Festive completion of sludge treatment investment projects at Garmerwolde wastewater treatment plant
Today, two major investment projects were officially completed at the Garmerwolde wastewater treatment plant, after which the facilities were put into operation. Both projects ensure a future-proof and sustainable method of processing sewage sludge, a byproduct of wastewater treatment. Herman Beerda, Executive Director of Noorderzijlvest Water Authority, symbolically handed over the new facilities to the water authority’s operators. Other speakers included Julia Finkielsztajn, director of the wastewater chain at Noorderzijlvest Water Authority; Michel Dyke, director of contractor ADS Group; and Jur Lommerts, director of machine manufacturer Jansen&Heuning. They reflected on the successful collaboration during the design and construction of the facilities.
Automatic, efficient, and safe
The sewage sludge from Noorderzijlvest Water Authority and Hunze & Aa’s water authority is transported by tanker to the Garmerwolde wastewater treatment plant, where it is processed. The new filter presses extract water from the sludge, producing a sludge cake. This cake is then loaded onto trucks using a transfer system and transported to Delfzijl for final processing by SNON (Sludge Processing North-East Netherlands).
The new installations have a greater processing capacity and are fully automated for continuous operation (24/7). They consume little energy and ensure efficient and safe processing. The sludge cake is transported by screw conveyors and a conveyor belt to two large silos, from where the lorries are loaded. On average, there are six lorry transports to Delfzijl per working day.
The compact and enclosed transfer system minimises space requirements and prevents employees from coming into contact with the sludge. Odours and other emissions are extracted and filtered.
Sustainable end processing
In recent years, Noorderzijlvest Water Authority, Hunze en Aa’s water authority, and the Drents Overijsselse Delta Water Authority have collaborated on a sustainable solution for the final disposal of sewage sludge. In 2019, this led to a long-term partnership with SNON, a joint venture between GMB BioEnergie Zutphen and Energy from Waste Delfzijl (EEW).
EEW processes the sludge in a mono-incineration plant, where the heat released is used to produce steam for companies in and around Delfzijl. This ensures energy recovery from sewage sludge. In time, phosphate will also be recovered from the ash residues of the incineration process.
