Context

Siltbuster’s infrastructure water treatment specialists were approached by a client to support major infrastructure works for the high-speed HS2 railway project.

The customer is a subcontractor delivering civil engineering works for an 80km section of HS2 between the Chiltern Tunnel in Buckinghamshire and Long Itchington Wood, Warwickshire.

The water treatment solution installed along the route by a Siltbuster competitor was underperforming and the customer was unhappy with the provider’s engineering response times.

Kier Transportation was introduced to Siltbuster’s solutions by Selwood, Siltbuster’s sister company in the Workdry International Group and an approved supplier of pumping solutions to HS2.

Challenge

Compliance and reliable setup were key to meeting the challenge. The criticality of the works and the tight time schedule meant the client could not afford any downtime or delays due to insufficient water management.

Siltbuster’s engineers were able to take representatives from Kier Transportation to another section of the HS2 works where Siltbuster solutions were already in place. The teams on that site confirmed the performance and reliability of the solution and the quality of service provided by Siltbuster’s teams.

There are very stringent discharge criteria for HS2 for the management and treatment of surface water. Surface water is usually captured in attenuation lagoons before it goes through a two-stage treatment system, removing sediments and neutralising pH before discharging into water courses.

A high flow of around 120m3/h was needed to maintain the water level in the attenuation pond which constantly receives water from multiple sources. The Siltbuster team looked for a solution that has proven to be reliable and requires minimal involvement and maintenance effort from the site teams.

Solution

Siltbuster and Selwood worked closely together all the way from early engagement until completion of the project. The solution is a two-stage treatment system, with Selwood pumps used to transfer the water from the attenuation pond into the treatment system.

The water was treated with a Siltbuster MT20 mix tank and four HB40 lamella clarifier units, designed and manufactured at Siltbuster’s HQ in Monmouth before being transported to site where they operate on a plug-and-play basis.

In this type of solution, coagulant and flocculant chemicals are mixed with the water in the MT20 mix tank to encourage particles to bind together. Then, in the lamella clarifiers, water flows upward between inclined plates. The larger combined clay particles settle on the plates and slide down into hoppers in a sludge collection area where they can safely be removed.

The system for HS2 was equipped with an auto desludge pump system, reducing cleaning and maintenance time demands on site operatives. The treated water was then discharged into the nearby surface water course.

Result

The customer reports satisfaction with the system – discharge water quality is within consent range and using a reliable Siltbuster and Selwood system will reduce costs in the long run.

Siltbuster’s experience on many other sections of the HS2 project since the start of this major infrastructure project demonstrates its expertise and commitment to delivering a high standard of work.

The reliability of the solution has led to higher productivity, with less standing time and lower lost production time.

Siltbuster has also put in place a robust maintenance and service schedule, ensuring continuous operation and quick response to breakdowns.