Clean-tech company APATEQ received the 2019 Environmental Award in the category “processes – green technologies” from the Business Federation Luxembourg FEDIL. In its 17th edition, the biennial event took place at the Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce on 26 November with Carole Dieschbourg, Luxembourg Minister for Environment, Climate and Sustainable Development, and FEDIL President Michèle Detaille, presenting the awards to the winners.

APATEQ engineers and manufactures high-efficiency water and wastewater treatment systems based on unique and innovative process technologies. The company won the Environmental Award for its green and resource-efficient system for direct reuse of potable water, which treats brackish well water and pre-treated industrial wastewater up to drinking water quality, supplementing the local supply of drinking water on the Swedish island Öland. Facing an extensive and steadily increasing lack of drinking water, especially during the summer holidays, the local municipality Mörbylånga was looking for a solution to ensure a constant fresh water supply tackling seasonal tourist-induced peaks and high water volumes required by the local industry. Previously, water has been transported from the continent to the island, which, besides creating a dependency on external supply and bearing risks of water shortages, was source of environmental pollution and disturbances caused from water transporting truck traffic. APATEQ’s system treats the different kinds of water within one single installation. This multi-functionality is possible due to a combination of APATEQ technologies, including dedicated software, which enables the plant to self-adapt to the different water qualities. The newly developed system is a European First. So far, direct water reuse systems have been only installed in Namibia and the USA.

“APATEQ is committed to environmental protection and the sustainable use of water as a natural resource”, said APATEQ CTO and co-founder Ulrich Bäuerle. “Considering the increasing demand for freshwater resources worldwide, smart water reuse systems will inevitably play a major role in the global future, tackling the challenges of population growth and climate change. We are pleased that FEDIL agrees on the importance of this task and selected us for being among this year winners of this prestigious award.”

“More than ever, environmental protection has to be the pillar and starting point for new industrial developments”, stated FEDIL President Michèle Detaille. “Seeing so many green innovations coming from Luxembourg is a strong indicator for our country moving into the right direction for a sustainable future with a circular economy.”

Besides APATEQ, winners of the 2019 FEDIL Environmental Award are Tarkett, Hydro Aluminium and ArcelorMittal.