1. Regulations and Requirements: What are the emission limits and environmental requirements for your project?

For larger projects, it is highly likely that you will need to apply for an environmental permit from the relevant regulatory authority. This permit will specify the discharge requirements for water treatment.

For smaller projects, general regulations regarding water discharge often apply, which can vary depending on local environmental laws. There may also be specific guidelines within the municipality where the project is taking place.

It's important to review the current regulations and legal requirements in the country where your project is located to ensure compliance with local standards.

2. Water Quality and Contaminants: What substances are expected to be in the water?

Be sure to take water samples to analyze what contaminants are present in the water that will be treated. Different contaminants have varying discharge requirements and may require different treatment technologies. We at Swedish Hydro Solutions can assist with this, but you can also take a sample yourself and send it to an accredited laboratory for analysis.

It can also be valuable to hire an environmental consultant and investigate if water sampling has already been done at the site, for example, in a previous environmental investigation. Existing data can serve as a reference, but since water quality can change over time, updated samples are always recommended. If you also have access to soil samples, we are happy to receive them as well.

If you are unsure of which samples need to be taken, we can provide guidance and recommend relevant analyses.

It is important to remember that it can be difficult to get a fully representative picture of water quality, and some contaminants may be hard to predict early on – especially if excavation or earthworks have not yet started. However, if soil or water samples are available, they can provide an indication of what contaminants may be present.

3. Water Volume and Variations: How much water needs to be treated, and does the flow vary over time?

To size a water treatment facility, we need to know how much water will be treated and whether the flow varies over time. Therefore, it is useful to estimate the flow by examining the catchment area, rainfall at the site, and any drainage systems. We help you analyze these factors to determine a reasonable capacity for the facility.

The water volume can be influenced by several factors, such as how the water flows through the ground. Groundwater inflow may vary depending on whether the excavation is open or lined. In open excavation, the risk of groundwater intrusion increases. Additionally, the soil material plays a large role – clay retains water and limits the flow, while sand and gravel allow water to pass through much faster.

Surface runoff in excavations on slopes, or if the excavation is in a low point, can also affect the flow.

It is also important to plan how the water will be handled during heavy rainfall. Should the treatment facility be sized to handle peak flows, or can a buffer volume be used, or can pumping be paused temporarily? We help you find an optimal balance between capacity and needs, so that the facility works efficiently without being oversized.

Our facilities are always flexible and can be easily scaled up or down if the project’s needs change over time.

4. Site Conditions - Is there enough space and infrastructure to install the equipment?

Is there enough space for the treatment facility, and is the ground stable enough to support heavier equipment? It may also be a good idea to consider if temporary constructions are needed, such as a platform for the facility to sit on. We always request the flattest possible surface to place the facility on and recommend crushed stone 0-90 where the stone fraction ranges from 0 cm to 9 cm. Sometimes, we may need to create a height difference between containers to facilitate water flow. This can be achieved with log mats or by using crushed stone.

The facility will, of course, need a power supply with sufficient capacity, and it is good to know beforehand where the discharge point will be, i.e., where the treated water will be released. This will affect step 1 in the checklist, where you examine the emission requirements.

It is also good to review how the equipment will be transported to the site – for example, does the equipment need to be lifted into place?

Other factors to consider include the need for winterization measures, such as heating cables, heating mats, or fans. In such cases, a separate electrical panel will be required, not connected to the same panel as the water treatment facility, to ensure operation.

5. Timelines and Budget - When does the treatment need to be in place, and what are the financial constraints?

And of course, timelines and budget – what do you have to work with? When calculating the cost of water treatment, it is important to consider several aspects, both from a cost perspective and in the long term. When choosing simpler and “cheaper” treatment solutions, there is a risk that the discharge requirements will not be met, which may mean that the facility will need to be replaced or supplemented with additional equipment. This could lead to higher costs than if the right solution had been chosen from the beginning. Transporting contaminated water is also more expensive than treating it on-site over time.

To conclude, our project manager Lina Hamel – with over 15 years of experience in environmental, surface water issues, and project management – shares three key insights:

1. Early planning of water treatment in the project is crucial. By including it from the start, we ensure that all the steps mentioned above are considered on time, which reduces the risk of rushed solutions or hasty decisions later on. Many companies wait until later, which can lead to inefficiencies and higher costs further into the project.

For example, lack of space is a common challenge in many projects, which is understandable. If space for the water treatment facility is planned from the beginning, it greatly facilitates the work later on.

2. Good communication and collaboration are essential. The more information we get before the project starts, the better we can optimize the facility. Please continue to update us during the course of the project, such as if new work needs to be done and what the analysis results show. This provides us, as project managers, with valuable information that allows us to optimize the treatment process and ensure your project runs as smoothly as possible.

3. Plan for potential downtime. An important aspect to consider in the planning phase is what happens in case of a shutdown. Comparing the cost of including an extra container or an additional treatment step with the consequences of a week or even a month of downtime can offer a clearer perspective. If production and machinery are halted because water cannot be released, the total cost could be significantly higher than the initial investment in a more complete treatment solution from the beginning.

Need more information?

Do you have any questions about water treatment or how to plan for your project? We’d be happy to help! Contact us, and one of our water treatment specialists will assist you further.