Wedoany.com Report on Mar 19th, The UK's Severn Trent Water has appointed engineering contractor Costain to carry out significant upgrades to the Newbold Wastewater Treatment Plant in Rugby, aimed at enhancing the plant's treatment capacity and resilience to meet the environmental standards of the eighth Asset Management Period (AMP8).
Costain will act as the principal contractor and designer, responsible for building a new activated sludge plant—a biological treatment system that uses microorganisms to break down organic matter—and integrating it with existing facilities. The project is expected to increase the plant's permitted dry weather flow capacity by 28% by 2028, from 21,600 cubic meters per day to 27,598 cubic meters per day.
This expansion is designed to ensure the wastewater treatment plant complies with AMP8 Winep obligations. The Water Industry National Environment Programme (Winep) sets out environmental interventions for water companies during AMP8, requiring some sites to handle higher dry weather flows to adapt to weather variations and regulatory expectations.
In addition to the activated sludge plant, the project includes a new pumping station, four final settlement tanks approximately 29 meters in diameter, and a chemical dosing facility. Costain will also expand inlet works to increase inlet and storm capacity and upgrade utility systems. Severn Trent stated that both parties will collaborate to mitigate potential risks to the site's inlet during construction.
The scheme, valued at approximately £45 million, is planned to continue until 2028. Costain will employ a "production thinking" approach, incorporating off-site manufacturing, Design for Manufacture and Assembly (DfMA), and digital technologies to improve efficiency and reduce on-site construction time.
Matt Bateman, Director of Water at Costain, said: "We have a long-standing and reliable partnership with Severn Trent and look forward to another opportunity to deliver high-quality infrastructure upgrades quickly and safely. This appointment is based on our excellent track record of identifying construction efficiencies and delivering first-class solutions to maximize value for Severn Trent and its customers."
Andrew King, Head of Delivery at Severn Trent, said: "We are delighted to be working with Costain to help deliver these essential upgrades, which will significantly improve how the plant operates. These upgrades will allow our Rugby wastewater treatment plant to accommodate more stormwater during heavy rainfall, meaning a reduced likelihood of issues such as flooding or the use of overflows. This work will see us collaborate with Costain across multiple areas, leveraging different technologies to ensure the plant serves the local community at its optimal capacity."
