31 May 2016

Veolia helps protect wetland with sewage plant upgrade

Submitted by: Parusha
Veolia helps protect wetland with sewage plant upgrade

With a gradual decrease in bio-diversity at a Ramsar-declared wetland outside Nigel, the East Rand Water Care Company (ERWAT), responsible for a number of wastewater treatment plants in eastern Gauteng, contracted Veolia Water Technologies South Africa to improve the discharge standards and treatment capacity of a sewage plant servicing the Heidelberg and Nigel communities.

The plant, which discharges treated wastewater into the region’s surface water system, wasn’t meeting legislated discharge standards due to its activated sludge system being overloaded – a result of surrounding residential area’s rapid expansion over recent years. As a cost-effective alternative to constructing a new treatment plant, ERWAT decided to upgrade the existing trickling filter system located at the site. This type of upgrade is the first of its kind in South Africa and marks the start of a trend towards cost-effective infrastructure upgrades across the country.

 “The trickling filter treatment system was originally designed to treat 4.5 megalitres per day, but because of the efficiency of our trickling filter technology, we have been able to increase the daily capacity to 6.5 megalitres and still meet the stringent water quality standards,” says Ian Lemberger, General Manager at Veolia Water Technologies’ Engineered Systems division.

The upgrade has involved replacing the existing trickling filter system’s stone carrier elements with new generation plastic honeycomb media that offers a significantly larger surface area for improved biological performance and enhanced flow. “In a trickling filter system, improved flow and more biological growth means more organic matter can be processed by the existing infrastructure,” he says.

The plant’s two existing structures, each 30 metres in diameter and 3.9 metres in height, house these new carrier elements, which means minimal civil works or alterations were required to complete the upgrade. To maintain the plant’s set minimum treatment capacity during the upgrade, Veolia upgraded each tower separately. Veolia was also responsible for the trickling filter system’s mechanical and electrical components, including the installation of civil tanks.

“After having the organic matter broken down in the trickling filter system, the water will pass through clarifiers to remove residual biological solids, and then to chlorination, which disinfects the water before discharge,” says Lemberger.

ERWAT awarded Veolia Water Technologies South Africa the upgrade contract based on the success of similar trickling filter projects completed by its Namibian subsidiary, Aqua Services & Engineering (ASE). “It is relatively easy to refurbish and upgrade older trickling filter plants by utilising the existing infrastructure. Under the right circumstances, and in certain conditions, it is possible to complete such an upgrade in less than six months. It is a very cost-effective way to increase treatment capacity,” concludes Lemberger.

Caption to picture 1: A similar tricking filter system utilising existing infrastructure, providing a cost effective solution to increase water treatment capacity.

Caption to picture 2: The improved quality, compliant discharged wastewater is fed into the region’s surface water system.

Veolia group is the global leader in optimized resource management. With over 174 000 employees worldwide, the Group designs and provides water, waste and energy management solutions that contribute to the sustainable development of communities and industries. Through its three complementary business activities, Veolia helps to develop access to resources, preserve available resources, and to replenish them. In 2015, the Veolia group supplied 100 million people with drinking water and 63 million people with wastewater service, produced 63 million megawatt hours of energy and converted 42.9 million metric tons of waste into new materials and energy. Veolia Environnement (listed on Paris Euronext: VIE) recorded consolidated revenue of €25 billion in 2015. www.veolia.com