Mogden upgrade ‘opportunity’

Thames Water has picked Black & Vetch (B&V) as its principal contractor to upgrade and extend Mogden Sewage Treatment Works in west London.


The project, which sees construction start this spring, will reduce significantly the amount of storm sewage that overflows into the Thames during heavy rainfall when the site becomes overloaded.

B&V is responsible for overseeing the engineering, procurement and construction of the extended works.

Commenting on the project, Steve Shine, Thames Water’s chief operating officer, said: “We inherited a Victorian sewerage system, which is struggling to cope with the demands of 21st-century London.

“Since it was built, the capital’s population has more than doubled, climate change is bringing less frequent but heavier rainfall and many green spaces have been concreted over, so preventing natural drainage.

“Although our sewage works operate well under stable dry weather conditions, in heavy rainfall excess flows pass through storm tanks, which provide a lower standard of treatment, and overflow into the tidal stretches of the River Thames – rather than having sewage back up on to the streets or into people’s homes.”

Tony Collins, B&V managing director, said he had high hopes for the project.

He said: “The Mogden project is a great opportunity for Black & Veatch to deliver a first-class plant for Thames Water and its customers.

“We have a great team in place who can call on Black & Veatch’s expertise from anywhere in the world to add value to the project.”

Mogden Sewage Works currently serves 1.9 million Londoners and the improvements will enable it to treat 34% more sewage and allow for a 6% population increase until 2021. As well as significantly reducing sewage discharges, these improvements will help reduce odour at the site as storm tank use will be reduced, and new and existing equipment will be covered.

The plant’s treatment capacity will be increased by 34%. Around 40% of the energy required to treat storm and wastewater will be generated onsite from renewable biogas – a byproduct of the sewage treatment process.

The improvement works will be carried out over a three-year programme.

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