Major improvements proposed by South West Water for its Camels Head Sewage Treatment Works in Plymouth will now go ahead following Ofwat’s AMP6 Final Determination.
The significant multi-million pound investment proposed for Camels Head in South West Water's business plan for 2015-20 received final approval from Ofwat on 12 December. Work is planned to start in 2015.
The Camels Head works has had a history of odour-related problems. While the situation has significantly improved in recent years following investment, detailed investigations and proactive odour control measures, it is South West Water's intention to replace the site's primary settlement tanks.
The tanks are part of the original treatment process and are now nearly 80 years old. They are challenging to operate and keep clean, as well as having a large surface area, all of which can contribute to odour issues.
Four detailed options are now being considered for the site including both conventional and novel process technologies.
South West Water's Head of Waste Water, Richard Gilpin, said:
"This project presents some challenges because the existing site is surrounded on all sides and is fully developed within its boundaries, so there are no free areas available for further construction.
"Our scoping team have been hard at work looking at all the viable options for the space available, currently occupied by the primary settlement tanks.
"We are confident that all of the options will substantially reduce the risk of odour from Camels Head, and it is important that we make the right decision for the site. There is more analysis to do but we expect to have a preferred option early next year, with a view to starting work later in the year.”
The four options being considered are:
- Replacing the existing primary settlement tanks with four modern tanks, built on the same footprint
- Replacing the primary settlement tanks with new 'primary filtration' technology
- Bypassing the primary treatment stage altogether and installing additional aeration tanks as part of the secondary treatment stage instead
- Similar to option C but using a more novel method known as 'moving bed bio reactor' as part of the secondary treatment stage.
Costs for each option are still being developed – South West Water said all are likely to be in the £millions.
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