Tomorrow Water/BKT and Stereau (Saur Group) join forces to deploy the Proteus™ biofiltration process in France and Switzerland
Tomorrow Water/BKT partners with Stereau, the engineering subsidiary of the Saur Group, to offer the French and Swiss markets an innovative and internationally proven solution for urban wastewater treatment: the Proteus™ process, used for primary treatment, biofiltration, and stormwater management. This technology, applied in both biofiltration and primary treatment, complements Stereau’s Delreb® and Biolest® solutions, which are well-established processes recognized and implemented for over 35 years.
An Innovative and Proven Large-Scale Biofiltration Technology
The Proteus™ process is based on an upward-flow filtration system incorporating a patented cross-shaped floating expanded polypropylene media. This unique design optimizes hydraulic and biological exchanges, ensuring high treatment performance in both primary and biological treatment phases. It also provides effective management of stormwater overflows, an increasingly critical challenge for local authorities in the face of climate change.
In its various configurations, Proteus™ combines major technical and economic advantages: rapid start-up, simple operation with low maintenance requirements, a compact footprint, and the ability to meet or even exceed the most demanding treatment objectives. With reduced civil engineering requirements, it also enables significant cost savings for project owners.
Deployed since 2002 in over 60 wastewater treatment plants worldwide, the technology has proven effective at sites ranging from 5,000 to more than one million population equivalents. Its efficiency, energy economy, and flexible integration make it particularly well-suited to dense urban environments, constrained sites, and both modernization and expansion projects of existing facilities.
A Response to the Ambitions of DERU II
By integrating Proteus™ into their projects, local authorities gain access to a technology capable of meeting the requirements of the new Urban Wastewater Directive (DERU II) currently being transposed into French law:
improved effluent quality through enhanced performance, compliant with new treatment standards
contribution to the energy efficiency of wastewater treatment plants
easy integration into both existing and new treatment facilities, supporting the modernization of plants and their adaptation to evolving regulatory requirements
A Partnership to Accelerate the Ecological Transition
With Proteus™, Tomorrow Water/BKT and Stereau position themselves as providers of solutions for a sustainable future, based on wastewater treatment that is efficient, compact, cost-effective, and energy-efficient. This partnership combines the international experience gained from over 60 treatment plants implemented by Tomorrow Water/BKT with Stereau’s expertise in the French and Swiss markets, offering local authorities an immediately deployable solution tailored to European regulatory and environmental requirements.
Emmanuel Rutman, General Manager of European Activities for Tomorrow Water and BKT:
“We are delighted to partner with Stereau, a major player in wastewater treatment in France, to deploy Proteus™. This technology offers numerous advantages over current treatment systems and enables compliance with DERU II requirements: high treatment performance without chemicals, remarkable compactness, and great flexibility in implementation, both for existing and new treatment plants.”
Hugo Bardi, President of Saur Water Engineering and Stereau:
“By partnering with Tomorrow Water/BKT, we are choosing to provide local authorities with robust and innovative solutions. The Proteus™ process meets the ambitions of DERU II by combining high hydraulic performance, energy efficiency, and ease of integration into existing infrastructure.”
Partnerships
A subsidiary of the Saur Group, Stereau designs, builds, and commissions drinking water production facilities and wastewater treatment plants for local authorities. Committed to meeting the highest standards of quality, performance, operability, and environmental responsibility, Stereau continuously innovates to tackle emerging pollutants, conserve water and energy resources, and valorize effluents. With nearly 2,500 water treatment plants delivered in France and internationally, Stereau stands out for its innovative technology choices and exemplary project execution.
About Tomorrow Water and BKT
For over 30 years, BKT Co. Ltd based in Daejeon, South Korea, with 170 patents under development, has been innovating and leading the Korean market with its environmental technologies and services. At the heart of BKT’s strategy lies a fundamental principle: success is measured not only by financial figures but also by its impact on access to sanitation, economic development, and the decarbonization of wastewater treatment infrastructure.
For more than 17 years, thanks to innovative technology and thoughtful leadership, Tomorrow Water, BKT’s North American subsidiary, has minimized the overall environmental impact of wastewater treatment while providing sustainable, practical, and cost-effective solutions. Tomorrow Water is committed to implementing sustainable waste and wastewater management systems, integrating low-energy wastewater treatment, energy production, and other essential elements of modern infrastructure.