Águas de Valongo, the Veolia Agua's subsidiary which manages water and wastewater services for the town of Valongo, in Portugal, has been named best company in its sector for environmental performance. The prize has been awarded by the IRAR - the national water market regulatory body - in cooperation with the Aguas & Ambiente magazine. It acknowledges Águas de Valongo's excellent work in terms of environmental policies and for the global management of the local water and wastewater system.
Águas de Valongo rewarded for its environmental performance
For Águas de Valongo, the award for best company for environmental performance in the water and wastewater sector represents strong and official recognition by public authorities for staff professionalism and creativity. To all team-members, it is the indisputable acknowledgment of the work done as well as a resounding encouragement to continue with the efforts undertaken in the fields of customer service, technical management of infrastructures, sustainable development and human resources. It also reaffirms and strengthens the position of Veolia Água as a major player in the area of water and wastewater in Portugal.
In addition to the IRAR, the jury for this award gathers the Portuguese water supplier association, the Portuguese association of wastewater studies, the Portuguese association of water resources et the National Laboratory of Civilian Engineering. Criteria for the award include water quality, the quality of water distribution and wastewater services, as well as the management of urban waste.
Another criterion for this year's awards was the implementation of internal sustainable development projects, with measurable impact and results.
Águas de Valongo was singled out for its overall environmental policies and global management of the local water and wastewater system.
The jury especially emphasized the company's efforts to dispose of all untreated wastewater, the management of water infiltration, the studies carried out to improve wastewater stations, the information campaigns for the general public, the Customer Charter which guarantees customers'rights, the certification of the management system and the environmental certification of all wastewater stations.