M Vest Water – innovative technology for stringent water treatment regulations
27. June 2025 · Ukategorisert
M Vest Water (MVW) has developed an advanced technology that adheres to increasingly strict water treatment requirements in the aquaculture industry, all while being cost efficient and eco-friendly. This year, they are exhibiting at Aqua Nor for the first time.
— Aqua Nor is a valuable meeting place that will help us gain a deeper understanding of the aquaculture industry and the challenges its various stakeholders face. We hope that the solutions we perceive as important for this industry are also seen as relevant to their challenges, says Henrik Meland Madsen, COO at MVW.
Advanced water treatment technology for salmon slaughterhouses
In December 2023, Norway introduced stricter emission requirements for salmon slaughterhouses. These requirements were implemented due to EUs updated BAT standards and corresponding BAT-AEL values.
Under the new regulations, all applications for discharge permits must be assessed individually. In the coming years, all slaughterhouses will be required to install wastewater treatment technologies and document their discharges to ensure compliance.
MVW offers a sustainable solution for treating blood water from salmon production. The solution, under the brand name NORWAFLOC®, uses biodegradable products to efficiently purify wastewater – allowing it to safely be discharged into the sea.
The solution has two steps:
- The water is treated using biodegradable products that do not alter the pH or compromise water quality. Once purified, the water can be safely discharged into the sea without the need for further treatment.
- The substances removed from the water are collected in the sludge phase, where valuable components like phosphorus and nitrogen can be sustainably reused, for example in fertilization or other applications. At the same time, the sludge retains its biological function.
In combination with disinfection from Downstream Marine, this constitutes a holistic solution for all wastewater treatment requirements.
Customized solutions and continuous documentation
Salmon slaughterhouses in both Norway and Iceland are already using NORWAFLOC®. Additionally, MVW has supplied water treatment equipment customized for NORWAFLOC® to a handful of slaughterhouses.
Each slaughterhouse operates differently, from processing lines to logistics, making adaptable and flexible solutions necessary.
— We have invested a lot of time in understanding our customers’ operational processes. This has given us the insight needed to guide them in selecting the most effective treatment solutions for their specific facilities, says Sigve Lothe, Technical Manager at MVW.
MVW uses sensors to control the purification process and monitor water quality in real time. This allows the customer to receive a full 24-hour data fingerprint showing how daily activities affect water quality, and how MVW can proactively help optimize performance.
The technology the aquaculture industry has been waiting for?
According to Madsen, understanding the challenges tied to new wastewater treatment requirements is now spreading across the industry. He encourages Norwegian slaughterhouses to reach out soon to ensure they’re prepared in time to meet upcoming regulations.
Until a new discharge permit is in place, the slaughterhouses are responsible for characterizing their process water and initiating the planning of how the treatment plant should be adapted to their specific needs.
MVW offers a complete survey concept, performing continuous measurements of process water over a defined period and tailoring solutions that enable compliance with the BAT-AEL requirements.
— We’re seeing a range of water-related challenges across the aquaculture industry—and we look forward to engaging with more stakeholders during this year’s Aqua Nor, Madsen adds.
