Coffey and Uisce Éireann have been named the winners of the Innovation in Construction Award (Company Turnover €20m-€200m) at the Irish Construction Excellence Awards for their work on the Enfield Wastewater Treatment Plant.

The accolade highlights the successful integration of Sludge Drying Reed Bed (SDRB) technology. This system offers an innovative, nature-based alternative to conventional, energy-intensive mechanical sludge treatment by utilizing a process driven by percolation, microbial mineralisation, and evapotranspiration.

The deployment of this technology has yielded notable benefits, including:

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• Up to 98% reduction in sludge volume

• Elimination of chemical dosing and mechanical dewatering

• Removal of more than 155 HGV movements annually

• Reduced operational and environmental impact

A willingness to challenge traditional methods proved essential to the project's success. The delivery of the practical and sustainable infrastructure solution was driven by early feasibility assessments, comprehensive evaluations of treatment alternatives, and close cooperation between Coffey, Uisce Éireann, and their specialist partners.

Project Manager David Rynne and the broader Coffey team have received congratulations for steering the project from its initial design phases through to final commissioning.

Furthermore, AM Consulting Engineers was awarded the Engineering Design Excellence Award for the Enfield WWTP Upgrade, a title that recognizes the technical expertise and design quality underpinning the infrastructure venture.

The achievement underscores how innovative, nature-based systems can contribute toward building more sustainable wastewater infrastructure for future generations.