Background
The new Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route/Balmedie-Tipperty (AWPR/B-T) project is being constructed on behalf of Transport Scotland and its partners Aberdeen City Council and Aberdeenshire Council. It is one of the longest road construction projects currently underway in the UK, comprising 58km of dual carriageway.
The Overall Objective
Following periods of heavy rain, water runoff from the construction containing large amounts of slow settling solids could not simply be discharged off-site. Siltbuster was tasked with treating the surface water runoff and controlling the pH levels to achieve a TSS content of less than 25mg/l and a pH of between 6 and 9.
Solution
Siltbuster initially deployed one system but this was extended to 16 bespoke treatment systems, consisting of pipe flocculators, mix tanks, PMPU systems and lamella clarifier settlement tanks. The easily transportable, modular nature of Siltbuster’s plant enabled complex treatment systems to be rapidly deployed and easily reconfigured (where necessary) for use on other sections/geologies along the length of the project.
Dr Richard Coulton, CEO of Siltbuster Group, said: “Adverse weather in the area meant that the Aberdeen Western Peripheral (AWPR/B-T) project needed our solutions to help treat the water runoff that was collecting clay and suspended solids. As with any project, we analysed the problem and created a bespoke solution that will ensure any water present was cleaned to the highest of standards.”
“Initially we had sixteen treatment systems on site, but we have reduced this to twelve as the project nears completion. Treating large volumes of water is always a major project, but to pass the one million cubic meter mark shows the sheer scale of the challenges we initially faced. That being said, our goal is always the same – make the water clean and safe for its release back into the local area.”
