Project Details

CLIENT

Northern Ireland Water

YEAR

2024

COST

£340,000

OVERVIEW

FME successfully delivered a complex sludge thickening upgrade for NI Water at Tandragee WWTW. The project involved the replacement of outdated equipment with modern Huber S-Disc 2 Sludge Thickeners, significantly enhancing sludge handling performance and delivering cost savings.

LOCATION

Tandragee Wastewater Treatment Works, Northern Ireland
CHALLENGE

The project required the removal and replacement of old sludge thickeners within the confined space of the existing sludge building, a significant logistical and operational challenge. One of the key requirements was to minimise downtime, ensuring the site retained continuous sludge thickening capabilities throughout the installation process.

SOLUTION
Drawing on our experience with sludge treatment solutions, FME:

  • Installed new Huber S-Disc 2 Sludge Thickeners, chosen for their efficiency and proven performance on other Southern region sites.
  • Coordinated works to ensure seamless integration within the existing building footprint, avoiding structural modifications.
  • Managed a careful commissioning process, including a 28-day trial period to demonstrate system performance.

Delivered additional upgrades as part of the contract, including the replacement of PST Half Bridge Scrapers, controls, and cabling to further improve primary sludge removal

RESULTS

  • The new S-Disc 2 Thickeners are achieving excellent dry solids performance, significantly reducing the volume of sludge for transport.
  • Tanker costs have been reduced, providing long-term operational savings for NI Water.
  • The upgraded sludge handling system enhances operational reliability and efficiency at Tandragee WWTW.
  • The project was delivered with minimal disruption to ongoing operations, thanks to strong coordination between all stakeholders.

PROJECT COLLABORATION

The project was a collaborative success, involving key contributions from:

  • NI Water
  • McAdam Design
  • Lowry Building & Civil Engineering
  • FME Project Management and Site Team

We’d also like to thank our trusted supply chain partners:

  • Huber Technology
  • Pronto Automation
  • M&M Steel Fabrications
  • GSE