Sewage Treatment Plants
1) Biological Sewage Treatment and Recycled Water Production Plant at Moni
The Biological Sewage Treatment and Recycled Water Production Plant at Moni began operations in 1995. It can handle up to 40,000m³ of wastewater per day and has the capacity to treat an organic load of around 16,000kg per day. The Plant produces treated water of excellent quality. Tertiary treated water is suitable for use in agriculture and industry and it is provided to the Water Development Department, which is responsible for its distribution.
The sewerage system contributes to saving water for use in agriculture since the water, which is disinfected at the end of the tertiary treatment stage, is suitable for agricultural and other uses. Through the re-use of the treated water, we conserve water in the reservoirs and aquifers.
Today, the Plant produces around 10 million m³ of treated water per year. This is expected to increase as new areas are connected.
Using Renewable Energy Sources
BIOGAS
In addition to the re-use of water and biosludge, biogas is also produced for use in generating electricity and heat, thereby contributing to energy-saving.
Since 1 September 2008, the Board has operated two 311kV biogas generators for electricity and heating.
Biogas, resulting from the anaerobic digestion of biosludge, is collected in a 2,000m³ capacity gas holder. Τhe biogas produced in the sludge digesters is used as a renewable energy source, i.e. as ‘green’, environmentally friendly energy, to operate electricity generators. The heat created by the generators is used for heating the digesters, while the generated electricity, which today amounts to some 5,000kWh per day, is used to operate the Biological Sewage Treatment and Recycled Water Production Plant at Moni, reducing by 35%-40% the daily consumption of electricity provided by the Electricity Authority of Cyprus that is required to operate the Plant.
At the same time, the generated thermal energy, which today amounts to around 4,000kWh per day, is used to heat sludge as an alternative source heating. Due to the controlled production of biogas, the level of pollutant emissions is extremely low.
In this way, a significant amount of energy is saved and, at the same time, any additional environmental impact is reduced. On the basis of the Plant’s current operating levels, the amount of electricity produced by the biogas generators is approximately 4,500kWh per day, while with the expansion of the networks, this is expected to increase to 5,000kWh daily.
The Board secured the funding of the initial capital expenditure from the Ministry of Energy, Commerce & Industry’s Energy Department’s funding programme the use of RES. The cost of the investment was around €2 million and the funding €320,000.
BIOSLUDGE
Treated sludge (biosludge) produced through sewage treatment is suitable for use in agriculture, forestry, gardening, landscaping and mining (improving the soil to reintroduce vegetation and revitalize greenery).
2) West Limassol Biological Sewage Treatment and Recycled Water Production Plant
The Plant stands on agricultural land within the administrative boundaries of the Municipality of Kato Polemidia inside the Sovereign Base Areas, away from populated areas and adjacent to the Rainwater Retention Lake. It is located some 500 metres from the 1st Limassol Industrial Zone and 1,200 metres from the nearest residential area in the Municipality of Kato Polemidia.
The contract for its construction was signed on 30 November 2018 with the Kruger A/S – Cybarco Limited JV consortium. Work began in January 2019 and construction work was completed in September 2022. The Project was included in the Programming Period 2014-2020 for European Projects co-financed by the EU Cohesion Fund. The approximately €30 million Project was co-funded by the Government and the SBLA.
On 7 March 2020, the foundation stone of the West Limassol Biological Sewage Treatment and Recycled Water Production Plant was laid by the then President, Nicos Anastasiades.
The Plant, with a capacity of 13,000 cubic metres per day, serves Polemidia, Zakaki, Agios Spyridon and other areas of West Limassol. It also serves Limassol General Hospital, Limassol New Port, the 1st Limassol Industrial Zone and two major commercial developments: the City of Dreams Mediterranean integrated resort and the My Mall shopping centre. The Plant will eventually be capable of serving 65,000 residents.
The Plant is one of the most important infrastructure projects undertaken in the city and district of Limassol. It involves state-of-the-art technology and is of major environmental significance. Its design took into consideration the need to reduce noise and odour to a minimum or even zero and was based on the membrane technology used in tertiary treatment.
On 4 November 2023, the SBLA’s West Limassol Biological Sewage Treatment and Recycled Water Production Plant was officially inaugurated by President Nikos Christodoulides.