Wastewater Project of the Year
Utrecht WWTP, Netherlands
What is it?
An extension of the main wastewater treatment works in the city of Utrecht serving nearly half a million customers.
Who is involved?
Local water board De Stichtse Rijnlanden contracted Dutch construction companies Heijmans and GMB to design, build and maintain the facility for ten years. Royal HaskoningDHV provided the Nereda technology at the heart of the plant’s treatment process.
What makes it special?
The plant’s location in a residential area of Utrecht means the Nereda technology’s small footprint is a considerable advantage both in the facility’s design process and to minimise nuisances to neighbours. The new units fit neatly alongside the existing works and feature state-of-the-art odour control.
The new facility will reduce power consumption by a third compared to existing treatment at the plant, while meeting the highest treated water standard of 5mg/l total nitrogen and 0.5mg/l total phosphorus.
In addition, this performance is achieved without chemical dosing, which contributes to the facility’s minimal environmental impact.
While building on the experience of over 65 Nereda installations worldwide, the Utrecht facility marks a new watershed for the use of the technology, and will act as a forerunner for other large-scale Nereda plants in Dublin and Blackburn, currently under construction.
Distinction
Madinat Salman Plant, Bahrain
What is it?
A 40,000 m3/d sewage treatment plant serving the new town of Madinat Salman on an artificial island off Bahrain’s northern coast.
Who is involved?
Stantec Khonji was the project management consultant for the plant. VA Tech Wabag was the EPC contractor and will operate the facility for five years. The client is Bahrain’s Ministry of Housing.
What makes it special?
The sewage treatment plant was built atop Bahrain’s main source of potable groundwater, the Alat aquifer, which is also the country’s last to be spared saline intrusion. The contractors deployed special care and expertise in protecting this precious resource while stabilising the reclaimed land above with 160 supporting piles. The 85,000 m3/d terminal lift pumping station which feeds the plant was also built underground with particular care for the underlying aquifer.
The plant was built at the same time as the Madinat Salman new town which it serves. The landscaped views that this innovative urban development project offers are protected by recreational greenery on a hill which hides the STP from view.
The new plant contributes to Bahrain’s efforts towards a circular economy by recycling its dewatered sludge into fertiliser pellets, which are packaged on site in 25kg bags ready to be used by farmers.