WET News

JULY 2017 Wet NeWs 13 JULY 2017 WET NEWS 13 The HiPAF package wastewater treatment four-unit modular system WwTw at the village of Drinov in the Czech Republic surface waters in the EU, was an important driver for the Dřínov project where discharge is to a local stream. The high environ- mental standards required included 22mg/l biological oxy- gen demand (BOD), 25mg/l suspended solids and 12mg/l ammonia. Phosphate removal was also specified by the environmental regulator. The HiPAF plant comprises four units; the primary settlement tank, a SAF for biological treatment and a final settlement module are connected in series. In addition, effluent passes in a circular stream from the primary settlement tank to a robust aerobic digestion system – RADS – and back. Aerobic digestion is industry- recognised to reduce sludge output and extend desludging intervals without use of chemicals, which in turn reduces tankering costs. This is particularly cost-effective in remote rural locations where long distances need to be covered. Baird says: "Based on industry findings, our expectation is for the plant to significantly reduce sludge by up to 70% when it is fully loaded and matured." Technical skills Martin Jakoubek, senior consultant, says: "Along with a robust treatment process, the whole-life functionality of the WPL HiPAF was a key consideration when we were specifying for the Dřínov TEchKNoW • The HiPAF plant comprises four units; the primary settlement tank, a SAF for biological treatment and a final settlement module are connected in series • The plant is engineered off-site and delivered in modular units • The compact HiPAF units also require a much smaller site footprint than standard installations ThE VERDIcT "EU regulations like the Water Framework Directive are an important driver for raising environmental standards. They can also help smaller villages access the extra funding they need for an investment on this scale. Municipalities need technologies that provide robust treatment and are simple to install and operate, which is why I was impressed with WPL's HiPAF" Jitka Bockova, Mayor of Drínov NEED To KNoW 1 Some 70% of the finance for the project came from EU cohesion policy funds 2 The Water Framework Directive aims for 'good status' for all ground and surface waters in the EU 3 In conventional wastewater treatment installations in the Czech Republic, 70% of costs is spent on civil engineering works 4 Most houses had septic tanks and effluent was slowly seeping into the village pond wastewater treatment plant. It was important that operation and maintenance was easy to carry out and that the routine technical skills required were not specialised. "I am very happy that the site limitations, including the presence of groundwater and the need for careful landscaping, were overcome imaginatively through close collaboration with WPL." Mikulinec says: "I'm pleased that WPL is the company to introduce SAF technology to the Czech market. Prior to the installation of the Dřínov wastewater treatment plant, most houses had septic tanks and the effluent was slowly seeping into the village pond, causing considerable pollution. "The villagers are now taking up the option to connect into the treatment works, which should take three months to complete. Each house has an individual pump station delivering wastewater into the WPL HiPAF." Some 70% of the finance for the project came from EU cohesion policy funds, which provide support to help countries comply with the Urban Wastewater Directive. The project also had the full backing of the municipality, which provided 15% of the finance and will be responsible for operation and maintenance of the plant. The remainder of the funding came through a bank loan. The Mayor of Dřínov, Jitka Bockova, says: "Improving the quality of the environment and surface waters for the Dřínov community was a priority for me when I took office and better management of wastewater plays a major role. EU regulations like the Water Framework Directive are an important driver for raising environmental standards. "They can also help smaller villages access the extra funding they need for an investment on this scale. Municipalities need technologies that provide robust treatment and are simple to install and operate, which is why I was impressed with WPL's HiPAF." Gareth Jones, managing director of WPL says: "WPL's technical expertise is helping us win contracts for applications like the Dřínov wastewater treatment plant. Building the plant off-site means there is a much shorter project lead-time and a much smaller site footprint is required. "WPL's RADS system is proving especially cost-effective in places like Czech Republic where there are many remote villages and tankering is costly." Mikulinec concludes: "WPL's HiPAF is a very robust and reliable technology that is simple to install and easy to operate, which is exactly what is required in small villages which may not have skilled operators living nearby. The site can be examined via our real-time telemetry monitoring which will reduce maintenance for our client. "Once proven locally, we expect uptake to increase significantly." likely to be disrupted by inclement weather or logistical factors and the onsite labour requirement is reduced. Further, the plant is manufactured according to the individual design and process specification of the project and is very reliable and easy to maintain and operate in the long-term. Onsite civil engineering work and construction risk is reduced as minimal concrete surround is required and excavation material can be reused. Baird says: "In conventional wastewater treatment installa- tions in the Czech Republic, approximately 70% of costs would be spent on civil engineering works alone." A standard AS plant is a complete onsite build and unlike the modular WPL HiPAF, offers no off-site quality assurance and is not manufactured in a controlled environment. The compact WPL HiPAF units also require a much smaller site footprint than standard installations. In countries like the Czech Republic, where land costs are rising, packaged plants fulfil the growing need for high quality treatment delivered with smaller take-up of ground space. In Dřínov, the multiple cost- savings meant more of the project budget could be allocated to the landscaping and aesthetics of the site which, given its prominent location, was an important benefit to the local population. The Water Framework Direc- tive (WFD), which aims for 'good status' for all ground and

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