A water utility development project of national significance is being carried out in north-eastern Hungary. As part of the Szerencs-centred Wastewater Agglomeration Project, the region’s wastewater treatment system is being completely overhauled, whilst new elements of the sewerage network, state-of-the-art sludge treatment technologies and energy-efficient solutions are also being built – reports Magyar Építők. The contractor for the project is one of the region’s leading construction companies, a multi-generational family business, the „KE-VÍZ 21” Építőipari zRt.
The development is not merely about expanding capacity; one of the key objectives of the investment is to reduce environmental impact, ensure the sustainable use of resources and secure the long-term reliability of regional wastewater treatment.
The project is being implemented with EU funding, drawing on KEHOP and KEHOP Plusz resources, through a partnership between the local authority and the state. Operational tasks are being carried out by Borsodvíz Zrt.. The total value of the development is nearly 12 billion forints.
The existing system has reached the limits of its capacity
Project manager Viktor Tuza spoke about the background to the project, explaining that the main reason for launching the development was the overload at the Szerencs sewage treatment plant.
„The existing technology was no longer able to safely manage the growing volume of wastewater in the long term, whilst many towns and villages still lacked a comprehensive sewerage network”
– said the project manager.
The system’s problems were further exacerbated by periodic hydraulic peak loads, operational safety challenges relating to the pumping systems, and the fact that parts of the town were still not connected to the sewerage network. In Legyesbénye, for example, a significant part of the town had not previously been connected to the public sewerage system, whilst in Szerencs, too, several districts had to rely on alternative solutions.
Regional development affects six towns
The project directly affects the towns of Szerencs, Bekecs, Legyesbénye, Mád, Mezőzombor and Rátka . The population of the conurbation exceeds 18,000, and the system treats a wastewater load equivalent to nearly 19,230 population equivalents.
The project encompasses
- the complete technological modernisation of the Szerencs wastewater treatment plant,
- the establishment of a regional sludge treatment and recovery centre,
- the construction of new sewerage network components,
- the development of pressure pipelines and pumping stations,
- as well as the refurbishment of existing network components.
The sewage treatment plant is being modernised through a complete technological overhaul
One of the most important elements of the development is the complete refurbishment of the Szerencs wastewater treatment plant. The previous system had become obsolete in several respects, and some of the plant’s components had already been taken out of service.
As part of the modernisation programme, new mechanical and biological treatment units, automated systems, advanced engineering solutions and energy-efficient technologies will be installed.
Following the investment, the plant’s capacity will reach 24,500 population equivalents, whilst its hydraulic capacity will be 2,350 cubic metres per day. The system will also be able to handle extreme loads resulting from periods of heavy rainfall with greater reliability.
„The aim is not simply to increase capacity, but to develop a state-of-the-art system capable of consistently meeting environmental emission limits in the long term”
– emphasised Viktor Tuza, project manager.
Sustainable sludge management
One of the most significant elements of the development is the establishment of the regional sludge treatment and recovery centre. The Szerencs plant will not only receive sewage sludge generated locally, but will also treat biological sludge from a further 15 regional sewage treatment works.
The system will thus handle sludge treatment tasks relating to a total of more than 132,000 population equivalents.
One of the project’s key sustainability features is that the sewage sludge produced is also utilised for energy generation. The system uses the biogas produced during the digestion process to generate electricity, which can partially meet the plant’s electricity requirements.
„The aim is not merely disposal, but recovery and improving energy efficiency”
– the project manager pointed out.
As part of the project, state-of-the-art gas storage and energy infrastructure will also be built, whilst the system will be adapted to handle certain organic by-products from the food industry.
Solar energy is being used to reduce the volume of sludge
As part of the project, a solar sludge drying system covering nearly 5,000 square metres will also be installed. The technology uses solar energy to reduce the water content of the sludge, which significantly cuts transport and treatment costs.
The solution is important not only from an economic perspective but also from an environmental one, as it results in a smaller volume of end products whilst reducing energy consumption and the associated environmental impact.
Hundreds of new properties could be added to the network
The project could also bring about a significant improvement in the quality of life in the towns concerned. In Legyesbénye, a virtually comprehensive sewerage system will be installed, whilst in Szerencs, several currently unserved parts of the town will be able to be connected to the system.
As a result of the development
- environmentally friendly technologies are used,
- thanks to a high degree of automation, operational reliability is improved,
- the risk of flooding and environmental damage is reduced,
- and the region’s wastewater management will become more stable and sustainable.
One of the biggest challenges of the project is that the work must be carried out whilst operations continue as normal. During the implementation phase, the construction of new networks, the refurbishment of existing systems and a complete technological upgrade are all taking place simultaneously.
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