Response led consortium secure €55.0m Letterkenny DBO project

Tuesday, 01 March 2011 12:01

A consortium led by Response Engineering has been awarded a €55.0m DBO Contract for a new wastewater treatment and sludge drying facility in Letterkenny, County Donegal which incorporates a 20 year contract to operate and maintain the newly constructed works.

The wastewater treatment plant at Magheranan is designed for a PE of 40,000 with the capability for expansion to 80,000 PE. The plant is based on conventional activated sludge and comprises of inlet works, carrousel aeration system, settlement tanks and UV disinfection. The Contract also includes a collection and transfer system including 1200mm diameter trunk sewers, 1800mm storm collection sewer as well as a 27m diameter covered storm tank at Ballyraine and a main lift pump station with a pumping capacity of 625l/s.

All sludges from the treatment plant will be transferred to a new 80,000 PE sludge treatment centre at Bunnagee to be constructed under the Contract. The sludge treatment process consists of liquidising and buffer tanks, anaerobic digestion, two stage thickening / dewatering and sludge drying by twin belt dryer. The sludge centre will be powered by electricity generated from the onsite Combined Heat & Power (CHP) plant. The centre also has import facilities for liquid and cake sludge, leachate and septic tank waste as well as an extensive odour control system.

The contract for the Design, Build and Operate of the facility was signed on 18th February 2011 at Donegal County Council offices in Lifford. Present at the signing were representatives of Donegal Co. Co., Nicholas O’Dwyer, Response Engineering and Severn Trent.

Speaking at the contract signing, Response Group Director Mr. Sean Murphy said “We are delighted to sign such a prestigious contract with Donegal County Council. It is a good fit as Donegal, Severn Trent and ourselves all strive to achieve excellence in what we do. The contract is a great boost for Response in the current climate and is reward for the efforts of all who were involved in the process of winning this contract”.

The design and build element of the contract, which is being bonded by Euler Hermes, will be led by Response Engineering with Ward & Burke sub contracted to undertake the civil works.