Flexible, efficient on-site solutions can make the difference when dealing with regulations and water scarcity

Many industries struggle with water management, facing challenges like water scarcity, rising treatment costs, and strict environmental regulations.  Despite the availability of more cost-effective, flexible alternatives, many still rely on centralized treatment.

In contrast, decentralized wastewater treatment allows businesses to treat and reuse water on-site, reducing reliance on extensive infrastructure and long-distance pipelines. Despite its advantages—including lower costs, greater operational efficiency, and improved sustainability—adoption has been slow due to concerns about cost, complexity, or lack of awareness. However, with advancements in modular treatment technology and financing solutions, industries now have a clear path to more sustainable water management.

Here are five industries that stand to benefit the most from decentralized wastewater treatment.

EV Battery Manufacturing

The rapid expansion of electric vehicle (EV) production has led to a surge in demand for lithium-ion batteries. However, battery manufacturing and lithium extraction are water-intensive processes that generate complex wastewater streams containing toxic heavy metals, PFAS, nitrogen compounds, and other contaminants.

As regulations tighten around hazardous industrial discharge, battery manufacturers need reliable, on-site solutions to treat wastewater before release or reuse. Decentralized wastewater treatment solutions, such as Fluence’s membrane aerated biofilm reactor (MABR) and dissolved air flotation (DAF) systems, provide effective on-site treatment and are particularly efficient at removing heavy metals and nitrogen from industrial effluent, helping manufacturers comply with wastewater discharge regulations. These systems treat wastewater to a high quality suitable for reuse, reducing overall consumption and mitigating the environmental impact associated with EV battery production.

Agribusiness and Food Processing

The agricultural and food processing industries generate wastewater rich in organic matter and nutrients — such as nitrogen and phosphorus — that can negatively impact aquatic systems when discharged into the environment. Dairy farms, slaughterhouses, meat-processing plants, irrigation-intensive operations, and related businesses must manage wastewater effectively to prevent pollution and optimize water use.

Decentralized treatment systems offer cost-effective solutions for nutrient recovery and water reuse. For example, in Fluence’s SUBRE upgrades, advanced MABR technology comes in the form of towers that are submerged into existing treatment chambers to enhance wastewater treatment efficiency. This enables the recovery of valuable nutrient byproducts while reducing operational costs. Businesses can also repurpose treated wastewater for irrigation, further enhancing sustainability.

Urban Redevelopment

As cities modernize, aging infrastructure and space constraints pose challenges in wastewater management. Large-scale infrastructure overhauls can be costly and disruptive, and there may not be adequate space to expand. Decentralized treatment, with its small footprint, offers an ideal solution for urban redevelopment projects and smart cities.

Compact, containerized treatment systems like Fluence’s Aspiral™ Flex can be deployed in dense urban environments, providing localized wastewater treatment without the need for extensive pipelines. These systems align with sustainable building initiatives by reducing infrastructure needs, conserving water, and cutting energy use—helping projects achieve LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification and other green building standards.

Remote Industrial Camps & Mining Sites

Industrial sites in remote locations, such as mining and petrochemical extraction sites, often consume a lot of water for processes, and need sanitary services for worker camps. Typically, trucks are used to remove wastewater and bring in fresh water, which leads to high costs and logistical challenges. Decentralized solutions that allow water to be treated and reused on-site can significantly reduce dependence on external water sources, cutting costs while ensuring environmental compliance.

In operations that produce brine, including lithium mines, Fluence’s NIROBOX™ systems offer decentralized desalination, ensuring a steady supply of fresh water while minimizing environmental impact. By integrating brine management with on-site wastewater treatment, mining sites can comply with environmental regulations while cutting water procurement costs.

Hospitality & Tourism

Hotels and luxury resorts, especially in water-stressed regions like Latin America and Southeast Asia, face increasing pressure to optimize water usage. Many rely on expensive municipal water supplies or on having fresh water trucked in from an external source, which is environmentally and economically unsustainable.

Decentralized treatment systems let resorts treat and reuse wastewater for nonpotable applications such as landscaping irrigation and toilet flushing. Resorts can significantly reduce reliance on external water sources—and, in some cases, achieve full water self-sufficiency—by using Fluence’s NIROBOX™ desalination solution for potable water and Aspiral™ technology for wastewater treatment. This closed-loop solution ensures a sustainable water supply and enables safe reuse for nonpotable applications, while raising the quality of wastewater effluent, a plus for locations that draw tourists with their pristine beaches.

Enhancing Sustainability with Decentralized Treatment

With growing regulatory scrutiny, rising water costs, and increasing sustainability commitments, decentralized wastewater treatment can make a major difference. Industries that embrace these solutions will benefit from cost savings, improved operational efficiency, and enhanced environmental stewardship.

Fluence offers scalable, customized solutions to meet the diverse needs of these industries. Now is the time to rethink water management and take action toward a more resilient future. If your business is facing rising water costs, tightening regulations, or infrastructure challenges, contact Fluence to explore a decentralized wastewater treatment solution tailored to your needs.