Bluewater Bio of the UK has won a project to upgrade Tubli wastewater treatment plant in Bahrain that will more than double the plant’s capacity for water reuse.

Award-winning HYBACS installation at Tubli WPCC (Phase 1, commissioned 2013)

The UK government’s Export Finance programme is funding the contract worth $36.5 million.

Bluewater Bio will act as engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contractor and technology supplier.

The company converted two of the plant’s 10 aeration lanes to its HYBACS hybrid activated sludge process in 2013, generating 100,000 m3/d of treated sewage effluent (TSE) for reuse. The plant has a tertiary treatment system comprising filtration and ozonation to prepare the TSE for reuse in irrigation.

The latest contract will upgrade a further two aeration lanes, bringing the total capacity of TSE available for reuse to 230,000 m3/d. Bluewater Bio will operate and maintain both of the HYBACS systems for 22 months.

Tubli wastewater treatment plant is the largest such facility in Bahrain serving 1.4 million people.

HYBACS is a patented hybrid activated sludge process that enables the aeration tank and clarifier in a conventional wastewater treatment plant to accept a higher load. The system contains a SMART unit, a trademarked technology that causes naturally-occurring bacteria to over-produce hydrolytic enzymes, enabling the activated sludge stage to operate at a higher loading rate.

This article first appeared on the water. reuse + desalination website on Thursday 24 January 2019. To view the full article please click here 

A MAJOR upgrade of the largest wastewater treatment plant in Bahrain will help meet the needs of an expanding population, according to a key contractor.

The £28.6 million facelift will also address the issues of limited space and an increasing need for high quality treated sewage effluent for reuse.

Award-winning HYBACS installation at Tubli WPCC (Phase 1, commissioned 2013)

The project to expand the capacity of the Tubli Waste Pollution Control Centre (WPCC) was awarded to the London-based Bluewater Bio Limited, a provider of treatment solutions to the water industry, by the Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning Ministry.

The award-winning global specialist in technologies for cost-effective water and wastewater treatment is expected to complete the upgradation in 22 months.

The company will also operate and maintain the new plant alongside another of its HYBrid ACtivated Sludge (HYBACS) system, installed five years ago.

“HYBACS’ ability to increase the existing plant’s capacities by around 2.5 times, without the need for significant additional structures, makes it ideally suited to many of the region’s current needs of expanding populations, limited space and increasing need for high quality treated sewage effluent for reuse,” Bluewater Bio commercial director Fergus Rooksby told the GDN.

“Where existing plants are already overloaded the ability to build the additional capacity entirely offline and to avoid compromising the already stressed assets any further are proving to be compelling factors for a number of our clients.

“Furthermore, the technology’s modularity enables clients to phase their spending and tailor it more to their immediate needs rather than having to build plants with 10-15 year design horizons.”

The Tubli WPCC is the largest in the country serving a population equivalent to 1.4m.

The new project, marking the UK company’s second contract with the ministry at Tubli Bay, is expected to boost the plant’s waste treatment capacity by 120m litres per day (mld), delivering the total treated wastewater to 230 mld.

“Bahrain knows us and our products, as there are existing HYBACS units operating successfully within treatment works,” said Bluewater Bio executive chairman Richard Haddon.

According to the contractors, similar installations are underway in Saudi Arabia, enabling the company to use Bahrain as an important base and hub for the region.

“We have worked with Bluewater Bio over many years and know the benefits its technology brings and therefore we are looking forward to this upgrade to our plant,” said Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning Ministry Under-Secretary Ahmed Al Khayat in a statement.

“It will further enhance the water provision for both the residents and businesses of Bahrain.”

British Ambassador Simon Martin hailed the development as an excellent example of positive British-Bahraini collaboration.

The GDN reported in 2015 that experts had warned of the WPCC being overloaded and in need of an urgent upgrade.

The Tubli WPCC treats around 150m litres of sewage on a daily basis, but only one-third of that is suitable to be re-used for irrigation, according to Bluewater Bio, involved in the facility since 2011.

This article was authored by Raji Unnikrishnan and first appeared in Gulf Daily News on Monday 21 January 2019. To view the full article please click here 

Further to recent contract wins in its three strategic global locations, Bluewater Bio Limited, a leading provider of treatment solutions to the water industry, have been awarded a US $36.5 million contract with the Ministry of Works of the Kingdom of Bahrain to further upgrade and expand the Tubli wastewater treatment plant, which is the largest in the country, serving a population equivalent of c. 1.4 million. Bluewater Bio will be responsible for all aspects of engineering, acting as EPC contractor and technology supplier.

Contract duration will be 22 months. Following completion Bluewater Bio will operate and maintain this new plant alongside another HYBACS plant installed 5 years earlier.

This new project marks the Company’s second contract with the Ministry of Works at Tubli Bay which will deliver a further 120 MLD uplift in treatment capacity, bringing the total treated to 230 MLD. The project is being funded by UK Export & Finance (“UKEF”)

This follows the earlier installation of the company’s HYBACS technology, which has exceeded the Ministry of Works expectations for quality, reliability and performance.

Now that Bluewater Bio’s technologies are referenced and other installations are under way in Saudi Arabia, it is the ambition of the company to continue its growth strategy and thus use Bahrain as an important base and hub for the Region.

Richard Haddon, Executive Chairman of Bluewater Bio, commented: “I am delighted that we have been engaged to install our technology to further enhance the ongoing environmental improvements to Tubli Bay which is a wetlands of international importance and a registered UNESCO Ramsar site. Also, the Government of Bahrain has made this decision knowing us and our products, as they have existing HYBACS units operating successfully within their treatment works. Our objective is to create long term partnerships with our clients where they can trust and depend upon us, especially with such sensitive environmental projects. Having clients returning is, I feel, evidence that we are achieving this.”

His Excellency, Ahmed A.Aziz AL Khayat Under Secretary, Ministry of Works, added: “We have worked with Bluewater Bio over many years and know the benefits that their technology brings and therefore we are looking forward to this upgrade to our plant. It will further enhance the water provision for both the residents and businesses of Bahrain. Our commitment in delivering world class infrastructure remains central to our plans going forward as we continue to fulfil our long term goals in line with Bahrain Vision 2030.”

Mr Simon Martin CMG, HM British Ambassador to Bahrain said: “We welcome this development, which is an excellent example of the positive impact – in this case environmental impact – of British-Bahraini collaboration.  This project has the potential to improve the lives of countless people living, working and investing in the Tubli Bay area.  I am delighted to see UK commercial, technological and financial expertise helping provide a platform for Bahrain and Bahrainis to achieve.”

UK International Trade Secretary, RT Hon. Dr Liam Fox MP, stated: “Bluewater Bio is an innovative company and the continuing demand for its market-leading capabilities shows the value placed on British expertise in the water and wastewater sector across the globe.”

HYBACS augments the widely-implemented activated sludge process, with the core benefit being that it enables an existing activated sludge plant to be rapidly upgraded for increased capacity and performance, by simple offline installation of SMART Units.

Fergus Rooksby, Commercial Director of Bluewater Bio, concluded: “HYBACS’ ability to increase existing plants capacities by around 2.5 times, without the need for significant additional structures, makes it ideally suited to many of the regions current needs of expanding populations, limited space and increasing need for high quality TSE for reuse. Where existing plants are already overloaded the ability to build the additional capacity entirely offline and so avoid compromising the already stressed assets any further, are proving to be compelling factors for a number of our clients. Furthermore, the technology’s modularity enables client’s to phase their spend and tailor it more to their immediate needs rather than having to build plants with 10-15 year design horizons. With a healthy order book and increasing pipeline, we look forward to building upon our momentum into the New Year and beyond.”

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