Diageo, Veolia partner for clean water for rum

Diageo USVI, the world's leading premium drinks business, recently partnered with Veolia Water Solutions & Technologies (VWS), the world’s leading water solutions and technologies, in the construction of a washwater treatment plant for Captain Morgan rum distillery.

Producing brands like Johnnie Walker, Guinness, Smirnoff, J&B, Baileys, Cuervo, Tanqueray, Crown Royal, Beaulieu Vineyard, and Sterling Vineyards, Diageo USVI has also produced Captain Morgan, the number 2 rum in the world.

The structure of the Diageo USVI rum distillery will be made with Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards and will include a closed-loop water system that will eradicate the process of disposing the washwater into the Caribbean Sea. It will also take by-products and change them to clean water, as well as produce fertilizer for various organizations.

The practice of organic solids reclamation and storm water best management also help in making the environment a greener place to live in.

Denise Johnston of VWS commented: "It's been a real pleasure working with the Diageo USVI Team. It's enjoyable to participate in a project with an environmentally conscientious customer, that's willing to go the extra mile to be a good neighbor, and also improve the surrounding area."

Johnston added that Diageo's approach to collaboration-based projects promote excellent communication among all of the suppliers that will result in an on-time and efficient project.

The VWS washwater system is expected to process 150 million gallons of washwater, distill 20 million proof gallons of Captain Morgan rum, produce approximately $100 million in new tax revenue for the Virgin Islands Government, and generate up to 70 jobs yearly.

Diageo trades in more than 180 countries worldwide and is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (DEO) and the London Stock Exchange (DGE).

Veolia Water Solutions & Technologies (VWS) is a world leader in engineering and technological solutions in water treatment and has seven subsidiaries in North America. VWS is the technological subsidiary of Veolia Water


- Sunshine T. Santiago