Veolia has announced that the Metropolis of Montpellier, France, has awarded it a €165 million ($166.9 million USD), 9-year contract to extend, upgrade, and operate the area’s Maera wastewater treatment plant.

The contract was awarded to Veolia’s subsidiaries, OTV and Veolia Eau France. The project will, through a sustainable development approach, enable the plant to produce twice as much energy as it needs and to distribute reusable water following treatment.

The extension works will gradually increase the plant’s treatment capacity from 4.7 million gallons daily (MGD) to 6.95 MGD, covering the needs of 19 municipalities. An initial capacity increase of 500,000 MGD will be reached by the end of 2023 in order to meet the immediate urban development challenges of the Metropolis.

The Veolia Group will use a panel of its technologies to improve the quality of treatment at the plant, enable the production of energy, and allow for reuse of the treated wastewater. The contract will also see Veolia continue to operate the site throughout the duration of the works and for the following four years — totaling nine years of operation.