P&I Group was called to a wastewater site to investigate environmental and noise concerns relating to the existing standby generator.

The generator was old, heavily corroded and located close to nearby residential properties. Holes in the canopy had allowed water to enter the bund, creating a potential environmental risk. The site had also received complaints from neighbouring residents about excessive generator noise.

A further environmental concern was identified when the existing bulk fuel tank bund was found to be full of water. The customer required a safe, compliant and practical solution that would address the immediate risk while improving long-term site resilience.

The existing standby generator was no longer suitable for the site.

Extensive corrosion had compromised the canopy, allowing water to collect in the generator bund. The nearby residential setting also meant noise had become a significant concern, with complaints raised by local neighbours.

The bulk fuel tank presented an additional environmental risk, as its bund was also full of water. At the same time, the site load had increased due to pump changes, meaning the replacement generator needed to be properly assessed and sized rather than replaced like-for-like.

The works also involved confined space activity within the dry well, requiring careful planning, additional safety controls and specialist working procedures.

Due to the high environmental risk, P&I Group immediately delivered a temporary hire generator to site to maintain standby power while the permanent solution was developed.

P&I Group then carried out a full load analysis, taking into account the increased site load following pump changes. Following this review, a new generator was recommended and specified in a bespoke acoustic package designed to achieve a noise level of 65 dBA at 1m.

The generator package included a large integral DEFRA-compliant bunded base fuel tank. This removed the need to replace the existing bulk fuel tank, helping reduce cost and avoid unnecessary additional works for the customer.

RAMS were issued before the main site works began. The installation included the creation of a new cable trench, installation of new cables terminating in the dry well, generator offloading, fitting of a drop-over canopy, installation of a cable termination box and the addition of a temporary generator connection point for further site resilience.

To support safe working within the confined space of the dry well, scaffolding was installed and engineers worked with gas monitors and breathing apparatus.

The project delivered a safer, quieter and more environmentally robust standby generator solution for the wastewater site.

The new acoustic generator package helped address noise concerns from nearby residents, while the integral bunded base fuel tank reduced the environmental risk associated with the previous generator and bulk fuel tank arrangement.

The addition of a temporary generator connection point also improved site resilience, making future temporary power connection more practical if required. The generator was fully commissioned before handover to the customer.