FABRÈGUES, France, June 30, 2008 -- DHV and its consortium partners Demathieu & Bard and Sources have again won a Design & Build contract in France. Valued at € 12 million, the contract concerns the construction of a new and highly sustainable wastewater treatment plant in Fabrègues, near Montpellier in the south of France.
Sustainability is an important principle in the plant's design. The wastewater will be treated to very high standards, using minimal amounts of chemicals and energy in order to reduce the impact on the water environment as much as possible. In addition, it is anticipated that the plant will be partly powered by renewable energy, thus reducing its CO2 emissions. Also, the sludge resulting from the treatment will not have to be incinerated since it will be converted to compost suitable for agricultural use. Finally, the design will integrate the plant perfectly into the surrounding visual environment and will ensure the elimination of noise and odor nuisance.
The new plant will be designed and built by DHV and its partners over the next two years. Start of the construction is planned for October 1 this year. The plant will treat the wastewater to levels exceeding European standards, thus protecting the environment and swimmers in the Mediterranean. The plant will serve approx. 30,000 people in the communities of Pignan, Saussan, and Fabrègues.
In its role as consortium leader, DHV will be responsible for project implementation in close collaboration with its French partners. Demathieu & Bard will be responsible for the civil construction, while Sources and DHV will take care of the detail engineering, procurement, installation of equipment, process start-up and project management.
The project is being financed by the Montpellier Metropolitan District Authority, the Rhône Méditerranée et Corse Water Board and the Hérault Departmental Council. It is part of Montpellier's policy to preserve and restore the environment and is being carried out under an extensive € 375 million program for the entire Montpellier region which was started some four years ago. The aim is to rationalize and upgrade the wastewater infrastructure in line with the standards of the European Water Directive, and to preserve the quality of vulnerable bodies of water that receive effluents from the city.
DHV is a leading international consultancy and engineering firm, providing services and innovative solutions in Transportation, Building & Manufacturing, Urban and Regional Development, Environment & Sustainability, and Water.
Sources is an independent French engineering and contracting firm and is active in a wide range of construction projects involving wastewater and drinking water plants.
Demathieu & Bard (D&B) was founded in 1861 in the Lorraine region of France and is one of the major French players in the construction industry.
Montpellier Metropolitan District was formed around the regional capital of Montpellier in January 2002, and is composed of 31 towns and cities with a total population of over 400,000.
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