EARTH TECH NEWS
EARTH TECH TO REFURBISH AND EXPAND WATER TREATMENT PLANTS IN NORTHERN SCOTLAND
Orkney's water treatment plants to be upgraded as part of Scottish Water Quality Undertakings Program
LONG BEACH, Calif. - June 4, 2003 - Earth Tech, as part of the Delta North Joint Venture, has been awarded two separate turnkey contracts for the total refurbishment and expansion of two water treatment plans on the Scottish isle of Orkney. The water treatment plants, Kirbister and Boardhouse, treat around 10 million liters a day (Mld) and serve the whole mainland of Orkney. Phase I of the design work has been completed at the Kirbister water treatment plant, and phase II is now set to begin.
Kirbister was originally built around four years ago but was never fully commissioned. The plant uses dissolved air flotation (DAF) and rapid gravity filters (RGF's) for its treatment process. During phase I, one DAF stream was modified and followed by a trial period. During this next phase, the remaining two DAF streams will be modified, new inlet pumps and a chemical dosing/mixing plant will be added, and the RGF's will be converted to dual media.
Boardhouse will also be renovated as well as expanded. The scope of the work includes: refurbishment of the existing clarifiers, new RGF's, new chemical dosing systems, new electrical and control systems, and chlorination.
"Earth Tech is committed to improving Orkney's water treatment process with the newest and most innovative methods," said Libby Gawith, managing director of Earth Tech's European operation. "We greatly believe that the significant advantages of the DAF and RGF restorations will make an immeasurably positive impact on the Kirbister and Boardhouse operations."
DAF technology is industry standard in Europe. It works by allowing particles in water to float to the top. The advantage is in the ability to capture those particles that are difficult to remove by sedimentation, such as algae. RGF's filter water by removing the finer particles of suspended matter before the water is chlorinated. Both processes play critical roles in enabling a clean water supply system.
These refurbishment measures are part of the Orkney Regional Supply Strategy, which was devised as part of the feasibility study carried out by Delta North.
Orkney is located across the Pentland Firth six miles from the northern coast of Scotland. Orkney has a population of 20,000 with nearly 250,000 visitors per year.
About Earth Tech
Founded in 1970, Earth Tech (www.earthtech.com) is an industry leader and global provider of engineering, architecture, construction, environmental, infrastructure development and facility operation services to meet the needs of government and industrial clients in today's ever-changing world. Earth Tech has more than 8,400 professional and support personnel in nearly 200 offices worldwide, including the U.S., Canada, Mexico, South America, Europe, Australia and Asia/Pacific. Earth Tech's headquarters are located in Long Beach, Calif.
