Angers - France A "Zero Pollution" Wastewater Treatment Plant

Water quality and combating pollution are both priorities for the French administrative district of Angers Loire Métropole. This municipal authority is making every effort to modernize its facilities and, in particular, when it comes to the design, build and operations of a new wastewater treatment plant. The town is committed to an eco-construction approach in order to arrive at a "zero pollution" wastewater treatment plant.

In keeping with its Agenda 21, (Agenda 21 is the global plan of action for sustainable development adopted by the 174 heads of State or Government who attended the 1992 Earth Summit (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil), Angers wanted the new wastewater treatment plant, which has a capacity of 285,000 e/hr, to integrate the process for attaining HEQ® (High Environmental Quality) criteria during both the construction phase as well as during the operations phase. For OTV/ Veolia Water Solutions and Technologies the building of this plant was the ultimate project in environmental integration.

Several HEQ® criteria were identified and prioritized as part of this environmentally sound approach. While placing that most essential of criteria, comfort, at a "high performance" level, OTV was also able to comply with the eco-construction, eco-management and health criteria, thereby meeting the needs of the local authority .

It was felt that focusing on the following areas was necessary in order to carry out this project:

-A harmonious integration of the facilities with the surrounding environment

-Optimizing the conservation of water resources

-An effective energy balance

When it came to building the plant, action was taken to reduce the impact of the worksite on the immediate environment by choosing materials with a low environmental impact.

-Optimal use of solar panels in the plant rooms

-Producing solar energy to power the air conditioning system

-Recovery of rainwater to water the landscaped surrounds of the plant

-Reduction in the volume of sludge to be digested

-Recovering energy from the dry steam to maintain digestion temperature and heat the plant rooms