Allocation of base workload takes into account individual partner capability and current workload. Under the AMP3 project, the JV was awarded more than GBP 88 million of work, covering over eighty separate schemes. The various schemes are spread across the entire Anglian Water region from Lincolnshire to Essex and, from Leicestershire to Norfolk and Suffolk. This region is the largest by area of the ten water and sewage companies in England and Wales.
The JV opened a Satellite Office at Etton, Peterborough three years ago, which has been a notable success in a number of areas:
- Increased co-ordination with Anglian Water
Enhanced multi–disciplined approach by design staff
Local base for site staff to liaise with design staff
Anglian Water staff working alongside Skanska-Aker Kvaerner personnel within the Satellite Office
Sustainable growth
A major project awarded under the AMP3 phase involved construction of new waste water treatment works (WWTW) at Whittlesey, Stanbridgeford and Hitchin.
The Whittlesey facility will serve a population equivalent of around 18,600. With a contract value worth some GBP 7 million to the JV, the project included design, procurement, construction and commissioning services, and was the culmination of one year’s hard work by the JV team to develop a technically and economically justifiable solution, in partnership with Anglian Water.
The Stanbridgeford project serves a population equivalent of around 19,000. This project, with a value of approximately GBP 4 million to the JV, included procurement, construction and functional testing services. In order to reduce overall costs the existing inlet works and storm tanks were retained and then re-utilised with minor modifications.
The Hitchin scheme serves a population equivalent of around 43,000. This project included procurement, construction and functional testing services. Cost reduction measures included retention of the existing inlet works and storm tanks, as well as the Primary Tanks. The Skanska-Aker Kvaerner scope, worth some GBP 6 million to the JV, also included a new activated sludge plant with associated final settlement and sludge treatment facilities.
These projects are an important part of Anglian Water’s strategy to ensure it can accommodate new homes and future population growth in the region without detriment to existing services.
Project design and initial construction activities for the projects commenced late 2003 and were completed at the end of 2004. As with all the AMP3 projects, the work was undertaken on a full partnering basis with target costs and shared pain/gain incentives.
All the appointed contractors are continuously assessed by Anglian Water against key performance indicators that include cost, time, safety and people elements. The Skanska-Aker Kvaerner JV has performed consistently well in the performance assessment.
Much of the AMP3 project work involved upgrades and refurbishment to existing works, to ensure the facilities continue to meet the necessary statutory regulations and perform to optimum efficiency. The JV has successfully completed and handed over a number of schemes in the following areas:
- Sludge Treatment (Dewatering, Liming)
- Boiler System upgrades
- Refurbishment of Existing Works
- Small Complete works up to 5,000p.e.
- Inlet Works modifications
The following schemes illustrate the type of work being undertaken:
1. Dunton STW (Water - Pressure Filter Replacement)
Dunton WTW scheme is an existing water treatment works supplying 4.8 million litres per day to the town of Biggleswade. The plant utilises pressure sand filters, with some of the units up to 40 years old. The units were reaching the end of their operating lives and had restricted throughput so, in 2002, the JV began the project to replace the eight 2.4m diameter units with identical units as well as replacing pipework systems. In addition, a new settlement lagoon was constructed with interconnecting pipework and valving to ensure washwater discharge consents were maintained. The filters are manufactured to fully comply with the Pressure Equipment and Pressure Systems Directive requirements.
As is always the case with a refurbishment project such as this, a major challenge for the team was to implement all the modifications whilst maintaining water into supply at all times except for very short periods of total shutdown. This necessitated ongoing liaison with the Anglian Water operations team, and frequent modifications to plans – above all maintaining water supply had to take priority over all construction issues.
2. Broughton, Bourn and Husbands Bosworth STW
This four-year assignment involved the replacement of three small sewage treatment works. The projects included replacement of existing failing filters or aeration plant with a new secondary treatment unit; provision of packaged inlet screening; intermediate pumping, as required; and packaged Sequence Batch Reactor plant (BioBubble) comprising reactors, aeration and full MEICA responsibilities. Miscellaneous works included the process water system and interfaces with existing facilities.
3. Numerous Sludge Treatment Schemes
The JV was awarded the plant upgrade for the Tilbury Sewage Works in 2001 - one of eleven works, which needed to be upgraded to comply with the Biosolids Compliance Regulations.
Tilbury Sewage Works is a major plant serving a population equivalent of 330,000. The process streams included imported cake storage, on-site transport, sludge centrifuge de-watering, liming and auto-transfer to skip storage, plus imported sludge – screening and transfer to storage. Associated works included new tank mixing systems, final effluent and potable water systems plus interfacing with all services on an operating process plant.
The Tilbury project was awarded in July 2001 with a key milestone of achieving a compliant limed sludge product by January 2002 and the remaining works by March. Once again this tight schedule was achievable because of the success of the partnering environment in which the three companies were working within – the combined Anglian Water/Skanska/Aker Solutions team worked closely together to fully optimise each others respective strengths.
In parallel with the Tilbury scheme numerous other Sludge Treatment schemes have been completed by the JV covering areas, including:
- Dewatering - Centrifuge (Six Schemes)
- Belt Dewatering (One Scheme)
- Lime Plants (Two Schemes)
- Conveyor/Skip Loading Systems (Numerous)
- Digester/Puriser Feed Boiler enhancements (Three Schemes)
4. Nine Individual Refurbishment Schemes
Throughout AMP 3, the JV also carried out the refurbishment and upgrades on nine sewage works, which included all associated civils, package plant, mechanical, pipework, electrical, control, etc. Procurement services included specification of new equipment, specialist refurbishment of existing equipment and multi-disciplinary sub-contractors.
The maintenance schemes, worth some GBP4.2 million to the Skanska-Aker Solutions JV, required the refurbishment work to be carried out whilst maintaining full plant operation. This required significant co-ordination and co-operation. The JV tested and commissioned the completed works and handed them over to Anglian Water Operations, together with all relevant documentation, manuals and training. The scope of works grew significantly during the project. For example, the anticipated scope for refurbishing submersed equipment increased following tank drain-down when the true extent of the work could be properly assessed. The existing MCC also had to be replaced when it was discovered to be asbestos-lined.
Improving Quality
These many projects, large and small, combine to support Anglian Water’s efforts in improving drinking water, bathing water and river water quality. Roy Pointer, Anglian Water Services’ managing director, said: "Our commitment to delivering the best possible water and waste water services to customers, the community and the environment at the lowest possible cost, is well recognised. As well as achieving real improvements in drinking water and river water quality, 35 out of the 46 designated bathing beaches in the Anglian Water region passed the ‘blue flag quality’ standards in 2003. This is great news for our customers, for the environment, and our regional economy."
The Skanska-Aker Solutions JV is proud to have been a major contributor in the delivery of this commitment.
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