Waterschapsbedrijf Limburg’s sewage treatment plant in Weert is being converted into a modular Verdygo Installation, so that by 1 October 2019 it will meet the new effluent requirements of the Kaderrichtlijn Water (KRW, Water Framework Directive). Here George van Oijen, Senior Project Leader BRO Business Unit, talks us through the preparations.

What’s going to be happening in Weert?
“The existing organic treatment plant will be replaced by a NEREDA installation,” explains George. “So the same as with Verdygo Simpelveld, just several times bigger. The new installation will largely be built on reserve land, as the current treatment system will continue to operate through to 1 October 2019.”

What phase is the project currently in?
“We’ve already developed the preliminary design. In parallel to which, we also ran a tender process for a framework contract for multidisciplinary working. As a result of which, a number of contractors have been selected to deliver our larger, multidisciplinary projects.

“It’s the first time we’ve signed such a framework agreement for this type of work. The advantage being that we don’t have to run a separate European tender for each major project. Because they’re time-consuming procedures, while speed is now of the essence. Moreover, this framework agreement with several contractors allows us to award the work more quickly and involve contractors at an early stage in the development of our plans.”

Why do we want to involve contractors earlier on?
“Because we want to develop the design for the Verdygo installation in Weert together. On the one hand, so we can make the most of our joint strengths; on the other, to ensure the solutions we consider important are included in the design. Mobilis, the builder selected for Weert, has now had a formal quotation request. If we can agree with their action plan, the further details will be worked out within the construction team. This approach is fairly unique in the Netherlands, normally speaking, the whole design is developed either by the contractor or by the client.”

Who internally is involved in this project?

“Project teams from BRO are responsible for the design. In addition, the technology department, WWTP team, planning team, product & process development team, business operations team and IT team are all also involved. Not to mention communications… so a very wide involvement, in other words.”

What will this Verdygo project mean for our colleagues at the Weert treatment plant?
“They’re going to be using an entirely new purification technology. Of course, we’ve already got experience from Simpelveld, and you see there that it requires a completely different way of operating. No longer the traditional process with sedimentation, aeration and post-settling ; but a batch process that occurs in a single process step. In order to be able to run the installation properly, colleagues in Weert will therefore need to have the necessary knowledge and training. A nice new challenge for everyone at the plant.”

When does everything have to be ready?
“As of 1 October 2019, the new Verdygo NEREDA installation must be operating as per the required specifications, so that we can meet the new effluent requirements. Besides which, there’s the maintenance scope of the project: a number of parts in the current treatment plant that will remain operational need maintenance or replacing. Plus, the existing aeration and settling tanks must at some point be demolished, as they’ll no longer be needed. In principle, the contractor has until mid-2020 to complete these various jobs.”