Summary
Ryan Hanley was appointed by Galway County Council/Irish Water to act as the Clients representative and oversee the Design build and Operate phases of the Kinvara Sewerage Scheme. The project incorporated the provision of a new Waste Water Treatment Plant (WWTP) for Kinvara Town and hinterland with a marine outfall to Kinvara Bay. Network upgrades included provision of a new network to convey sewage to the newly build plant, surface water separation, a new foul pumping station (incorporated into the new WWTP) and the rehabilitation of the existing network.
Background
The town of Kinvara is located approximately 27km from Galway City on the south shoreline of Galway Bay. The town has an active harbour, numerous public houses, restaurants, and a hotel and is a very popular summer destination for day-trippers and holidaymakers. The population of the town and its environs have, over the past decade, seen significant growth.
The immediate town area was serviced by a combined sewerage collection system that discharged both foul and storm waters untreated to the sea. This, at times, resulted in unsightly sewage surface slicks occurring in and around the harbour area and the presence of sewage odours at low water. The discharge of untreated sewerage had the potential to disrupt the thriving commercial/licensed shellfisheries (oysters and shellfish production) which are located 2 to 3km into the bay.
Benefits
The benefits of the project include:
- Eliminated the discharge of inadequately treated effluent into Kinvara Bay
- Treated effluent discharges through a new marine outfall pipe ensured maximum dispersion into the Kinvara Bay.
- WWTP design capacity has the ability to deal with future population growth, development of the area and seasonal population increases (festivals).
- Increasing the network capacity to allow the addition of housing development currently on private treatment systems.
- Introduction of surface water separation, thus reducing the cost of wastewater treatment.
- Installation of a petrol interceptor to the storm networks to ensure FOG’s (Fats, Oils and Greases) are removed prior to discharging into Kinvara bay.
- Removal of existing combined storm overflows and consequently the possible discharge of untreated effluent into Kinvara Bay.
- Improving road safety by installing new gullies and enhancing road drainage.
- Improving the aesthetic of the town centre with the undertaken street enhancement works.
- Eliminated likelihood of infiltration to the network/WWTP during flooding events with the provision of a sealed network below anticipated flooding levels.
The new sewerage scheme has the following components:
- A new sewerage collection system is routed and extended to the new WWTP, with disposal of treated effluent via a new outfall to Kinvara Bay
- Existing sewers to the town were retained and rehabilitated
- A new surface water system was installed to the core town area to effect stormwater separation, hydraulically relieve the existing combined sewers and permit efficient pumping/ treatment at the works
- Stormwater outfall point to Kinvara Bay incorporates oil interceptors upstream of the discharge point.
- Street Enhancement works in conjunction with Galway County council. This included the upgrading of footpaths, recreational green areas and road resurfacing and drainage.
The WWTP incorporates the following:
- Sewerage gravitates to a pumping station within WWTP for ease of network management and plant operation.
- Package Preliminary works incorporating automated screening and grit removal.
- A twin Stream Sequence Batch Reactor (SBR) treatment process.
- Storm flow holding facility with a screened overflow facility.
- Sludge thickening and storage facilities.
- Control Building incorporating a panel room, office, canteen laboratory, workshop, and toilet facilities.
- Modular design to allow simplified addition of Ultraviolet Disinfection and Additional SBR streams in the future.
- A considered landscaping, lighting and fencing design to mitigate the plant’s impact on its surrounding environment.
- An Integrated SCADA system to allow remote monitoring/operation by the client.
- Provision of a plant generator to ensure the plant continuous operation can be maintained.