ABCO Water Partnership Announcement

September 23, 2025 Anncrise

Ecotechnol, Membrane Development Specialists, and ABCO Water

Announce Partnership to Solve Complex Water Challenges

Ecotechnol and Membrane Development Specialists (MDS) are pleased to announce a partnership with ABCO Water to tackle some of the toughest challenges in water and wastewater treatment.

This collaboration combines Ecotechnol’s innovation in treating hard-to-treat streams and resource recovery, MDS’s advanced membrane technologies and ABCO’s expertise in system design and operational delivery. Together, the partners deliver smarter, high-performance solutions for sites struggling with high-salinity water, complex waste streams, and stagnant wastewater problems that conventional methods often fail to address.

Tackling the Industry’s Toughest Problems

Across industrial and mining sites worldwide, many operations face long-standing challenges with dams and ponds holding high-salinity, complex wastewater. These streams are often considered untreatable, leading to mounting environmental risks, compliance pressure, and lost opportunities.

This partnership offers a new approach:

Smarter treatment of high-salinity and complex wastewater
Potential for value recovery from brines, turning waste into an asset
Integrated expertise, delivering tailored, end-to-end solutions

Leadership Perspective

Robert Vagnoni, Director, Ecotechnol:

“Ecotechnol has always focused on solving complex water problems and finding pathways to resource recovery. This collaboration brings our process innovation into a broader solution, helping clients turn hard-to-treat water and wastewater into manageable, compliant, and even valuable streams. This partnership allows us to deliver greater impact together than we could alone.”

Larry Lien, Director, Membrane Development Specialists:

“At MDS, we specialise in advanced membrane technology designed to handle the most challenging water and wastewater streams. This partnership with ABCO and Ecotechnol enables us to apply our technology as part of a fully integrated solution, giving clients access to capabilities that can solve problems once thought impossible.”

Brendan Doherty, Director, ABCO Water:

“This partnership builds on ABCO’s expertise in delivering complete water and wastewater treatment systems. Together with Ecotechnol and MDS, we’re able to provide integrated solutions that tackle the toughest water challenges, treating streams once considered untreatable and creating new opportunities for value recovery.”

About the Partners

Ecotechnol

Ecotechnol is a cleantech technology company specialising in the development and application of membrane technology for mine water and process water solutions.

Ecotechnol has been at the forefront of treating hard-to-treat wastewater streams, particularly in the hydrometallurgical mining process, oil and gas, and energy sectors.

The technology, using specialised Nano filtration (NF) membranes, is effective for removing heavy metals that are problematic to treat using other conventional methods, reducing harmful environmental impacts and substantially improving process yields and operating profits.

Specific elements and metals can be removed from contaminated streams such as acid mine drainage (AMD) with clean permeate water being recycled.

Valorisation of process streams such as copper, gold, nickel, cobalt, uranium, rare earths and acid recovery can be achieved.

Their expertise encompasses research and development, design, construction, commissioning, and complete project management.

Membrane Development Specialists (MDS)

Founded in 1980, Membrane Development Specialists (MDS) has been a pioneer in the application of advanced membrane technologies for challenging water and wastewater treatment applications. With a focus on industries such as mining and mineral processing, MDS has developed and implemented innovative solutions that address complex treatment needs. Their extensive experience includes the design and deployment of systems capable of handling high-salinity and other difficult-to-treat water streams. The specialised membranes are designed and manufactured in their dedicated facility in Escondodo, Calif. USA.

ABCO Water

ABCO Water is a specialist provider of water and wastewater treatment solutions with a proven track record of delivering tailored, high-performance systems for industrial, commercial, and municipal clients. With over 75 years of experience, ABCO’s expertise spans the full project lifecycle, from process design and equipment supply to construction, commissioning, and long-term operations.

Known for solving complex water challenges, ABCO combines technical knowledge with a practical, results- driven approach to help clients manage water and wastewater streams with confidence. Since becoming part of BWater in 2022, ABCO has expanded its capabilities, offering innovative technologies and collaborative solutions to clients across Australia and internationally.