Thames Water selects contractor for Deephams sewage treatment works

A joint venture (JV) of Aecom, Murphy and Kier has secured a £177m contract from Thames Water to rebuild and refurbish Deephams sewage treatment works.

Thames Water said the appointment of the JV, dubbed AMK, ends the first phase of its early contractor involvement (ECI) procurement process for the project.

Phase two, which begins now, will see Thames Water and AMK work together to implement the preferred solution.

A full planning application is anticipated to be submitted in summer 2014.

Deephams Sewage Works in Edmonton, north London, was built in the 1950s and 60s, and the upgrade will ensure that the plant meets tighter European environmental standards, which will apply from March 2017.

Thames Water asset director Lawrence Gosden said the project represents the company’s approach to deliver best value for its customers by working in collaboration with its contractors.

"We believe our ECI process has resulted in the best possible solution for the upgrade, and after close competition between two very high calibre bidders we’re very pleased to announce the appointment of AMK," Gosden added.

The project will cope with projected population increase in the future and reduce the frequency and intensity of odour on site.

AMK’s project director, Jo Streeten, said upgrading Deephams presents several challenges, not least the need to build new treatment facilities on a site with limited space, while maintaining the current operation.

"Working within Thames Water’s ECI process has allowed us to understand these challenges early on and develop a solution that meets them in the most efficient way," Streeten said.