The works being carried out in Moaña for the correct routing of rainwater are added to the efforts made by the LIFE RESEAU project consortium to develop and validate an innovative solution based on aerobic granular biomass. Both initiatives aim towards the same goal: to refurbish and modernise the Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) and the sewage network of the municipality.
Works for water separation
The Moaña City Council is committed to water separation. This helps reduce the risk of saturation in the sewage network and, consequently, the discharge of untreated water into the Vigo estuary. It is a comprehensive reform, renovation, and expansion of the sewage and supply system, which is being carried out simultaneously in Camiño da Lameira and Baixada á Torneira, with completion scheduled for May.
According to the report prepared by Aqualia, these two works, which channel rainwater collected in both areas through the rainwater network, will allow the removal of up to 133 litres per second from the sewage network during storm and adverse weather episodes. It is precisely during these intense rainfall events when the network tends to become saturated, and the need for discharges arises.
Specifically, with the A Lameira project, up to 80 litres per second will be removed from the sewage pipes during stormy weather. Meanwhile, the A Torneira project will remove up to 53 litres per second from the network that leads to the WWTP during peak rainfall periods.
LIFE RESEAU Pilot
In parallel, the LIFE RESEAU consortium, which includes ITG, Aqualia, and VCS Denmark, is working on the development and validation of an innovative technological solution based on aerobic granular biomass and the implementation of an intelligent system for managing infiltration and runoff created in the project. Thanks to the first technology, a plant like the one in Moaña requires 75% less space and has 30% lower energy requirements compared to a conventional activated sludge process, achieving discharge quality that is equal to or better. Meanwhile, the intelligent system aims to help identify areas where white water separation is most needed or to forecast discharge episodes, providing the capability to anticipate and prevent larger incidents for infrastructure managers.