Electrical planner of the invisible sewage treatment plant

Under the Matterhorn

The Zermatt sewage treatment plant, which was built underground in rock caverns, was completely rehabilitated, almost doubling its biological treatment capacity. From the mandate of electrical planning and execution, a close cooperation developed, which today covers the entire measurement and control technology.

Tasks

  • Analysis of the existing plants and equipment
  • Development of an overall EMSR concept
  • Preparation of cost estimate
  • Complete EMSR planning
  • Site management: electrical installations, switchgear and control systems, measurement technology

Initial situation / existing situation

In 2008, Ryser Ingenieure AG, which was commissioned with the renovation of the Zermatt wastewater treatment plant, called in STEBATEC AG for the electrical planning. This marked the beginning of a collaboration with the municipality of Zermatt for what is probably one of the most unusual wastewater treatment plants in Switzerland. The wastewater treatment plant, completed in 1982, is located completely underground in rock caverns. However, it was only designed for 38,000 population equivalents and was thus soon too small. The biological treatment system in particular was overloaded and no longer met the legal requirements. But many other installations and systems were also outdated and had to be renewed or adapted to the new capacity of 60,000 population equivalents. Fortunately, the wastewater treatment plant had two sewage roads, which greatly facilitated the conversion.

  • Reliable electrical installations for the renovated, larger WWTP
  • Reliable solutions for an electrical connected load of 1000 kVA
  • Increased operational safety of the WWTP
  • User- and maintenance-friendly installations
  • Cost control and monitoring

Prior to the actual renovation, the operations centre was brought up to date in order to create a secure basis for all further work. In the summer half-years, which are less busy for tourism, one wastewater route was shut down and completely renewed in each of 2012 and 2013. For reasons of space, biological treatment is no longer carried out using the activated sludge process, but instead using the membrane biology process; the area of over 32,000 m2 used in Zermatt even represents the national record.

Safe ventilation was important during the conversion: the demolition work in the caverns was dusty and the gases from the WWTP dangerous. Moreover, everything had to be dismantled in order to be able to pass through the narrow tunnels on electric vehicles or on the specially installed crane track to the exit. STEBATEC’s high level of commitment and flexibility paid off, however, and the company is now Zermatt’s first contact not only for electrical planning, but also for the entire control and measurement technology.

Products in use

Secure separation from the Internet. High level of comfort.
We offer tailor-made, cost-optimized and future-proof solutions for an optimal demarcation of automation systems from the Internet, while maintaining access to the systems in terms of comfort and flexibility.
Electrical engineering with practical experience
We are passionately committed to finding the optimal solution. In doing so, the trustful and close cooperation with the operator and planner is particularly important to us. Our company history began back in the 1960s; the large number of projects realised since then has provided us with extensive expert knowledge in industrial automation and electrical planning.
Preventive maintenance, servicing, spare parts management and many other services to ensure the reliability of automation systems.
Whether it is the cleaning of systems or the replacement of mechanical wear parts, the monitoring of functions, the calibration of measuring instruments or software updates, whenever customers need support in the ideal operation and maintenance of a system from our company, we are available with our services.