Waterford Wastewater Treatment Works
Operations and Maintenance
Co. Waterford, Ireland
Since its commissioning in 2010, CAW (Celtic Anglian Water) has managed the operation and maintenance of the Waterford Wastewater Treatment Works on behalf of Uisce Éireann and Waterford City Council. Located in Gorteens, Co. Kilkenny, the facility serves the greater Waterford City catchment area, with the capacity to treat wastewater for a population equivalent of nearly 190,000.
The treatment process includes a combination of primary treatment, high-rate secondary, and tertiary stages, facilitating the on-site reuse of energy, and hot water before safely discharging the treated water into the River Suir.
The stages of treatment provided by the Works ensure that the effluent being discharged meets both EU and Irish Discharge Standards and contributes to the improvement of the water quality in the receiving River Suir estuary to support and sustain aquatic life and recreational use of the river and estuary.
The layout was skilfully planned to allow the processing and treatment of wastewater to continue with minimal pumping across the site, with the use of gravity. The topography of the site means flooding will not occur even in the event of power and backup power failures.
Site Highlights
Site Highlights
Goals
Since the start of this 20-year contract, CAW has remained dedicated to achieving Uisce Éireann’s goals for water quality, environmental stewardship, and sustainability through continuous optimisation activity, providing expert consultancy, and delivering upgrades and improvement projects. Our commitments include:
- Continuously enhancing plant performance and efficiency.
- Ensuring compliance with Uisce Éireann’s standards and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations.
- Maintaining the highest standards of process and operational safety.
- Maximising biogas production to power on-site activities.
- Promoting sustainability by producing Class A BioSolids from wastewater.
Operations and Maintenance Services Provided
CAW is responsible for the full operation and maintenance of Waterford wastewater treatment facility and manages several complex processes and technologies to ensure high-quality treated effluent and maximise resource recovery to provide sustainable services fit for the future. These include:
- Inlet Screening;
- Grit and FOG removal;
- Odour control;
- Primary settlement;
- Activated Sludge secondary treatment;
- Tertiary treatment for Total Nitrogen (TN) removal to protect the environment and aquatic life;
- Advanced sludge treatment including pasteurisation, Anaerobic Digestion and dewatering.
Effective management of the advanced sludge treatment process ensures that the biosolids produced meet the stringent “Class A” criteria, making it suitable for safe recycling as fertiliser onto agricultural land.
- 24/7 operational maintenance, including emergency repairs, up to the Full Flow to Treatment capacity;
- Proactive asset management for minor and major works to maximise performance and lifespan;
- Compliance with EPA licence standards and Uisce Éireann’s KPIs for effluent quality;
- Management of Anaerobic Digestion to optimise biogas output for heat generation;
- Full management of Class A BioSolids recycling, including Nutrient Management Protocols with local authorities;
- High standards of on-site health and safety in line with CAW and Uisce Éireann policies;
- Compliance with environmental plans to safeguard the local community and environment;
- Management of the Capital Replacement Fund in collaboration with Uisce Éireann;
- Contributions to social and environmental improvements to benefit the local area;
- Consultancy on innovative strategies for performance improvement and carbon emission reduction.
Milestones and Highlights
Over the course of our tenure, we have successfully delivered numerous projects that have expanded the plant's capacity while consistently ensuring high performance and regulatory compliance. Alongside these achievements, we actively participate in initiatives that promote social and environmental prosperity.
Below, we highlight examples that showcase our dedication to delivering reliable, sustainable services to Uisce Éireann and the Greater Waterford community.
Tertiary Treatment Upgrade to protect the local environment and aquatic life
CAW developed an innovative solution to remove nitrogen and ammonia within the existing plant design, even though it wasn’t originally intended for nitrogen removal. After a successful trial, the solution—consisting of process adjustments, set point modifications, and enhanced monitoring—was implemented as a tertiary treatment to protect the local environment.
Providing a new effluent pipeline to boost local industry
To support the running of a new cheese production plant CAW was responsible for the construction, commissioning and testing of a new 600 metre 350DN pipeline treated effluent pipeline, including upgrades to the existing outfall chamber infrastructure to increase capacity and ensure effective sampling and management to maintain compliance. CAW continue to operate and maintain the pipeline following the successful completion of the project on behalf of the client.
Improving local biodiversity
Our commitment to enhancing the local environment led us to join the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan in 2019, helping to restore pollinator populations through supportive landscape design. In collaboration with Uisce Éireann and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, we celebrated the planting of over 2,000 native trees in 2022, fostering diverse ecosystems at the site. Most recently, we added a pond, creating a haven for insects and aquatic life.
Providing learning and development opportunities
The team regularly hosts site tours for schools, colleges, and universities, inspiring future generations and raising community awareness about water conservation and the complexity of wastewater treatment. We also offer internships and student placements, providing valuable hands-on experience for them, while we benefit from fresh perspectives.
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