After the modernization of the treatment plant, advanced nitrogen and phosphorus removal technologies, automated processes, and remote control solutions will be implemented. The reconstruction will allow for more efficient removal of pollutants from wastewater, improve the quality of treated wastewater, and contribute to even greater protection of the Neris River.
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“Vilniaus vandenys” has signed a contract for construction works, which are expected to begin in August, and all reconstruction works at the Nemenčinė treatment plant are planned to be completed by mid-2028.
“We are consistently implementing the company’s strategy to reduce environmental impact and preparing for future stricter environmental requirements already now. This reconstruction will ensure reliable and efficient wastewater treatment for a growing city, as well as ensure the physical protection of this strategic infrastructure according to the latest requirements,” says Saulius Savickas, head of “Vilniaus vandenys”.
The Nemenčinė wastewater treatment plant has been in operation since 1981, therefore, taking into account future needs, the plant’s capacities and infrastructure resilience to external risks are being strengthened.
Highest requirements are set
After reconstruction, the plant’s capacity will increase by almost 50 percent – from 1,000 to 1,482 cubic meters per day, and the annual capacity will increase from 365 thousand to more than 540 thousand cubic meters.
The project envisages the installation of a modern preliminary wastewater treatment stage with grit, sand, and grease removal equipment, an equalization tank for excess wastewater flow, two closed-type biological treatment bioreactors, automatic reagent dosing systems, and a tertiary wastewater treatment stage.
All reconstruction works will be carried out to meet strict Nordic environmental standards (HELCOM) for wastewater management, which means that wastewater will have to be treated even from the smallest pollutant particles, thus contributing to the protection of the Neris River and the Baltic Sea.
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After the renovation of the Nemenčinė treatment plant, the water returned to nature will be significantly cleaner: nitrogen levels will decrease by more than half, phosphorus will be more efficiently removed, and oxygen consumption for the treatment process will be reduced by almost half.
The treatment plant will also be equipped with an almost 1 megawatt (MW) solar power plant, a 2 megawatt-hour (MWh) electricity storage system, and alternative electricity supply solutions.
According to the project prepared by order of “Vilniaus vandenys”, new automated wastewater treatment facilities with remote control capabilities will be installed at the plant.
A reception hub for imported wastewater will also be installed, with a carrier identification system and automatic data transfer to the company’s information systems. This digitalization will help to monitor and analyze the composition of incoming wastewater in real time.
“Vilniaus vandenys” collects and treats wastewater in Vilnius city, Šalčininkai, Švenčionys, and Vilnius districts. The company operates 6 wastewater treatment plants, the largest of which is the Vilnius city wastewater treatment plant. To collect and transport wastewater to the treatment plants, 1530 km of wastewater networks and 258 wastewater pumping stations are operated.
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