Foz, the Brazilian Water Company of Odebrecht Ambiental has commissioned consultancy Royal HaskoningDHV to help build 10 wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) over the next five years, at a cost of 11.5 million Euros. A multi-million euro partnership has been signed that aims to help increase the 30% of domestic wastewater currently treated in Brazil. Foz starts the design of three Nereda plants this year, two in São Paulo treating the wastewater of 140,000 people, and one in Rio de Janeiro for 550,000 people. Nereda technology was developed in a public-private-partnership between Delft University Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands, the Dutch Foundation for Applied Water Research, the Dutch Water Boards and Royal HaskoningDHV. Nereda treats wastewater using aerobic granular biomass. The purifying bacteria consume the wastewater and produce small balls that sink, making separation simpler. Delft University of Technology said these natural grain structures can help with the removal of organic contaminants and nutrients, such as nitrogen and phosphorous, without the use of chemicals.