Sweden Embraces Royal HaskoningDHV's Innovative Nereda Wastewater Treatment Technology

In a first for wastewater treatment in Sweden, Royal HaskoningDHV’s Nereda technology has been selected as the preferred solution for a new wastewater treatment plant in Strömstad.

Strömstad is renowned in Sweden as a proactive municipality that is always prepared to be innovative when it comes to improving its infrastructure. Jerry Johansson of the municipality of Strömstad, responsible for the wastewater plant said: ”We needed to increase the capacity of its wastewater treatment works while reducing the operational costs and the energy consumption. Several different types of wastewater treatment technology were considered before being rejected in favour of Nereda, which is a natural sewage treatment process that purifies water without chemicals by using the patented aerobic granular sludge technology.”

Located close to the Norwegian border, Strömstad is an increasingly popular holiday destination for tourists and the town’s population swells enormously during the summer months, more than doubling the number of residents. As a result, the municipality knew that the new plant would need to be able to cope with widely varying volumes of wastewater. The plant also has to remain efficient during very cold conditions in the Swedish winter.  Furthermore, Strömstad was seeking the most competitively priced solution in terms of operational costs over its lifetime, as well as its initial construction.

Project Manager Bert Bakker of Royal HaskoningDHV commented: “This technology has been tried and tested all over the world, from hot and arid conditions in South Africa to very cold winters in Poland so we knew that low temperatures in Sweden would not present a problem. It also can easily adapt between high and low volumes of wastewater. When it comes to long term running costs, Nereda is so efficient, particularly in terms of energy consumption, that it was by far the most competitive solution.”

The construction phase of the project has started with the plant scheduled to be ready by June 2018. Econet Vatten & Miljöteknik has been appointed by the municipality of Strömstad to deliver and install all the mechanical equipment.

About Royal HaskoningDHV
Royal HaskoningDHV is an independent international engineering and project management consultancy. Our more than 6,000 professionals operating across the world are guided by a common principle – to enhance society together. Since 1881 we have been working with public and private clients on projects that have improved living conditions for many people. We deliver future-proof solutions while at the same time addressing the challenges societies are facing in respect of cities, water, transport and industry. Working together with our clients, knowledge institutions, partners, stakeholders and communities, we are passionate and dedicated to continuously work towards a better future for all. For more information, visit www.royalhaskoningdhv.com. 

About Nereda
Nereda is the biological wastewater treatment technology that purifies water based on bacteria growing into compact granules. The technology was invented by the Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands and developed in a unique public-private partnership between the University, the Dutch Foundation for Applied Water Research (STOWA), the Dutch Water Authorities and Royal HaskoningDHV. Currently there are 18 plants in operation and another 20 under construction or design worldwide. For more information, visit www.royalhaskoningdhv.com/nereda.