ValvesSensorsSystems measurIT technologies

20 years
Tideflex
in Ireland
1989 009
-2

Case Study: Outfall to the sea -

backflow prevention

Galway City Wastewater Treatment Plant*

The Galway City Wastewater Treatment Plant was designed to

meet the requirements of the Urban Wastewater Treatment
Directive and to ensure that the quality of the bathing
and shellfish waters in Galway Bay is not compromised by
discharges from the plant situated some 900m offshore on
Mutton Island.
The Problem
To maximise initial dilution prior to plume surfacing it was
necessary to design an outfall diffuser that met both the
hydraulic and near field mixing requirements.
The Solution
The favoured diffuser configuration incorporated a 100m
length of diffuser with 10 riser single 200m diameter Tideflex
port diffusers. The outfall pipe tapered from 900mm to
1000mm nominal diameter over the length of the diffuser.
Concrete chambers were designed to protect the diffuser
risers and Tideflex valves. A mattress of 150mm nominal stone
was installed over the diffuser area to prevent scour of the sea
bed during outfall operation.
Tideflex All-Rubber Check Valves
The Tideflex Check Valves eliminate potential
backflow. They do not corrode, warp or freeze and
are virtually maintenance free. They handle large
obstructions without jamming. Due to its nature, the
valve collapses around any debris and seals off the
backflow.
The pressure forcing the lips together puts a squeeze
effect on any solids build-up. The valve forms around
the obstruction until enough runoff flexes the lips
open and flushes the material out. Valves buried in
sand, silt, mud or sunk in water can still discharge
flow.
In Galway there have been installed Tideflex Valves:
DN 1200 - 2 pcs.
DN 600 - 10 pcs.
DN 225 - 3 pcs.
DN 200 - 10 pcs.

read more at www.measurIT.com/Effluent System

Installation
The 900 diameter HDPE pipework was welded in two strings
on shore and the 100m diffuser fabricated in three lengths.
Precast concrete weights were installed on the pipe strings.
The strings and diffusers were floated into position and sunk
into the pipe trench. Granular bedding, haunch and surround
was placed from the marine craft. Precast concrete chambers
were positioned over the diffuser risers and the Tideflex valves
installed by divers.

* based on ‘Galway City Wastewater Treatment Plant. Design and Construction

Aspects’ by Mr. M.J. Edger, BSc Eng FIEI FCIWEM and Mr. S. Murdock, BEng
(Hons), P.H. McCarthy & Partners, Consulting Engineers.

MeasurIT Technologies Ltd.

Craan, Craanford, email: info@measurIT.com Phone: +353 (0) 53 942 8962
Gorey, Co. Wexford, Ireland www.measurIT.com Fax: +353 (0) 53 942 8963