil in its efforts to enhance the quality of its water and wastewater treatment facilities,” said USTDA Regional Director Nathan Younge. “This grant will help foster improvements to the management of water resources at the sites selected for evaluation, as well as potential additional sites throughout Salvador.”

“EMBASA is pleased to be partnering with USTDA on this project,” said Mr. Rogério Cedraz, President of EMBASA. “The feasibility study will complement our ongoing efforts to improve EMBASA’s quality of service and reduce energy demand at our facilities.”

EMBASA is the primary water and wastewater service provider for the city of Salvador, which has an estimated total population of 2.88 million people. The feasibility study will assess operations at the Rio Vermelho Preliminary Treatment Plant, the Salvador sewage system pump stations and the larger Salvador metropolitan area tributary sewage systems. It will also recommend facility upgrades and operational improvements, including the implementation of new automation systems, ultraviolet disinfection technology and energy efficiency measures such as variable frequency drives.

The opportunity to conduct the USTDA-funded feasibility study will be competed on the Federal Business Opportunities (FBO) website. A link to the FBO announcement will be posted to USTDA’s website at www.ustda.gov. Interested U.S. firms should submit proposals according to the instructions in the FBO announcement.