Case Study: Replacement sewage treatment system for care home

The existing system was old and in very poor condition, with the previous contractor having carried out incomplete modifications. There was an ill-conceived upgrade choice and a lack of effective maintenance.

Consequences:

• Increased number of breakdowns
• Failure to comply with the terms of the Environment Agency permit for the site
• Pollution of the local environment
• Contamination of the adjacent ditch
• Environment Agency intervention to prevent the site from discharging

Phase 1

Initial steps to scope out project:

Maintain

• Assess the existing system and develop a monthly maintenance regime to provide a short-term improvement in reliability

Assess

• Carry out a Flows & Loads Survey and Analysis of the entire site

Develop

• Work with WPL to develop a specification for a replacement system that would meet the stringent final effluent quality required by the Environment Agency (10mg/l BOD, 15mg/l Suspended Solids, 5mg/l ammoniacal nitrogen)

Present

• Present our detailed proposal to client setting out a solution with a project value of over £180,000

Phase 2

Solving pressing issues and prep for installation

Tankering

• Begin daily tankering of system to ensure no discharge and no further pollution

Maintenance

• Increase maintenance

Sampling

• Carry out weekly sampling of final effluent

Support

• Work with client estates department to develop a business case that would help them secure capital funding at Director level

Plan

• Secure provisional manufacturing slot for replacement sewage treatment plant in anticipation of being instructed

Instruction

• Secure instruction from client following competitive tender process

Phase 3

• Place order for specialist sewage treatment plant
• Prepare CPP and RAMS for approval be client CDM consultant
• Pre-start meeting with site maintenance and client M&E Surveyor
• Allocate experienced resources
• Strip down and refurbish existing Mono munchers
• Weekly inspections to monitor performance
• Coordinate deliveries of all plant, materials, concrete and equipment
• Set start date for site works
• Kick-off project

Benefits to the site

Impact of successful installation:

• A professionally designed and installed turnkey solution
• Cessation of localised pollution
• Dramatically reduced ongoing maintenance costs
• Increased reliability