Renewal of the aeration system at the main Choutrana I wastewater treatment plant in Tunis
In a consortium with VA TECH WABAG Tunisia and the local construction company MTT, WABAG Wassertechnik Switzerland has obtained a contract from ONAS (Office National de l´Assainissement) for the renewal of the Choutrana facility’s PLC-Scada and aeration system, which is one of the most important components in a biological wastewater treatment plant. The project is to be carried out on a turnkey basis and will be completed by the autumn of 2013. It has an order value of EUR 6.5 million and is being financing via a mixed loan from Switzerland.
WABAG already planned and realized an extension of the large-scale Choutrana I wastewater treatment plant in Tunis fifteen years ago. The mechanical/biological plant with integrated sludge treatment will have a new capacity of 110,000 m3/d and cleans – in conjunction with the later realized plant Choutrana II – the major part of the municipal wastewater from the Tunisian capital.
A major element in biological wastewater treatment is the aeration system in the activated sludge tanks, as this secures a sufficient and continuous supply of oxygen for the biological degrading process by means of microorganisms.
The system in Tunis is partially outdated and is now to be replaced by a modern substitute, ONAS having commissioned WABAG with turnkey project implementation. The order includes the supply and installation of new blowers, a fine bubble diffuser, pipelines and a control/automation system, which in future will also incorporate the biological wastewater treatment stage. The scope of supply encompasses engineering, supply, construction, installation and start-up. With a project period of fifteen months, the new aeration system is due to become operational in the autumn of 2013.
WABAG has been active in Tunisia for over thirty years and has installed numerous municipal and industrial water and wastewater treatment plants, including in the last five years Sousse Nord, Meknassy and Enfidha & Hergla WWTP where a performance test for the new wastewater treatment system is currently in progress.
WABAG Water Technology AG is the technology leader in Switzerland and the expert for advanced, customised solutions for both drinking and wastewater treatment. In addition, the company is also active in Western Europe and certain Asian countries. With this new order, WABAG Tunisia has strengthened its domestic market presence, while WABAG Switzerland has expanded its export project competence. Gerhard Ryhiner, the WABAG Wassertechnik AG, Switzerland, CEO: “We are delighted by this successful order signing and the teamwork with WABAG Tunisia.”