The Russian steel producer Novolipetsk Steel (NLMK) has announced that it has won the National Environmental Award for "Innovative Eco-Efficient Industrial Technologies" for the successful implementation of its "Industrial Water Supply System Upgrade" project.
In 2009, NLMK became the first Russian fully integrated steelmaker to stop its process waste water discharge into a surface-water body (the Voronezh River). The upgrade project allowed the company to ensure such high quality in industrial effluents treatment that it can be reused during production. As a result, NLMK's fresh river water demand decreased by 66.66 percent. The company is currently working towards a further reduction in its water consumption from the Voronezh River with the prospect of stopping usage of river water altogether and switching to treated municipal waste waters.