British Water: Providing Leadership Towards the Global Water Crisis

Written By | DARBY BONNER

British Water is a dynamic, membership organisation that provides leadership, support and best practice and addresses the challenges faced by the UK water sector through its UK, Technical and International forums, and its neutral Water Industry Forum. They have regional focus groups launching for the Middle East, Asia, the Americas, and Australia. We spoke to Tom Williams, Board member and Chair of the International Forum and Charles Shachinda, Technical Officer – International, to learn more about their role in the water sector. British Water represents the interests of UK water and wastewater supply chain companies together with wider stakeholders across the sector, connecting them to contacts to raise their profile, grow their business and promote best practice.

We asked Tom what the UK’s current outlook on innovative solutions like reuse, recycling, and desalination (desal) to quality and treatments are, and he thinks that direct potable reuse, water recycling, and desalination, and improved quality treatments are all part of the mix depending on where you are in the world. British Water members like Te Tech are moving into the International Desal business to look at partnerships in the Egyptian market. Biwater International Limited is still active in Saudi, providing large-scale water and wastewater treatment solutions. They also built the first desalination system in the world there. Another British Water member, Aqualia, has active projects from Australia to Spain via the Middle East.

In the UK, Te Tech and RSE (Ross-shire Engineering) have installed innovative new membrane solutions for Scottish Water and South West Water, combining the fantastic new ceramic membrane solutions with ion exchange. Several suppliers like IXOM and PWN Tech are also using innovative solutions like targeting DOC

(dissolved organics/dissolved organic carbon) with ion exchange.

On the cutting edge of the market, is British Water member Evove, who has successfully used graphene oxide coatings on membrane solutions to reduce fouling and improve performance. Another member, United Utilities, has built the first full-scale UV LED treatment system in Penrith Town (Cumbria, England), revolutionising disinfection.

The UK (as a whole) has water supply challenges. For example, the South East of England is the most distressed area for water supply demand versus population. While the South East of the UK is the only location with a desalination plant (at Beckton), it is currently not in use. Efficiently-run desalination plants are sustainable and highly-effective water supply options. However, desalination surface water intakes can pose a huge threat to marine life, and therefore, proper management must be implemented.

Tom believes the whole of the UK will have water quality challenges in the coming years with climate change, but this is not connected to reuse, recycling and desalination. The quality challenges are based on the following:

• Pharmaceuticals and other emerging contaminants like PFAS (which include PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid) and PFOS (perfluorooctane sulfonic acid) in our drinking water sources.

• Nitrification and runoff in our rivers.

• Algal blooms and organics like DOC in our reservoirs.

• Changes in rainfall patterns cause floods some years and then droughts, in addition to decreasing quality as we get to the bottom of our reservoir. With climate effecting rain patterns our water quality will decrease dramatically and we will need more technology to maintain current quality levels.

Apart from the UK, Where Does British Water Cover?

The International Forum enables members and partners to meet leading players in the global water and wastewater industry. Member services include complimentary access to eleven International Business Mentors, briefings on the latest market information, virtual and in-country business development meetings with key buyers, as well as funding for leading trade shows. We offer various virtual webinars and platforms, including Knowledge Information Transfer (KIT) Briefings, Tech Showcases, and regional groups where members can learn about markets and exporting opportunities. Learn more about British Water’s coverage here

On the 20th of July 2023, British Water launched the Middle East & Africa Regional Focus Group. The inaugural regional Middle East and Africa regional focus group will streamline engagements across the region, help increase networking opportunities, provide wider and deeper market insight, and enable British Water members with an interest in the regional market to meet potential buyers and key stakeholders. This meeting featured presentations such as:

• Egyptian Water Market & Opportunities for UK Supply Chain

Eng. Hisham Gaafar, Senior International Cooperation Specialist & Adviser to the Deputy Minister, Ministry of Housing, Utilities & Urban Communities

• South African Water Market & Opportunities for UK Supply Chain

Phillip Majeke, Commercialisation Manager, Water Research Commission - SA

Dr Manjusha Sunil, Innovations Manager, Water Research Commission - SA

• Saudi Water Market & Opportunities for UK Supply Chair

Dr Omaima Hatem, CEO of Technology Transfer for Consulting & Trading

Learn More about British Water