Development of sewage treatment in Hungary
Planning of the Hungarian sewage treatment system, implementation of the sewage network and building of the current modern sewage treatment plants started in 1999, in accordance with the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive of the European Commission (91/271/ECC) and substantial support from the EU. In the period from 2000 to 2006 11 projects were granted by EUR 500 million from the EU ISPA (Instrument for Structural Policies for Pre Accession) Cohesion Fund, followed by another EUR 1.6 billion support in the 2007 to 2013 period.
The above-mentioned Directive specifies that in each Hungarian settlement with a waste water output equal to or greater than 2000 personal equivalent (PE, or unit per capita loading) the sewerage as well as the purification of the collected wastewater must be implemented until the end of 2015. 1 PE: organic, biologically degradable load with a 5-day biochemical oxygen demand (BOD 5) of 60g oxygen/day.
Until the end of 2014 we managed to achieve at the derogation for average nitrogen and phosphor limit values specified in the Directive on a national level. This complies with the limit values specified for water collector basins of environmentally sensitive areas. (For PE>100 the requirement is N<10mg/l, P<1 mg/l; 70 to 80% of N and 80% of P was removed.) The implementation of sewage networks and sewage treatment facilities is proceeding at a rapid pace, however, the actual household connection rate (60%) of residential buildings to the sewage network has still not reached the goal specified for the end of 2015 (95%). We have arrears concerning household connections especially in settlements with about 2000 personal equivalent, but Hungary is striving to overcome these delays in order not to lose the financial support of the EU.
Role of Envirotis in planning and consulting activities
After Hungary joined the EU, our specialists took part in preparing the sewage treatment programme compiling large projects, and then in the closure of projects in the 2000 to 2006 period. During that period we cooperated with specialists of the European Investment Bank delegated by the EU Commission (JASPERS: Joint Assistance to Support Projects in European Regions) and supervision units of the European Commission (ECA: European Court of Auditors, OLAF: European Anti-Fraud Office, Directorate General of Regional Development of EU Commission).
Recycling technologies
Sewage treatment development involves the production of large quantities of sewage sludge. In 2013 in the course of sewage treatment 178,224 dry material tons of sewage sludge were produced in Hungary (43% was standard compost suitable for recultivation. 42% was planned as organic amendment for soil), but its market value is low and the practical use is limited in agriculture.
After the Budapest Central Wastewater Treatment Plant — as one of Europe’s most modern sewage treatment units — had been implemented, the quantity of sewage sludge produced in Budapest increased rapidly. During a survey of sludge utilization concepts, one of the options considered was the burning of sewage sludge, namely incineration — among others — with the secondary fuel produced in the treatment units of selective waste management systems. Even a new power plant using alternative fuel derived from selective waste collection could be built in Budapest, and it could also burn sewage sludge. There is a study about sludge utilzation at the European Commission’s Closing Unit for further examination in connection with the closing procedure of the Budapest Central Wastewater Treatment Plant project.
An incineration plant for municipal waste has already been built in Budapest, which burns around half of the waste produced in the city (400 thousand tons/year). Combustion plants that burn waste, alternative fuel or sewage sludge play an important part worldwide in the replacement of fossil fuels, because the price of alternative fuels is much lower than that of fossil fuels. The waste incinerator has an important role in reducing the operation costs of (community) district heating in Budapest. (It reduces the operation costs of district heating in Budapest by 5%.)
Our company has cooperated with several Hungarian engineering companies and consultant designers in preparing the national sewage sludge treatment and recycling strategy.
Envirotis uses sewage sludge in several different environment protection technologies.
It produces cover material for recultivation by biodegradation from sewage sludge, industrial by-products and inert materials. The company uses the highest quantity, namely around 72,000 (dry material) tons of sewage sludge for the recultivation of ash lagoons, dumping yards, red-mud disposal sites, dumping-grounds of industrial by-products left after mining activities and ore processing, and municipal waste dumps. With the use of our cover material, the transformation of the area for future recultivation and the restoration of the original ecologic state are accelerated, and flora and fauna settle back in previously valueless and polluted areas.
Development of sewage treatment in Hungary
Planning of the Hungarian sewage treatment system, implementation of the sewage network and building of the current modern sewage treatment plants started in 1999, in accordance with the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive of the European Commission (91/271/ECC) and substantial support from the EU. In the period from 2000 to 2006 11 projects were granted by EUR 500 million from the EU ISPA (Instrument for Structural Policies for Pre Accession) Cohesion Fund, followed by another EUR 1.6 billion support in the 2007 to 2013 period.
The above-mentioned Directive specifies that in each Hungarian settlement with a waste water output equal to or greater than 2000 personal equivalent (PE, or unit per capita loading) the sewerage as well as the purification of the collected wastewater must be implemented until the end of 2015. 1 PE: organic, biologically degradable load with a 5-day biochemical oxygen demand (BOD 5) of 60g oxygen/day.
Until the end of 2014 we managed to achieve at the derogation for average nitrogen and phosphor limit values specified in the Directive on a national level. This complies with the limit values specified for water collector basins of environmentally sensitive areas. (For PE>100 the requirement is N<10mg/l, P<1 mg/l; 70 to 80% of N and 80% of P was removed.) The implementation of sewage networks and sewage treatment facilities is proceeding at a rapid pace, however, the actual household connection rate (60%) of residential buildings to the sewage network has still not reached the goal specified for the end of 2015 (95%). We have arrears concerning household connections especially in settlements with about 2000 personal equivalent, but Hungary is striving to overcome these delays in order not to lose the financial support of the EU.
Role of Envirotis in planning and consulting activities
After Hungary joined the EU, our specialists took part in preparing the sewage treatment programme compiling large projects, and then in the closure of projects in the 2000 to 2006 period. During that period we cooperated with specialists of the European Investment Bank delegated by the EU Commission (JASPERS: Joint Assistance to Support Projects in European Regions) and supervision units of the European Commission (ECA: European Court of Auditors, OLAF: European Anti-Fraud Office, Directorate General of Regional Development of EU Commission).
Recycling technologies
Sewage treatment development involves the production of large quantities of sewage sludge. In 2013 in the course of sewage treatment 178,224 dry material tons of sewage sludge were produced in Hungary (43% was standard compost suitable for recultivation. 42% was planned as organic amendment for soil), but its market value is low and the practical use is limited in agriculture.
After the Budapest Central Wastewater Treatment Plant — as one of Europe’s most modern sewage treatment units — had been implemented, the quantity of sewage sludge produced in Budapest increased rapidly. During a survey of sludge utilization concepts, one of the options considered was the burning of sewage sludge, namely incineration — among others — with the secondary fuel produced in the treatment units of selective waste management systems. Even a new power plant using alternative fuel derived from selective waste collection could be built in Budapest, and it could also burn sewage sludge. There is a study about sludge utilzation at the European Commission’s Closing Unit for further examination in connection with the closing procedure of the Budapest Central Wastewater Treatment Plant project.
An incineration plant for municipal waste has already been built in Budapest, which burns around half of the waste produced in the city (400 thousand tons/year). Combustion plants that burn waste, alternative fuel or sewage sludge play an important part worldwide in the replacement of fossil fuels, because the price of alternative fuels is much lower than that of fossil fuels. The waste incinerator has an important role in reducing the operation costs of (community) district heating in Budapest. (It reduces the operation costs of district heating in Budapest by 5%.)
Our company has cooperated with several Hungarian engineering companies and consultant designers in preparing the national sewage sludge treatment and recycling strategy.
Envirotis uses sewage sludge in several different environment protection technologies. It produces cover material for recultivation by biodegradation from sewage sludge, industrial by-products and inert materials. The company uses the highest quantity, namely around 72,000 (dry material) tons of sewage sludge for the recultivation of ash lagoons, dumping yards, red-mud disposal sites, dumping-grounds of industrial by-products left after mining activities and ore processing, and municipal waste dumps. With the use of our cover material, the transformation of the area for future recultivation and the restoration of the original ecologic state are accelerated, and flora and fauna settle back in previously valueless and polluted areas.