Newquay Sewage Treatment Works HYBACS Upgrade
Newquay, Cornwall
The judgement call
Account-gated at launchAdoption of HYBACS® (HYBrid ACtivated Sludge) process for enhanced activated sludge treatment, offering low TOTEX (Total Expenditure) benefits [Bluewater Bio] - Use of Design for Manufacture and Assembly (DfMA) principles for off-site assembly and testing of SMART™ Units to reduce site work duration and risks [Bluewater Bio] - HYBACS provides significant uplift in treatment capacity within a relatively short timescale and with minimal operator intervention [Bluewater Bio]
Key engineering challenges
Economically addressing highly seasonal demand increases (population doubling during summer months) within existing aeration volume [Bluewater Bio] - Rapidly responding to changes in biological load due to fluctuating population [Bluewater Bio] - Minimising disruption to existing plant operations during construction by installing units off-line [Bluewater Bio]
Project facts
- Client / owner
- South West Water
- Lead contractor
- Tecker (South West Water’s delivery partner) for construction of pumping arrangements; Bluewater Bio (HYBACS technology provider)
- Lead designers
- Bluewater Bio (HYBACS process design)
- Project type
- upgrade
- Scale
- Serves resident population equivalent (PE) of approx. 55,000, can receive an additional 40,000 – 50,000 PE during summer; Installation of four SMART™ Units.
- Disciplines
- Process; environmental; mechanical; civil
- Standards & frameworks
- Environmental regulations for wastewater discharge
Sources: Bluewater Bio: https://bluewaterbio.com/south-west-water-install-bluewater-bios-hybacs-process-upgrade-newquay-sewage-treatment-works-cornwall/ (Accessed: 2026-06-10) - South West Water (DWMP Newquay-St Columb): https://www.southwestwater.co.uk/siteassets/documents/about-us/dwmp/strategic-catchments/newquay-st-columb_l2_dwmp.pdf (Accessed: 2026-06-10)