High-Performance Flood Protection for Veolia’s Strategic Water Treatment Facility near Paris
Challenge: Ensuring Reliable Flood Protection on Complex, Uneven Terrain
This water treatment plant’s proximity to the Seine River made it vulnerable to extreme flood events, necessitating a robust flood protection system to shield the plant’s open space from rising waters. However, several specific site constraints complicated the project:
- Uneven Ground Levels: The barrier installation required precision engineering to follow the site’s irregular ground elevations.
- Underground Network Coordination: Foundations had to be accurately placed without disturbing the plant’s existing underground infrastructure.
- Traffic-Free Installation: Intermediate post fixations needed to be fully concealed, allowing for unobstructed vehicle access across the site.
These factors demanded a flood protection solution that was both technically advanced and adaptable to complex site conditions.
Solution: Bergtec’s Tailored Flood Barrier System for Veolia’s Water Treatment Facility
To meet the project’s challenges, Bergtec designed and installed a highly customised flood barrier system that combined engineering precision with functional versatility. Key elements of the solution included:
- Precision Engineering for Uneven Terrain: After an in-depth surveyor report, Bergtec employed a step-like foundation to accommodate the site’s varying elevations, ensuring a secure and continuous barrier installation.
- Robust Civil Works Coordination: Foundations were concreted and reinforced with rebar to integrate seamlessly with the plant’s underground network, maintaining site integrity.
- Discrete, High-Performance Fixations: Intermediate post fixation steel boxes were embedded and fully concealed, allowing for uninterrupted car traffic while ensuring stable flood defence.
- Efficient Storage and Handling: Bergtec designed customised mobile trolleys to safely and efficiently store and transport all barrier components on-site, facilitating quick and secure assembly.
- Innovative “Cast-In” Solutions: Barrier posts were anchored using “cast-in and quick fixation” methods, simplifying installation while providing reliable flood resistance.
- Comprehensive Technical Support: Bergtec provided a complete technical documentation package, including stress calculations, and closely coordinated with the project’s contractor to ensure compliance. An installation test verified that the flood barriers met all contractual standards, ensuring optimal protection.
This solution demonstrated Bergtec’s commitment to custom-engineered flood defences tailored to complex infrastructure needs and strict operational requirements.
Project Highlights in Pictures
Results and Impact
Enhanced Flood Resilience for a Strategic Water Supply Facility
Bergtec’s flood barrier system provided Veolia’s treatment plant with a reliable, long-term flood protection solution that addressed both structural and operational needs:
- Comprehensive Flood Defence: The facility’s open spaces are now fully isolated from potential Seine flooding, ensuring continuity of potable water supply for Paris even during extreme weather events.
- Traffic and Site Access Preserved: With concealed barrier fixtures, site functionality and vehicle access have been maintained without compromising the flood defence integrity.
- Cost-Effective, Safe Storage: Custom mobile trolleys enhance efficiency, allowing for safe, organised storage of barrier components when not in use, reducing operational costs.
Bergtec’s solution reinforced Veolia’s infrastructure resilience, providing a crucial safeguard for Paris’s water supply network while supporting smooth daily operations.
This case study underscores Bergtec’s expertise in designing tailored flood protection systems for complex, high-stakes environments. To learn how our demountable flood barriers can protect your infrastructure, explore our Flood Barrier Solutions or contact us for a bespoke consultation.