£300m high-efficiency WWT uses ow-profile technology 25 February 2014

Southern Water's recently opened £300m Cleaner Seas for Sussex environmental improvement scheme for Brighton & Hove was built using compact plant, including stainless steel pipework from BCI Process.

Andrew Clouds, of BCI Process, explains that, because the Peacehaven wastewater treatment works is in the chalk downs, compactness and low profile were critical.

Allowance also had to be made in the footprint for treatment expansion to meet possible future tightening of discharge consent conditions.

As a result, he says, percolating filters with rotating spray bars were not appropriate, so designers had to look for an alternative high-rate biological process – and hence the selection of 10 BAFF (biological aerated flooded filter) cells.

These use media, post primary treatment, held in suspension by air forced through the cells by five blowers delivering air through a common manifold.

BCI Process won the contract to supply and install the aeration pipework in each of the cells, using light gauge metric stainless steel for long-lasting service.

Clouds explains that space has been set aside on the site for plant expansion should that be required. The BAFFs can be upgraded to include simultaneous nitrification/denitrification capability, and there is also space for a tertiary treatment stage.

The Cleaner Seas for Sussex scheme is Southern Water's largest project and includes 11km of new sewer tunnel, two pumping stations, the wastewater treatment works and a 2.5km long sea outfall.

The new treatment works is also covered by a green roof, which is as big as three football pitches and one of the largest in the Europe. It is planted with downland grasses to help it blend into the surrounding landscape.

Brian Tinham

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