Innovative Filtration+ Solution Saves the Day with Wessex Water
Adam White
An effective, timely and low-cost wastewater treatment solution for Leigh-on-Mendip Water Recycling Centre
Wessex Water provides wastewater services for Leigh-on-Mendip – a small village situated in the hills near Frome in Somerset, on the River Mells system. With a population of around 600, the existing wastewater treatment plant has been operating for several decades, but had been identified by Wessex Water as ‘at risk’ of compliance failure for suspended solids.
Wessex Water installed a mechanical filtration unit to provide tertiary solids removal to mitigate the compliance risk but, over the last three years, this had not improved water quality and required frequent maintenance.
Plantwork Systems was approached in Autumn 2021 to identify a solution. Assessing the site alongside Wessex Water’s engineering team, Plantwork Systems proposed the installation of two Filtration+ units, which was subsequently approved by Ross Lakey, Investment Engineer at Wessex Water.
Plantwork Systems was able to deliver an effective, timely, and low-cost solution for Leigh-on-Mendip WRC.
Ross Lakey, Investment Engineer, Wessex Water
Initial results demonstrate the units are delivering greater than 70% solids removal and have significantly reduced site operator maintenance requirements.
Filtration+ has been specifically developed by Plantwork Systems to provide a highly effective additional treatment step for the reduction of suspended solids in final effluent. Filtration+ units are easily installed within an existing plant to ensure the final effluent quality remains within consent and can achieve solids removal levels in excess of 70% with no moving parts.
This represents an ideal solution to extend the life of failing works, and delay the need for significant capital investment.
Multiple Benefits of Filtration+
Leigh-on-Mendip is just one example of the effectiveness and flexibility of Filtration+. It offers multiple benefits for a variety of water recycling centres.
- Easy installation – Filtration+ is delivered as one complete ‘plug and play’ unit, in most cases taking no more than 1-2 days to install
- Lightweight and easy to transport – keeping cost to a minimum
- No moving parts – eliminating risk of mechanical failure
- Easy maintenance and servicing – removable covers and no need to remove the media for cleaning
- Peak flow treatment – up to three litres per second
- Optimal solids removal – levels of over 70% can be achieved
- Scalable – multiple units can be installed to service flows from larger works
- Affordable and flexible solution – Filtration+ can be moved between water recycling centres if required
Article by Adam White, Plantwork Systems Operations Director