Nicosia Bi-communal Wastewater Treatment Plant, Cyprus

The Nicosia Bi-communal Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) is located in the Mia Milia / Haspolat area of Nicosia, Cyprus. Construction of the €25m plant began in March 2010 and it is expected to be operational by May 2012. Once completed, the plant will be the largest WWTP in Cyprus.

The bi-communal WWTP will serve Nicosia's two divided communities – the Turkish Cypriots and the Greek Cypriots. Nicosia is the only European city that is militarily divided and has in the last been subject to inter-communal violence. The plant is viewed as an opportunity to end the city's division.

Around 270,000 of Nicosia's inhabitants will benefit from the treatment plant, which will be one of the largest installations based on membrane bioreactor (MBR) technology.

MBR technology uses physical, chemical and organic processes to remove contaminants from wastewater. The plant will also help in checking the pollution levels of the river Pedieos.

The Nicosia plant has a capacity to produce ten million cubic metres of water a year, which will be used to irrigate agricultural land. The plant is also expected to produce 3,333t of dry biosolids, which can be used as a natural fertiliser. Green electricity may also be generated by converting the energy content of biosolids.

Nicosia plant background

Nicosia's bi-communal WTTP is part of the Nicosia master plan for sewerage and stormwater collection arrangement.

The master plan, which was drawn by the Cyprus Government in 1960, was to construct, operate and maintain the central sewerage system of Nicosia. Mia Milia, the northeastern part of the city, was selected as the location for the sewerage system. Execution of the three-phase plan began in 1972.

The first phase of the Mia Mila treatment plant was completed in 1980. The Nicosia General Hospital, Saray Hotel and the US, Chinese and UK embassies were connected to the plant. This phase was funded by the World Bank, the Cyprus Government and the Sewerage Board of Nicosia.

The second phase covered Omorphita, Kaimakli and the remaining part of Nicosia's old town. Pallouriotissa area was also included in the second phase after a priority establishment survey. This phase was completed in 1986 and was funded by the European Economic Community.

The third phase began in 1988. The areas of Agios Andreas, Agios Pavlos, Vorios Polos, Akropolis and a part of Agios Dometios were covered in this phase, which was funded by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and was completed in 1995.

The Mia Milia plant was expanded in 1995. The collection system, including the trunk main, was extended with the help of UNHCR funds. Continuous expansion of the collection system without expanding the treatment plant has resulted in overload and the emission of a strong odour from the plant, prompting the administration to plan for a new treatment plant.

Plant design

Wastewater to the new treatment plant will be fed through gravity inlet pipe DN1100 and a new pipe DN100. A main trunk sewer will be constructed by using the existing diversion canal to the new Mia Milia WWTP inlet facility.

A new inlet pumping station will be built to connect the inlet trunk sewer. Wastewater from the inlet pumping station will be made to flow towards the screening system.

The inflow canal and the connected canals are designed in such a way that they can prevent solids from settling.

To reduce operating problems, the grit chamber and screening system will be housed in one building.

The sludge dewatering centrifuges, biological treatment and pump equipment will be protected against damage by the screening system.

Two lines will be used to screen and remove grit. The sewerage flow, after screening wastes such as textiles, paper, glass and cans, will be made to flow to two grit traps in two lines. The screened products will be discharged into containers using screw conveyors, and moved to a site used for dumping municipal waste.

Key players

The contract, based on the design, build, operate and transfer system, was awarded to WTE Wassertechnik. The company will be responsible for operating the plant for ten years.

The construction work is being carried out by a consortium formed of WTE Wassertechnik and EMEK Construction.

Because the plant is bi-communal, funding has came from two sources: €5.5m was granted for the Turkish Cypriot community by the European Commission through the EU aid programme, with the Sewerage Board of Nicosia providing finance for the Greek Cypriot community.