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Klaipėda wastewater treatment plant, serving Lithuania's third-largest city and main seaport, handles wastewater for 350,000 population equivalent. Located near the Baltic Sea adjacent to a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the facility was operating close to maximum capacity, with effluent quality approaching permit limits of 10 mg/l total nitrogen over recent years. This case study explores how the implementation of Hubgrade digital twin led to 180k€ savings per year thanks to operational costs cuts.
The Challenge
At Klaipėdos Vanduo, the drive to optimize operations and cut costs was more than just a goal, it was a necessity.
Facing the dual challenge of keeping expenses in check while ensuring top-notch effluent quality, the team set their sights on smarter, more resilient wastewater treatment. Wet weather events, which often strain plant operations, became a particular focus. The ambition was to keep the Klaipėda WWTP running smoothly and efficiently, no matter the weather.
To make this vision a reality and minimize risks along the way, Klaipėdos Vanduo searched for a partner willing to stand behind their solutions with a Performance Guarantee Contract. This ensured that the results would not just be targeted, but truly delivered.
A step towards innovation
In 2019, Klaipėdos Vanduo took a decisive step toward innovation by partnering with Hubgrade, a Veolia solution, to bring real-time optimization to the Klaipėda WWTP. With this collaboration, the plant embraced Hubgrade Wastewater Plant Performance, a solution renowned for its digital expertise and ability to fine-tune operations across the wastewater treatment process.
By leveraging advanced digital tools and real-time data, Hubgrade empowered the Klaipėda team to make smarter, faster decisions, unlocking new levels of efficiency and performance for the plant.
180k€ saved on energy consumption
The implementation of Hubgrade Performance delivered impressive results in operational efficiency and cost savings for the Lithuanian facility.
👉 180,000 € annual savings on energy and external carbon dosing
👉 1,180 tonnes of CO2-equivalent reduction per year
👉 Maintained compliant effluent despite increased BOD/TN loading
👉 Reduced environmental impact through lower total nitrogen in effluent
👉 Significant reduction in operational expenses for energy and chemical consumption
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As noted by K. Bereišienė, Head of Wastewater Treatment Service: “Innovative digital solutions, like Hubgrade Performance, are a sustainable, cost-effective way for us to continuously improve our WWTP operational processes.”
Key takeaways
⭐ Digital optimization can deliver substantial cost savings while maintaining or improving treatment performance
⭐ Real-time data utilization is key to achieving operational excellence
⭐ Digital solutions offer sustainable approaches to wastewater treatment optimization
⭐ Performance guarantees can help utilities minimize implementation risk
Author | Mathieu Lamotte
Mathieu Lamotte is the Head of Sales Hubgrade Wastewater & Sewer Performance at Veolia. Mathieu brings a robust background in entrepreneurship and engineering. With over a decade of experience across water, manufacturing, construction, IoT, and software, he is driven by a deep passion for sustainable development. At Veolia he has been dedicated over the past four years to developing Veolia's Hubgrade Wastewater plan and sewer performance digital twin technology globally and more recently with a focus over Europe. Mathieu is committed to empowering the wastewater industry to reinvent itself through innovative and impactful solutions.
