ATAC Solutions successfully upgraded a water treatment plant in Buckinghamshire, addressing stringent regulations on phosphorus and TSS with an innovative three-stage system based on MITA technology. The project, completed on time, has enabled the plant to consistently achieve a phosphorus reduction to 0.25 mg/L and suspended solids to 6 mg/L, exceeding client expectations and regulatory requirements while efficiently managing highly variable flow rates.
The water treatment plant in Buckinghamshire faced a crucial challenge: the need to adapt to increasingly stringent environmental regulations. The new directives imposed extremely strict phosphorus discharge standards, set at 0.25 mg/l P, and consent levels for iron of 4 mg/l LUT and 8 mg/l UT.
A further fundamental requirement was to achieve an average of 5 mg/l of total suspended solids (TSS) in the final effluent, which was essential to meet the 0.25 mg/l P consent. The situation was complicated by the need to manage highly variable water flows, with fluxes ranging from an average of 16.5 l/s up to peaks of 38 l/s, which represented a significant engineering complexity.
To address this challenge, ATAC Solutions, one of the leading environmental engineering companies in the United Kingdom and part of Axius Water, was commissioned to design and implement a complete upgrade of the plant. As a national distributor of MITA WT, also part of the Axius Water group, ATAC Solutions was able to draw on extensive experience and advanced technologies for wastewater treatment, ensuring a state-of-the-art solution for the required modernization. The primary objective was not only to meet the current regulatory requirements but also to ensure the long-term sustainability and operational efficiency of the plant.
ATAC Solutions responded to the complex request of the Buckinghamshire plant by developing and implementing a sophisticated three-stage treatment system, specifically designed to optimize phosphorus removal. At the heart of this innovative solution was the installation of a MITA 8/40 cloth drum filter, which integrates cutting-edge technologies for highly efficient treatment. The first stage of the process involved the design and implementation of a custom-built flash mixing tank. In this unit, the coagulant is introduced and rapidly mixed with the incoming water, a crucial step that ensures optimal chemical distribution and initiates the coagulation reaction.
Subsequently, the treated water passes into a dedicated flocculation tank, where gentle and carefully controlled mixing promotes the formation of phosphorus-rich flocs. The mixing speed and retention time have been optimized to develop robust flocs without the risk of breakage. The final stage of treatment employs the advanced MITA WT cloth filtration system.
These pile cloth filters are known for their extremely high removal rates of suspended solids and for their minimal life-cycle costs. Operating by gravity, they require low electrical consumption, limited to the backwashing phase, and ensure operational continuity even during the cleaning of the cloths. They are also flexible and tolerate hydraulic and load variations well. The entire process is monitored and controlled through an integrated control panel system, ensuring consistent performance and automated operation. To improve operational efficiency and accessibility for maintenance, custom-made access platforms and an attenuation storage tank (AT3) were included.
The solution implemented by ATAC Solutions for the Buckinghamshire plant has proven to be extremely effective and highly successful. The results obtained a phosphorus reduction that has reached and maintained the required standard of 0.25 mg/l P.
Concurrently, the system demonstrated an excellent ability to reduce suspended solids, achieving an average level of 6 mg/L, a remarkable result considering the 0.25 mg/l P target required for the 0.25 mg/l P consent. A critical success factor was the system’s ability to manage the entire range of flow variations, operating effectively from 16.5 l/s to 38 l/s without compromising performance. Another fundamental aspect was the completion and commissioning of the project within the specified timeframe, fully meeting all client expectations and regulatory requirements. This highlights the efficiency and professionalism of ATAC Solutions in executing complex projects.
The upgrade has provided the plant not only with the ability to comply with current standards but also with a flexible and reliable system that will serve the facility effectively in the long term. The combination of ATAC’s experience and the advanced MITA WT technology, particularly the cloth filters, has ensured high filtration efficiency, low energy consumption, and simplified maintenance, contributing to an optimal return on investment.
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The high filtration rates and small footprint make the Drum Filter the ideal final filtration system for sewage treatment plants, industrial or municipal plants of small capacity. All units are complete with an electrical control panel and can be installed in a concrete tank or supplied complete with a metal containment tank.
In this area, contractors and engineering firms contacted by municipalities face a number of challenges: knowledge of regulations, managing costs, and selecting cost-effective solutions. MITA Water Technologies can support them with its efficient and easy-to-manage solutions.
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