Wastewater treatment technology from UK company WCS Environmental Engineering (WCSEE) is delivering ammonia removal at a village treatment works which manages seasonal flows and loads.
Severn Trent Blymhill wastewater treatment works (WWTW) in Staffordshire, UK serves a catchment that includes Weston park, a 17th century country house set in 1,000 acres of parkland, that hosts music festivals, concerts and fairs. As such, incoming flows and loads to the works can vary seasonally.
Severn Trent selected one WCSEE Hybrid-SAF — submerged aerated filter — unit to deliver increased tertiary ammonia removal, replacing existing temporary equipment and increasing the capacity at the works to ensure that the highest loads are treated at all times. The Hybrid-SAF is required to treat a peak flow of 7L/sec, while maintaining compliance with environmental permit requirements for ammonia of 5mg/L during summer months.
WCSEE process technology reportedly employs a submerged moving-bed, fixed-film reactor, proven to treat wastewater with greater energy efficiency compared to traditional submerged SAFs. The unique design of the flow balancing in the primary tank meant that it could cope with variable flows and loads making it ideal for seasonal venues.
WCSEE utility manager Andrew Haywood said, “Treating seasonal fluctuations can be a challenge for wastewater treatment works. The sudden increases in concentration and flow can have an impact on the existing processes which may not be sized to accommodate the increases in load. Owing to its unique design, the WCSEE Hybrid-SAF can accommodate spikes in biological load, assisting the sewage works to perform to the required consent standards.”
Modular in design, with a 30% smaller footprint than comparable technologies, WCSEE Hybrid-SAFs are built off-site, can be transported easily and used across multiple sites as required.
