Tertiary treatment success leads to equipment purchase

A new sewage treatment system installed in a town in the Czech Republic will protect valued fishing ponds and raise the quality required EU environmental standards.

The below-ground HiPAF® system was installed in the town of Klimkovice, in the country’s Moravian-Silesian region, as part of a municipality-led project to construct a first-time sewerage network to serve 340 of the town’s residents.

Some 110 properties will connect to the new system, replacing ageing septic tanks that had been seeping into streams which flowed into the popular fishing ponds, impacting the quality of the waters, which have protections under the EU’s Water Framework Directive. The project was welcomed by the local community and its successful completion marked with an opening ceremony.

Simon Kimber, sales director said: “It was the municipality’s aim to protect the ponds and provide a clean and healthy environment for the fish, which is why the decision was taken to invest in a new sewer network and sewage treatment plant. Our technology was considered the most suitable because our treatment units are modular, compact and ready-to-use.

“The completed system, which will be fed by the town’s new sewer network, will significantly improve the quality of the local streams and fishing ponds and ensure they meet the environmental standards set out by the EU.”

The project team had to overcome significant challenges caused by high groundwater levels, which hindered installation of the treatment tanks.  To manage this, engineers built a temporary well so that water could be continually pumped out and levels kept down throughout construction.

The installed treatment plant comprises of units designed to control chemical oxygen demand (COD), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) suspended solids, and ammonia. A remote monitoring system was also installed.  The high environmental standards required included 30mg/l BOD, 110mg/l COD, 40mg/l suspended solids and 20mg/l ammonia.

The modular sewage treatment units in the town of Klimkovice

To protect the below-ground units from excess groundwater the excavation was fully backfilled with water-resistant concrete.  A small biological pond was also constructed by a municipality-sourced supplier to provide a level of tertiary treatment and extra capacity was built into the system to cater for population growth.

The scheme was financed by the EU Cohesion Fund, which aims to promote sustainable development, and the Ministry of the Environment of the Czech Republic.

The mayor of Klimkovice, Jaroslav Varga, said: “The area’s fishing ponds are used for fish farming as well as leisure, so it was important to protect them.  Installation of the project was executed without any problems. We’re happy they will assist us in the first few months of operation.”

Kimber said: “The mayor considered this to be a very successful project because it was on time and within budget and they wanted to celebrate completion with drinks and a speech. As wastewater treatment specialists it is very satisfying to see the pride taken in the new system and the level of appreciation for the environmental benefits it will bring.”

The site will be managed by the municipality.