SHARING SUCCESS

New life for the Emscher region

Emschergenossenschaft, the largest water management association in , is responsible for the Emscher river basin (865 km²). Its restoration is a project of enormous proportions that will extend across generations, with a total investment of € 4.5 billion. Pöyry has supported this extraordinary undertaking since 2006.

BACKGROUND The Emscher, a tributary of the , was wastewater conduit of the Emscher, as well According to Reinhard Ketteler, straightened between 1906-1914 in the as of the wastewater conduit for its tributary. Emschergenossenschaft Project Director, course of the industrialization of the . The In addition, two sewage treatment plants “Pöyry is a long-term, absolutely reliable river was surrounded by dikes and used as a along the route will be expanded or upgraded partner with whom we share a successful wastewater conduit in the following decades. by Pöyry: the Deusen sewage collaboration. We very much appreciate the multidisciplinary expertise with which In view of the decline of the mining industry treatment plant and the Emschermündung Pöyry has supported us in planning issues in the region, the Emschergenossenschaft is sewage treatment plant, one of the largest and technical challenges – both in the now renovating the river and its tributaries into sewage treatment plants in Europe. construction of conduits and sewage semi-natural waters, and thus developing the treatment plants, as well as in coordinating watercourse into an attractive destination for CHALLENGE FOR THE CUSTOMER with authorities and communities” the inhabitants of the region. The entire wastewater discharge must be placed underground to make restoration of the With an investment volume of € 4.5 billion, the above-ground river bed possible. Pöyry was shafts. Because of the dense population of undertaking is one of the largest infrastructure commissioned to design and supervision the the Emscher region, the conduit system is projects in Europe. By 2018, a total of 400 construction of the conduit section between being built using pipe jacking – at depths of up kilometres will be transferred to the new Dortmund and , which is set up to 40 m in some portions. The underground underground wastewater conduits in the as a closed pipe system. This also involves conduit has to bypass multiple crossings with Emscher system. Pöyry is responsible for the construction of 43 main shafts made of the Emscher and the Rhine-Herne Canal, the design planning and implementation of acid-resistant concrete with diameters from including an underpass of the a 42 km section of the new underground 9.50 m up to 25 m, as well as 29 secondary sluice. The association also faces challenges The Emscher

such as the geographical extent of the project, than the conventional biofilter technology, in the Emschermündung sewage treatment coordination with various local authorities, providing the Emschergenossenschaft with plant, ensures efficient implementation of licensing authorities and land owners, and savings in the millions. the restoration that is both ecologically and construction in some very densely populated economically sustainable. areas. The mechanical cleaning stage is being completely renovated for the connection of As part of the restoration, the sewage the Emschermündung sewage treatment treatment plants along the river course also plant to the wastewater conduit, and a new TECHNICAL DATA have to be integrated into the new wastewater inlet lifting system and pumping station are Emscher wastewater conduit conduit. The Emschermündung sewage being built as well. In addition, cutting-edge • Length: about 42 km treatment plant in Dinslaken is currently dynamic simulations were performed in order • Diameter: DN 1400-2800 operated as a river sewage treatment plant. to manage the hydraulic adjustment, thus • Depth: 10 - 40 m The future feeding through the wastewater enabling optimization of the inlet route of the • 72 shafts, internal diameter: conduit with only 16.55 m³ (as compared structure for deposit-free operation. 9.50 - 25 m to the previous 45 m³) per second requires extensive new construction measures in the CUSTOMER BENEFITS Berne wastewater system inlet. In Pöyry, the cooperative gains a long-time • Length: about 13 km project partner who can handle all • 5 conduits with storage capacity and SOLUTIONS construction and planning technical overflow, 2 stormwater overflow tanks, The length of the Emscher wastewater requirements of each project under a 1 stormwater retention tank conduit and its formidable depths in some single roof. The company‘s broad range of Emschermündung sewage treatment portions present the Emschergenossenschaft competencies in construction, in machine plant with a a mammoth task.The operation of and process engineering, and in general • 1,600,000 EW the channel will also be very complex. For planning of large water and infrastructure • Volume of wastewater: 16.5 m³/s example, because of its dimensions, outlet projects ensures smooth coordination and air disodouring treatment will be necessary. timely execution. In addition, they are the Dortmund-Deusen sewage treatment At Pöyry’s suggestion, photooxidation will be driving force behind innovative ideas for plant used for this purpose instead of the originally efficient operation, and they will enable • 705,000 EW planned biofilter plant. Photooxidation significant cost savings. The use of cutting- • Volume of wastewater: 4.5 m³/s reduces investment and operating costs edge tools, such as the hydrodynamic and and thereby ensures more stable operation procedural simulations that were carried out Photo credits: EmschergenossenschaftPhoto

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