Water & Waste Water

Resolving noise issues in the waste water sector can cause a number of challenges given the size and complexity of sites and the types of equipment installed.

Noise for new developments is considered at the outset of a project, where a detailed impact assessment is undertaken. This is not just a special requirement for the waste water sector, but what makes it a little more challenging is that many water and waste water treatment plants are located within urban and close to residential areas. These plants can create both noise issues for operations and environmental noise challenges.

What causes noise challenges in the waste water sector?

Key processes and mechanical equipment within the water and waste water industry including blowers, fans, compressors, pumps, generators and pipework can often combine to create excessive noise levels.

One of the major sources of noise can come from aeration blowers. These blowers push air at high pressure into wastewater to allow aerobic biodegradation of organic materials. This process creates a high level of noise due to the high operation speed of the equipment. Very high noise can be experienced at the air intake to the blower, and further down the discharge pipework, the result being a distinctive ‘whine’ which can often be heard across some distance, especially on a still quiet night, causing disturbance for nearby residents. The solution is generally secondary acoustic enclosures, silencers and acoustic lagging materials for pipework.

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