Single source solution for increased wastewater treatment capacity
Sulzer’s product portfolio supports Italian WWTP with renewal of screening and primary filtration processes
A wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) in the Veneto region of Italy has begun a major refurbishment project that will upgrade the inlet screens, increase primary filtration capacity and replace many pumping assets. Thanks to Sulzer, the scheme will reduce operating costs and enable the plant to handle higher flows experienced during heavy rainfall while reducing the costs for the disposal of screenings.
One of the major challenges facing the wastewater industry is dealing with higher flowrates caused by heavy rain. If the primary settlement system does not have sufficient capacity, the excess has to be stored in storm tanks before being treated after flowrates have dropped. Resolving this issue is difficult because the traditional primary settlement tanks require a large footprint, which is usually not available.
Reducing treatment costs
Sulzer’s Nordic Water brand has decades of experience in designing filtration and screening systems for wastewater applications. Combined with Sulzer’s pumps, the company is very well-placed to deliver the majority of the equipment for the refurbishment.
The inlet screens are the first line of defense for the treatment plant. Making improvements to the capture rate here has a beneficial effect for the rest of the site. In this case, the site has four screens and they will be replaced sequentially so as to avoid any disruption to the operation of the treatment works.
The project will see four Meva Monoscreens installed in place of the legacy equipment. These assets will provide high capture rates and require no wash water while using less than 50% of the energy required by the outgoing screens. The installation includes two MevaPress SWP units, each equipped with a counter pressure screw (CPS-X), which together deliver dry solids content between 40 and 60%.
The new compactor units offer excellent efficiency and the high dry matter content minimizes the disposal costs for the screenings. Equally important, the design of the wash presses makes them insensitive to peak loads, ensuring efficient operation even during times of high flows.
The additional primary filtration capacity will be delivered by 10 Dynabelt filters, which offer a 90% space saving compared to traditional settlement tanks. Their installation requires very little in terms of civil works, and the effectiveness of solids removals enables more efficient downstream biological processes.
Meeting the challenge of CSO discharges
In addition to the screens and filter equipment, Sulzer will also deliver 10 ABS XFP units and several AS and ABS VUPX pumps to replace units that have reached the end of their service lives. Installation of the pre-treatment screens will begin in the first quarter of 2026, with the pumps and Dynabelt filters following on.
Sulzer is unique in its broad portfolio of products that can be delivered by a single source, simplifying the procurement process for the main contractor and the municipality. Supported by numerous reference projects, the benefits of the Meva Monoscreens, MevaPress SWP units, and Dynabelt filters were clearly demonstrated as part of the tendering process.
As part of the installation, Sulzer’s local service center will provide technical support to integrate the controls and remote monitoring systems, ensuring a seamless transition for operating the new equipment. All the new assets will be installed in a staged program to enable the treatment plant to maintain normal operations throughout the refurbishment project.
Once complete, the renovated treatment plant will be able to handle increased flows and minimize operating costs. This is particularly relevant as many treatment plants are trying to find a solution to increased flowrates caused by growing populations and increased rainfall causing combined sewer overflows (CSOs) to discharge into the environment. Sulzer’s expertise and wide range of solutions can support municipalities in achieving their goals of increased capacity and reduced operating costs.
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