The waterworks of the future is out in the open

Forget everything about huge open cascade aerators vulnerable to contamination and dirty concrete tanks deep below the surface. Truelsbjerg Waterworks will pioneer the highest possible water quality regardless of all risks created by man or nature.

“With Truelsbjerg Waterworks, we have tried to put an end to all the traditional ills of waterworks from the past, where everything was either buried underground or part of the load-bearing construction. Here, all tanks and installations are out in the open, they are easy to inspect and we can control way more parameters of the water treatment,” says Operating Engineer Thomas Vogn Kjeldsen from Aarhus Vand, who supplies the second biggest city of Denmark with drinking water.

Under constant pressure

One of the key thoughts behind Truelsbjerg Waterworks is to have a “closed water treatment.” The entire water line and water treatment system is enclosed and under constant pressure which ensures that no contamination can get to the water.

“Grundfos is proud to be part of an innovative and truly visionary project like Truelsbjerg Waterworks, and we can deliver the high quality and energy efficient solutions needed for a pressurised closed water system all the way from well to water tap. From stainless pumps to sensor-controlled distribution solutions that ensure the comfort of even the most remote consumer,” says Application Manager Jørgen Bach of Grundfos.

Uniquely designed construction

The waterworks is split in three parts, where the lower part is a heavy foundation of concrete containing all pipes, pump stations and other facilities for the operation of the works.

Above is a light steel frame that contains blue enclosed filter tanks and a large panoramic window facing the beautiful eastern view of the countryside. Next to the main building are two huge cylindrical water tanks for the treated clean water, which are welded on site in stainless steel.

Besides the needed equipment for the actual operation of the works, the waterworks of the future also contains facilities for hosting visitors, meetings and a small laboratory, which turn the works into a full-scale test facility for companies and research workers.

Yet another requirement to the waterworks shows the high ambitions of the project: the energy consumption for light, heat, dehumidification and ventilation must be CO₂ neutral. In order to meet this demand, once the new waterworks is functional the old one from 1963 will be demolished.