Protecting new treatment works from rag

Installation of four of Hydro International's SludgeScreen screening units was essential to protect Southern Water's new wastewater treatment works from excessive incoming rag.

Southern Water's new GBP80 million wastewater treatment works for the Margate and Broadstairs catchment area is under construction to meet the stringent European Urban Waste Water Directive.

As well as bringing extensive environmental benefits to the area, it will help local beaches meet the European Bathing Water Directive and boost the tourist trade.

The installation of four of Hydro International's SludgeScreen screening units was essential to protect the treatment process from excessive incoming rag.

The new works are being built next to the existing Weatherlees WTW near Sandwich, which already separately treats wastewater from Ramsgate, Deal and Sandwich.

The new works will also take wastewater pumped from Foreness Point and North Foreland WTW via nearly 15 km of new underground pipeline, and will treat 20 million litres of wastewater generated daily by the 93,000 Margate and Broadstairs residents and visitors.

Project engineer Alan Coles of consulting engineers Black and Veatch commented: "The four Hydro SludgeScreen's are required because some of the untreated wastewater from particular areas has a high rag content, which needs to be removed before the full treatment process".

"The screens operate with three screening and one on standby to minimise any downtime".

"They are installed on a single concrete plinth, over skips which collect the rag for disposal; their small footprint is ideal for a modern treatment works".

The project is being implemented by a joint venture consortium between Black and Veatch for design and installation, MandE and process engineering and Costain Construction for civils work including pipelines and tunnelling.

Currently wastewater from Margate and Broadstairs is screened to remove grit and other debris, before being discharged through long sea outfalls at Foreness Point and North Foreland.

The new process will see the solid waste including rag content removed at Margate Headworks targeted by Hydro's SludgeScreen, the wastewater will then flow to Weatherlees Hill WTW to under go full treatment including disinfection with UV before pumping it back to Margate WTW for safe release out to sea through the existing long sea outfall.

Client: Southern Water Management Contractor: Black and Veatch / Costain JV If you would like any further information on the SludgeScreen or any of Hydro International's wastewater, stormwater and sewage treatment systems, please call 0800 269371.

Back to top