HydroPurify Innovations
| Type | Public |
|---|---|
| Industry | Desalination, Sustainability, Water treatment, Bioplastics |
| Area served | |
| Key people | Raúl Torres (CEO) |
| Revenue | ▲ €1.5 billion (NAX€) (1726 AN) |
| Operating income | €200 million (NAX€) (1726 AN) |
| Employees | 5,000 |
HydroPurify Innovations Ltd. is a New Alexandrian public limited company that specializes in desalination, the development of cost-effective desalination technologies, and the environmentally conscious handling of desalination byproducts, including the conversion of brine into biodegradable plastics. Founded in 1699 AN by Isabel Santos and Luis Guerra in Cardenas, Federal Capital District, HydroPurify has expanded its operations to various New Alexandrian regions including Alduria, Santander, South Lyrica, and the Wechua Nation. The company has also expanded internationally, operating desalination facilities in Constancia and Oportia.
History
Isabel Santos and Luis Guerra, both engineers with backgrounds in environmental science, founded HydroPurify Innovations Ltd. in 1699 AN with an aim to solve water scarcity issues throughout Nouvelle Alexandrie and in neighboring countries such as Constancia and later, Oportia. Recognizing the increasing demand for freshwater, they developed patent-pending technologies that made the desalination process more efficient and less harmful to the environment.
Development of Portable Desalination Pods
In 1700 AN, with funding from the Department of Research and Development, HydroPurify embarked on an ambitious project to develop portable desalination "Pods." These compact units, akin to portable power generators, are capable of converting seawater into drinkable fresh water. The development was completed by 1727 AN after several setbacks and challenges, marking a major breakthrough in portable water treatment technology.
Operations
HydroPurify Innovations Ltd. operates a series of water desalination plants and research facilities distributed over several countries and regions. Within its domestic boundary of Nouvelle Alexandrie, major installations are present in Alduria and Santander, with smaller facilities operating in South Lyrica and the Wechua Nation. Internationally, the company has operations in Constancia and is in the planning phase for a facility in Oportia. The company primarily employs reverse osmosis and electrodialysis as the main desalination techniques.
Core Desalination Techniques
HydroPurify Innovations Ltd. primarily uses two methods for desalinating water: Reverse Osmosis (RO) and Electrodialysis (ED). In RO, seawater is pushed through a special membrane by high-pressure pumps. This membrane allows only water molecules to pass, separating them from salt and other impurities. The company enhances this process by using high-quality membranes and real-time monitoring systems. Renewable energy sources like solar and wind power are also employed to make the operation more sustainable. In Electrodialysis (ED), an electric field drives the movement of ions through alternating layers of selective membranes. This separates the water into compartments of differing salinity levels. ED is especially useful for treating brackish water because it is less prone to issues like scaling. To ensure high water quality, the company incorporates additional steps like microfiltration and UV sterilization. Automation features are also included for efficient plant operation.
BrineSolve Division
Initiated in 1720 AN, the BrineSolve Division focuses on addressing the byproduct of desalination: brine. Utilizing a proprietary chemical process, this division converts high-saline brine into polymers, which are then formed into biodegradable plastics. The division's operations are based in Cardenas, where it collaborates closely with academic and research institutions within Nouvelle Alexandrie and in Nouradin City, Constancia, for ongoing research and development projects.
Alduria Facilities
Two medium-sized desalination facilities are situated in Alduria, specifically in Punta Santiago (established in 1718 AN) and Susa (established in 1719 AN).
- Punta Santiago Plant: Daily output of 280,000 cubic meters of fresh water, powered by solar and wind energy.
- Susa Plant: Daily output of 220,000 cubic meters of fresh water, also relying on renewable energy sources.
Both plants cumulatively contribute 500,000 cubic meters of fresh water daily to local communities and industries and employ around 358 workers each.
Santander Facilities
In Santander, the company manages three plants to cater to diverse water needs.
- Wechuahuasi Plant: This facility has the largest output among the Santander plants, producing 350,000 cubic meters of water daily. It also houses research divisions under the subsidiary Santander Desal Technologies.
- Castellon Plant: Focused on agriculture, this plant has a daily output of 200,000 cubic meters and collaborates with local agricultural boards.
- Puerto Carrillo Plant: Specializing in industrial-grade water, the plant has a daily output of 150,000 cubic meters, employing a double-pass RO system.
Collectively employing approximately 715 people, these facilities integrate renewable energy, including tidal and geothermal sources, and advanced telemetry for optimized performance.
Other Operations in Nouvelle Alexandrie
In South Lyrica, HydroPurify operates through its subsidiary, Lyrica CleanWater, which supervises small-scale desalination units as well as research facilities aimed at water purification innovation. Currently, this subsidiary is exploring applications of graphene-based filtration techniques and has a Memorandum of Understanding with the South Lyrica Department of Water Resources for collaborative research.
In the Wechua Nation, the company's focus shifts to environmental sustainability, led by its subsidiary, Wechua EcoSystems. Research projects in this region concentrate on low-impact desalination technologies, including harnessing bio-energy from microalgae to power the desalination processes. This subsidiary also holds patents for energy-efficient, miniaturized desalination units tailored for remote communities.
International Operations
HydroPurify's international reach extends to Constancia through its subsidiary Constancia AquaTech. Located in the island city of Astérapolis, the plant boasts a daily output of 300,000 cubic meters of fresh water. This facility is recognized for its state-of-the-art nanofiltration systems, ensuring water quality that exceeds international standards.
Additionally, HydroPurify is in the planning and construction phase for a new multi-functional facility in Vanie, the capital and largest port of Oportia. This facility aims to incorporate both desalination and advanced water purification technologies. Notably, the facility's design includes a waste-to-energy system that will convert waste brine into renewable energy sources. This forward-thinking expansion seeks to align with the burgeoning economic growth and increasing water demands in Oportia.
Environmental Practices
The company stands out for its responsible handling of desalination byproducts. HydroPurify has developed a method to repurpose the resulting brine into products like road de-icers, mineral-extraction reagents, and, through its BrineSolve Division, biodegradable plastics. By finding multiple applications for the byproducts, HydroPurify not only mitigates environmental damage but also generates an additional revenue stream.
Financial Performance
As of 1726 AN, HydroPurify reported a revenue of €1.5 billion NAX€ with an operating income of €200 million. The company is traded on the Nouvelle Alexandrie Stock Exchange.
Subsidiaries
- Alduria Water Solutions: Focused on the operations and maintenance of the desalination plants in Alduria.
- Santander Desal Technologies: Specializes in researching new desalination technologies.
- Lyrica CleanWater: Private contractor assisting local and regional governments in water distribution and purification in South Lyrica.
- Wechua EcoSystems: Focused on integrating environmentally sustainable practices in company operations in the Wechua Nation and other Regions of Nouvelle Alexandrie.
- Constancia AquaTech: Oversees desalination plants in Astérapolis, Nouradin City, Hyblios, Port Aguilar and Nivardom in Constancia, with a focus on providing sustainable water solutions for these cities.
- HydroPurify Oportia: Oversees a large desalination and water purification plant in Vanie, Oportia, which provides sustainable clean water to the city.
