Fast-track provision of St. Aidans reverse-osmosis water-treatment plant

As a response to the drought of 1995-96, Yorkshire Water constructed an emergency water-treatment plant to treat water from a flooded opencast site at St. Aidans near Leeds. The main process was low-pressure reverse osmosis to remove ammonia and trace organic micropollutants to produce the required water quality at all times. This paper describes the plant which was designed and constructed in thirteen weeks - a fast-track project which was made possible by the close cooperation between the client, the consultant, and the contractor.