FOCUS ON TOMORROW

April 30, 2014

Guy Veillette

SHAWINIGAN – At the turn of the new millennium, a new media on which billions of microorganisms develop and significantly improve wastewater treatment quality would propel a small Grand-Mère company to new heights. Since then, Bionest has not only imposed its technology with over 25,000 systems installed worldwide, but this new finding promoted the development of other peripherals, keeping its 140 employees in the innovation bath.

With numerous septic tanks needing to be replaced, newly developed neighborhoods not serviced by public networks and the challenge represented by wastewater treatment all over the world, you have a pretty good idea of this company’s market.

Bionest is now developing a new product for aerated lagoons, where wastewaters are treated. A most interesting project for municipalities who may need to set up new basins due to population growth. This new product will be installed in existing basins in order to enhance their treatment capacity.

"We will be the only company in Canada with such a system", proudly says Pierre Saint Laurent, Bionest President and General Manager. According to him, 90% of aerated lagoons in Québec now face an overcapacity dilemma. Mr. Saint Laurent notes that tests were conducted in Wemotaci, which inspired the name of this product, KAMAKTM, meaning "living lake" in Atikamekw.

"We are really excited about this project", says a smiling Mr. Saint Laurent. "We know there is a crying need in the Québec market segment and it will cost a lot of money for the government to support Municipalities. Our initiative will be important in reducing costs". A lot has happened since Gilles Champagne and his major associate, Gary Lord, performed tests based on discharge from apartments in a 6th Avenue building. Today, Bionest collects awards and mentions, including that recognizing the company as one of the 15 Green Technologies companies in Canada since 2009.

Mr. Saint Laurent believes Québec’s particularly strict legislation helped the company in its development. Over 50% of its Sales are still dedicated to this market.

Bionest built its reputation based on a secret recipe, which allows a truly efficient biological wastewater treatment, to the point that wastewaters can be reused, a significant advantage in countries where water is scarce. In the United Arab Emirates, for example, renewed water is used for irrigation or for road dust removal.

The initial innovation was followed by several others integrating the BIONEST® system in all imaginable environments. Different size tanks, made of various materials, were designed. Two types of mobile units were also marketed, according to weather conditions; a particularly practical design for major construction sites.

Development of a series of peripheral products followed; the BIO-UVTM system, for example, used for wastewater disinfection. This lamp is installed within the reactor, a major advantage when space becomes an issue for installing the system. The same principle was used for installing a BIO-PUMPTM inside the reactor, where required due to ground configuration.

Mr. Saint Laurent admits designing the most compact treatment systems is of great interest for Bionest. In many cases, the technology must be integrated in inhospitable environments.

Over the past three years, Bionest also developed a CMB (completely mixed basin) for pretreatment of wastewaters. Restaurant or hotel owners really appreciate this innovation, as discharge from such building types are indeed higher charged than a traditional residential unit.

"It opened up a whole new market for us", rejoices Mr. Saint Laurent, who mentions the Le D’Hélice restaurant, in the Lac-à-la-Tortue area, was the very first to profit from this new technology.

"We solely live upon products we develop. We cannot allow ourselves not to market efficient products as we would otherwise be out of business".

Bionest is…

11

product certifications and recognitions throughout the world 

25 000

systems sold since 2003, more than half in Québec 

Le Nouvelliste (french only)