Sewage treatment plant for E.ON Ratcliffe-on-Soar

Located in Nottinghamshire, E.On’s Ratcliffe-on-Soar facility is one of the most efficient coal fired power stations in the UK.

A replacement sewage treatment solution was required to serve personnel located at the site’s Technology Centre and Main Power Station.

The Power Station does not have the benefit of mains drainage to a Water Company sewage treatment works and therefore all waste water generated on site requires treatment before being discharged to the adjacent watercourse.

An existing “on site” sewage treatment plant was being considered for replacement due to the age of the assets but also the need to accommodate higher projected numbers of personnel for decades to come.

Several treatment options were proposed before E.On chose an “above ground” solution. Criteria which steered the company Engineers with their decision making was simplicity of design of an above ground installation and ease of plant operation.

The automated plant design incorporated:

• Lamella plate separators for primary and tertiary settlement.
• Submerged Aerated Filters (SAF) for secondary (biological) treatment.
• RADs/treatment plant for extended sludge holding and minimising the requirement for off site tankering.
• A walk in style kiosk to house ancillary equipment including control panel and blowers.

The plant is designed to achieve stringent Environment Agency consent standards for Biochemical Oxygen Demand, Suspended Solids and Ammonia.