Ephyra® sludge technology further boosts Dublin’s wastewater treatment capacity

Ephyra, the innovative sludge digestion technology for optimising anaerobic digester performance, has been introduced at Uisce Éireann's Ringsend Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) in Dublin. Ephyra will significantly boost Dublin's sludge treatment capacity without significantly expanding the current sludge treatment facilities.

Currently, Ringsend WWTP is undergoing a major upgrade to increase its wastewater treatment capacity. This project, which is being implemented in phases, will enable the treatment of wastewater for a population equivalent (PE) of 2.4 million while meeting the standards of the Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive. To accommodate this significant increase, the existing sludge line needs to be expanded and upgraded, within an already very congested site, with limited additional building footprint available.

With the Ephyra technology, the existing digesters can be retrofitted, increasing their capacity without requiring new digestion tanks. This will produce sustainable energy in the form of biogas while making significant cost savings.

Jean Hobbs Senior Programme Manager with Uisce Éireann says, “With 40% of all Irish wastewater treated in this facility, we need to increase capacity while protecting the environment and not compromising on performance. There are many complexities and challenges in delivering a project of this scale, not least the necessity to maintain the normal operation of the plant throughout the upgrade works. A robust sludge treatment is part of this performance. We welcome this further development in the delivery of this essential project for Uisce Éireann, which will further improve resilience in the Greater Dublin Area for years to come.

“Ringsend has been treating Dublin’s wastewater for over a century and is Ireland’s largest wastewater treatment plant. We are making very good progress thanks to the co-operation and support of our project teams, contractors, and local authority partners. And we are confident that we are on track to deliver this key piece of infrastructure on time and on budget for the benefit of all the people living in the Greater Dublin Area.”.

Since 2014, the project has been executed by Royal HaskoningDHV in a consortium (3JV) with its Irish partners, J. B. Barry and Partners, and TJ O'Connor & Associates. The Irish partners have also been instrumental in delivering innovation locally to the project with Royal HaskoningDHV.

Martin Hogan from 3JV says, “Uisce Éireann has a clear ambition to be more sustainable and 3JV has worked to proactively identify solutions across this upgrade that deliver enhanced capacity and social, environmental, and economic benefits to our client and its stakeholders. As Irish partners both J.B. Barry and Partners and T.J. O’Connor & Associates pride themselves on delivering innovation locally to this project with our international partner Royal HaskoningDHV.”

Danny Traksel, Business Development Director Ephyra from Royal HaskoningDHV says, “Ephyra’s easy-to-retrofit approach makes it the perfect solution for the upgrade and modification of the sludge line capacity at Ringsend WWTP. Its compact footprint, cost savings, and sustainable credentials really embody our organisation’s quest to contribute to a better society.”