A durable and reliable solution for wastewater, Riihimäki, Finland

The Weholite tanks, with an inner diameter of three metres, delivered to the Riihimäki wastewater treatment in Southern Finland will ensure that the plant keeps running, even during emergencies.

The tanks installed in late 2016 are used as emergency tanks at the wastewater treatment plant of a
factory. The tanks can be brought online quickly, for example during disruptions or emergencies,” says Veli-Matti Hakala, a Work Supervisor at Uponor. Uponor delivered two Weholite tanks, each with an inner diameter of three metres and a volume of over 200 cubic metres.

“The tanks are 30 metres long, so they are quite large. It was very important to the client that the tanks could be delivered to the site in two 15-metre parts and welded together there. The roads leading to the plant would have had to be rebuilt to enable the tanks to be delivered at their full size. There would also have been additional transport requirements.” Uponor’s field welders took care of the welding of the tank and installed a DN/ID 2,400mm Weholite pumping station, a DN/ID1,200mm Weholite valve chamber and connecting pipings.

“The work proceeded on the agreed schedule, although changes had to be made to the solutions on site due to old structures uncovered during the excavation. The reserve tanks were installed inside decommissioned concrete reservoirs. In order to place the tanks in precisely the desired place, one of the tanks had to be slightly shortened. The height and connection points of the pumping station also had to be modified on-site."

“The customer was highly satisfied with the outcome and the ability of the skilled installers to react quickly to the required alterations," says Veli-Matti Hakala. Installation was completed in just over two weeks.

“The tanks have been tested and have worked just as intended.”

Excellent for wastewater use

Veli-Matti Hakala says that Weholite is highly suitable for wastewater use. “We deliver a high number of wastewater pumping stations, for example. Weholite has no risk of corrosion and is highly resistant to acids, alkalis and other chemicals. All solutions can also be customised according to the customer’s needs.”

Hakala mentions a Weholite wastewater application currently being built in a groundwater area. The Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment approved Weholite as the material used on the site.
“Thanks to Weholite’s layered structure, no protective piping is required around the actual pipe, although the regulations would require one from a conventional, heavy-duty pipe in a groundwater area.”