A new visitor centre in Northumberland National Park will get a package plant from WPL. The Sill National Landscape Discovery Centre, a £14.2 m joint project between the National Park and the Youth Hostel Association, is being built with the help of £8 m from the Heritage Lottery Fund.
High environmental standards
WPL was asked to supply a package plant for 500 people, which could treat effluent to a standard of 20 mg/l biological oxygen demand, 30 mg/l suspended solids and 10 mg/l ammonia.
The architects originally intended the sewage treatment plant to stand in a natural valley alongside the centre. However, on the advice of installer Hutchinson Environmental Solutions, it was re-sited to a built-up plateau adjacent to the site when it became clear the access roads into the valley were too steep.
Treated effluent at the site is released into a natural stream while sludge will be periodically tankered to an offsite wastewater treatment works. It was very important to supply back-up blowers and enable the facility to connect to a generator in the event of a power failure.
