Sewage treatment works, Severn Trent region
Project overview
TechnikGS (TGS) worked with MWH Treatment (MWHT), on a series of sewage treatment works across the Severn Trent region. Severn Trent is spending billions of pounds over the next few years upgrading the water and sewage network. Via MWHT, TGS was involved in designing and installing a piled foundation solution for various new structures with existing sewage treatment works.
The project
TGS’s aspect of the project included the piles that would support the new tank bases, equipment bases and retaining wall foundations. The location of the required foundations was in and around existing infrastructure, all within the live sewage treatment works. When selecting a piling option, consideration had to be given to not just its suitability for the ground conditions but also to ensuring no detrimental impact was caused to any of the existing operating plant and equipment.
Solutions provided
TGS installed more than 125 piles across various sites. The low noise and low vibration bottom-driven piles were nominal 200 and 300 mm diameter piles. Compression and horizontal loads were up to 250 kN and 25 kN respectively. We worked very close to active sewage treatment tanks and equipment bases. The scale of our minipiling rigs meant that the piling works could be completed with minimal disruption to the surrounding infrastructure. All plant remained live during our works.
The lightweight, compact piling rigs required a much shallower working platform than conventional piling rigs would. The piling mat for our lightweight plant, installed on any of the working sites, was no greater than 300 mm thick.
The bottom-driven pile produced no spoil as it was a displacement pile, thus eliminating all cost and time associated with removing excess waste from the sites.
