As part of upgrading & expanding water & wastewater treatment assets, WaterStart’s member frequently needs to build a large number of short sections (<50m) of permanent access roads (2-3m wide) capable of supporting multi axial heavy good vehicles (HGVs) (e.g. 40 metric tonnes). These are used to deliver and remove chemicals or materials routinely from the site (typically less than 10 times per day). Traditional roads have been constructed with reinforced concrete as these provide robust, long term (50years) resilient infrastructure which can handle both straight roads and the turning areas of HGVs. However, as concrete is very carbon intensive. Alternative solutions are required that on a whole life basis reduce the total carbon footprint.
Products such as lower loads or those not suitable for turning areas may still be of interest and are encouraged to apply. Additionally, products that are resistant to chemical spills (e.g. Ferric Chloride) may add additional value but this is not a key requirement.
WaterStart member is currently investigating novel solutions for deployable mobile treatment options to ensure no adverse environmental issues occur that harm fauna. This priority is not seeking solutions related to the redesign/change to the spillway.
Dam stilling basins and plunge pools represent aquatic environments that are often inhabited by a range of aquatic life, however, these hospitable environments during periodic environmental conditions may negatively impact aquatic life that resides in those basins. This is particularly problematic in summer when elevated water temperatures can exceed 35 °C (95 F) in these small water bodies. This can be combined with low dissolved oxygen (DO) levels that threaten survival of aquatic life. Generally, these still basins and plunge pools are small volumes (ranging between 1.5 and 50 megaliters), and relatively shallow (2 – 5m deep) and often bounded by concrete walls and floors. Conditions of elevated temperature and reduced DO typical of those that would require treatment are highly variable by location and timing. Treatment time may also vary from weeks to months. These challenges therefore necessitate a treatment option that is highly portable to enable rapid deployment, rapid retrieval and suitable for sites with variable accessibility.
