Water Industry Award Finalist – Addressing Pollution Problems in Rural UK Villages
Robert White
We are delighted to announce that we have been nominated as finalists for the Water Industry Awards – an annual event organised by Utility Week.
Read below how Filtration+ has been successfully installed to meet the pollution problems of rural villages in the UK.
Initial Concept
There are many tiny villages scattered throughout the United Kingdom which have small populations and antiquated, failing wastewater plant systems. Due to the high cost of replacing these systems, and the fact that many of them are also situated in well protected conservation areas, the water companies need fast, low cost, environmentally friendly solutions which can be trusted to address any current leakage problems and provide a reliable and financially viable solution for the decades ahead.
Stringent compliance targets are in place which can result in fines of up to £3 million. When problems are identified therefore, there is some urgency in finding the right solution from a trusted supplier.
Plantwork Systems specifically developed the Filtration+ unit having been approached by a number of WASCS experiencing such problems, mainly because they were breaking levels for Total Suspended Solids (TSS). We looked at existing solutions, which were largely based on cloth filters, and decided to design a simpler and more cost-effective answer.
The Somerset village of Leigh-on-Mendip – one of the rural villages benefiting from Filtration+ technology.
This unique system has been specifically developed by Plantwork Systems to provide a highly effective additional treatment step for the reduction of suspended solids in final effluent.
Delivery
Filtration+ uses traditional technology mixed with new. This unique system has been specifically developed by Plantwork Systems to provide a highly effective additional treatment step for the reduction of suspended solids in final effluent. The units use a combination of bio film developing on the installed media and primary screening through living plant roots.
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. The system can be expected to last for several decades.
A brand new way of using plant-based technology to benefit our environment
Innovation
The innovation is in the use of two older solutions, uniquely combined into a contemporary answer. That is, the use of standard bio-screens and living plants!
It is different in the sense it looks backward at traditional solutions which are proven to work, but combines these with nature itself – a brand new way of using plant-based technology to benefit our environment.
The alternative cloth filter systems are much more expensive to procure, with the necessity for regular backwashing and using many expensive moving parts, all increasing the risk of maintenance issues.
Multiple benefits of Filtration+ over other systems
FINANCIAL BENEFITS
- CAPEX – The average installation of a Filtration+ system is substantially less than the cost of installing a traditional cloth filter system.
- OPEX – The maintenance costs are also lower due to the fact that no power is required, little manual intervention and no moving parts.
ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS
- No power required – reducing the use of fossil fuels and natural gases.
- Uses plants – reducing air pollution.
- Reducing water pollution – meeting government targets for protecting the environment.
PRACTICAL BENEFITS
- Easy installation – 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.
- Easy maintenance and servicing – removable covers and no need to remove the media for cleaning.
- No moving parts – eliminating risk of mechanical failure.
- 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 – can be moved between water recycling centres if required.
Dramatically decreasing the amount of untreated or partially treated combined wastewater discharges to streams, rivers and other water bodies
Moving Forward
With several installations already successful, there are literally hundreds of small works and combined sewer overflows (CSO) in the UK that could benefit from Filtration+, dramatically decreasing the amount of untreated or partially treated combined wastewater discharges to nearby streams, rivers and other water bodies.
The Environmental Agency has already identified over 700 CSOs to be investigated and 40 overflows to be improved within the period 2020-2025.*
Filtration+ is an environmentally friendly, affordable and practical solution to this problem and is being actively considered by many of the WASCS.
* Source – https://environmentagency.blog.gov.uk/2020/07/02/combined-sewer-overflows-explained/
Get in touch if you would like more information…
Article by Robert White, Plantwork Systems Managing Director