Egis has been awarded, as part of the OTV Sud / Veolia Water / Razel / Bec / GTM sud-ouest TP GC / Bouygues énergies et services SAS / Cabinet Merlin / Tourre Sanchis Architects / AI project consortium, the global performance contract for the modernization and energy optimization of the Maera Wastewater Treatment Plant of Montpellier Méditerranée Métropole.
An ambitious circular economy project!
Reusing treated water, producing energy and improving the living environment of local population while increasing the wastewater treatment capacity are the major challenges of this project.
The modernization of Maera includes the extension of the treatment capacity from 470,000 Population-Equivalent to 695,000 Population-Equivalent, the implementation of a thermal sludge recovery system and the implementation of a positive energy plant that will produce twice as much energy as it consumes.
The treatment capacity will be increased by 10% in the first year without enlarging the plant's land area and with treatment processes that combine safety and durability: tertiary treatment that allows for a higher quality of discharge and technologies that are low in consumption.
This project is in line with the objectives of carbon neutrality and the city's Climate, Air and Energy Plan.
"This project confirms Egis' determination to support territories in the ecological and energy transition and to be a key player in the fight against climate change" Michel Allari, Director of the Urban Hydraulics Division
A positive energy plant
This means transforming the water treatment plant into a sober plant, focused on the production of renewable energy: biomethane sent to the GRDF circuit to supply the city with gas and/or the TaM buses, heat to supply its structures and the SERM urban heating network, electricity produced for self-consumption via the installation of photovoltaic panels.
Reuse of wastewater
This means using the recycled water produced by the plant for agricultural needs, but also for new uses: fire fighting, street and network cleaning, watering green spaces, etc. The facilities could eventually supply up to 70,000 m3/day of water.
It also means revisiting conventional agricultural practices and promoting the reuse of wastewater. The program includes 300 m2 reserved for agroecology, including a vegetable garden on the roof and greenhouses on the ground, watered by treated water.
Preserving the environment and the quality of life of surrounding residents
This means limiting noise from the plant by reinforcing acoustic devices, reducing odors by covering all the structures and insisting on deodorization, and finally proposing careful architectural and environmental integration with nature-inspired layouts (green roofs).
Some key figures...
- 165 M€ of work for a total contract of 249 M€.
- 7,500 inhabitants will be supplied with heat thanks to Maera
- 9,000 low-energy housing units supplied with gas each year by Maera
- 695,000 Population-Equivalent. This is the treatment capacity after the upgrade
Work schedule
- October 2022: Start of execution studies
- June 2023: Start of works
- June 2027: End of works