Water Industry Journal issue 8

Water WATER INDUSTRY JOURNAL SEPTEMBER 2018

INDUSTRY JOURNAL SEPTEMBER 2018

The Phosphorus Challenge Phosphorus Removal | Catchment Management | Flow and Level measurement Wastewater Treatment & Technology | Anaerobic Digestion | Clean Water Networks

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WATER INDUSTRY JOURNAL SEPTEMBER 2018

WELCOME z

Welcome

A drop in the ocean?

Welcome to our latest issue of the Water Industry Journal, in which we take a look at the conundrum posed by phosphorus.

Phosphorus is critical to plant and animal life, without it we simply couldn’t survive, yet like all good things – too much of it can be a bad thing – and therein lies the conundrum.

Biologically speaking, phosphorus is crucial to cellular processes, it is integral to our DNA, RNA and makes up a large part of our bone and tooth structure too.

Editor Ellen Rossiter

Phosphorus is also a finite natural resource, found combined with minerals in the Earth’s crust, which is mined and utilised in a variety of industries - an ingredient used in many everyday items on which we’ve come to rely.

If you’ve struck a match or washed your clothes recently, then it’s likely you’ve used phosphorus. Although more phosphorus-free options are becoming available – few days go by without us using phosphorus in one way or another.

The next time we prepare a meal, sit down to enjoy it – or simply have a leisurely drink with friends – it’s likely we’ll use products that have utilised phosphorus in their production at one point or another - as the steel, glass and chinaware industries may do.

Phosphorus is also used to produce the food we eat – with the greatest demand for it is as a fertiliser in the agricultural industry and herein lies the problem. Fertilisers replace the phosphorus that plants use in their growth – it is an essential nutrient – but excessive amounts, running off the land and into our water courses has dire consequences for the biodiversity within.

Too much phosphorus causes eutrophication which can lead to a disproportionate growth of algae in the water – as has been found at several sites in the Lake District this summer.

When the algae die and break down, oxygen levels in the water are depleted, potentially causing fish to die and adversely affecting the biodiversity.

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Protecting the environment, including our natural water courses for future generations is a priority, so we need to make certain that our efforts to reduce, remove and recover phosphorus are more than a drop in the ocean.

That’s why we’ve chosen to devote much of this issue to phosphorus removal – read on to find out more about what is being done to address the challenge.

Effective catchment management has a huge part to play too in ensuring we have a safe, sustainable and resilient water supply for many years to come. Catchment management improves water quality – of that we can be assured - but as we shall see, it delivers many others benefits too.

The broader environmental and economic benefits of catchment management are huge, with better soil quality leading to better food, as well as improved water for us to enjoy. At the same time, better management of the catchment means a reduction in the flood risk too.

By improving the environment, we are also improving habitats for wildlife, potentially helping at-risk species and protecting the biodiversity within the land and the water. Whilst enhancing the environment has benefits for us as human beings too, potentially improving our health and wellbeing.

Catchment management creates a domino effect, the benefits are ongoing and farreaching, with one benefit leading to another – so why wouldn’t we take a catchment approach to managing water quality and supplies? It is good for our customers and good for the environment too. Turn the page to find out more about the progress that’s been made and the organisations that are blazing a trail in this regard.

WATER INDUSTRY JOURNAL SEPTEMBER 2018

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WATER INDUSTRY JOURNAL SEPTEMBER 2018

CONTENTS z

Contents 80

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Contents

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News

25-40 Phosphorus Removal 44-53 Catchment Management 57-69 Flow and Level measurement 72-79 Wastewater Treatment & Technology 80-91 Anaerobic Digestion 92-97 Clean Water Networks

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92 Editor

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Ellen Rossiter ellen.rossiter@distinctivepublishing.co.uk

Design

Distinctive Publishing, 3rd Floor, Tru Knit House, 9-11 Carliol Square, Newcastle, NE1 6UF www.distinctivepublishing.co.uk

Advertising

John Neilson Commercial Director, Distinctive Group Tel: 0191 5805990 | 07813 874970 john.neilson@distinctivegroup.co.uk

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Distinctive Publishing or Water Industry Journal cannot be held responsible for any inaccuracies that may occur, individual products or services advertised or late entries.

No part of this publication may be reproduced or scanned without prior written permission of the publishers and Water Industry Journal.

WATER INDUSTRY JOURNAL SEPTEMBER 2018

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Innovative approach to bathing water quality pays off for Plymouth South West Water has made significant upgrades to its wastewater infrastructure across Plymouth to further improve water quality in the Plymouth Sound and protect bathing water quality at Plymouth Hoe East and West beaches.

The £26million investment included improving key combined sewer overflows (CSOs) across the city, removing surface water from the sewerage network in Cattedown and increasing stormwater storage capacity in Stonehouse.

Ultraviolet (UV) disinfection technology has also been installed on the CSO at Plymouth Central Wastewater Treatment Works. This is the largest UV treatment plant of its type for intermittent discharges in the UK. South West Water’s Senior Project Manager Mike Court explained: “South West Water’s PR14 Business Plan included proposed improvements at a number of CSOs in Plymouth. At that stage it was anticipated that a conventional approach to CSO spill improvements would be taken by providing stormwater attenuation facilities at multiple locations across the city.

“At solution development stage, hydraulic modelling was initially undertaken to ascertain the storage volumes required. This exercise identified a total stormwater storage requirement at nine CSOs of 65,000 cubic metres, of which 60,000 cubic metres was at Plymouth Central Wastewater Treatment Works. The Plymouth Central storage requirement was not only significantly more than the 5,500 cubic metres anticipated at PR14 business planning stage, presenting a significant affordability challenge, but was also impractical and unsustainable to construct.”

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INDUSTRY JOURNAL

March 2018

to improve Embracing technology the Customer Experience Experience | Improving Customer Sludge Management Management & Technology | Asset Wastewater Treatment

Mike said: “The analysis showed that approximately 95% of the problem was attributable to four assets. Further investigation indicated that Plymouth Central CSO alone contributed around 75%.

“As we had already established that constructing storage at Plymouth Central was

Water WATER INDUSTRY

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This prompted a need for the company to better understand the relationship between CSO discharges and bathing water quality so that investment could be outcome driven and targeted at improving water quality in the most effective way. Hydrodynamic modelling was used to assess the individual impact that each CSO discharge has on bathing water quality so that investment could be targeted at the locations that generated the greatest improvement.

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INDUSTRY JOURNA L

JUNE 2018

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not practicable it was agreed that the best solution was to disinfect the discharges from Plymouth Central CSO using UV treatment and to limit spills at the other three assets by providing storage. Improved storm screening was also provided at a number of other CSOs. The proposal was presented to and approved by the Environment Agency.

“Challenging the traditional methodology and adopting an innovative outcome-based approach to improving bathing water quality has demonstrated that investment could be targeted at the CSOs that had the greatest impact on the environment. In addition, the adoption of UV to treat stormwater at Plymouth Central rather than storage was a much more sustainable and cost-effective solution providing year-round protection as opposed to only during the bathing season.”

If you would like to participate in the December edition of Water Industry Journal we shall be featuring: n Water & Wastewater Monitoring and Analysis

n Utility Security & Incident Management

n Stormwater & Sustainable Urban Drainage

n Wastewater Treatment & Technology

n Asset Management Leak Detection &

Repair | Trenchles s Technology | Sludge Management | Wastewa Improving Drinking Water Quality | Improvin ter Treatment & Technology g Customer Experienc e | Cyber Security

Contact David Lancaster on 0191 580 5476 or email david.lancaster@distinctivegroup.co.uk for more information.

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WATER INDUSTRY JOURNAL SEPTEMBER 2018

NEWS z

Thames Water praised for gender diversity changes Thames Water has been praised for the progress it has made on improving gender diversity.

Following the publication of a new report by Pipeline looking at the number of woman in executive roles, the company has been hailed for making a “huge leap” forward.

Called Women Count, the report shows a third of Thames Water’s executive committee are female compared with less than a fifth among other leading UK companies.

Pipeline, which works to help organisations improve gender equality, also said Thames Water CEO Steve Robertson and the executive team were fully committed to the company’s diversity and inclusion agenda.

“We focused on three key steps: succession planning all the way through the organisation, setting up talent pools with at least 50 per cent women and creating belief in women with potential that they actually could step into a senior role.”

Janet Burr, Thames Water’s HR Director, said: “We’re really proud to be leading the way with gender diversity.

By operating with the belief women can succeed in senior positions, Pipeline said Thames Water is working to increase representation at executive level even more.

“By increasing the number of woman in senior roles at Thames Water, there are benefits for the whole business.

The company is also planning to put more women on its graduate and apprenticeship schemes as well as increasing the number

of females in management roles across the business.

The utilities industry on the whole did not fare well in the report, with difficulties hiring and retaining staff who have the necessary skills highlighted but Pipeline said Thames Water has not let this stop it from making progress.

Analysis from the report showed the clear economic benefits for companies who have women in more senior roles.

It said companies where there are at least a quarter of women on the executive committee see net profit increase by five per cent.

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WATER INDUSTRY JOURNAL SEPTEMBER 2018

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Final phase of North Tyneside flood project underway The final phase of a North Tyneside flood reduction scheme has just begun.

Northumbrian Water, North Tyneside Council and the Environment Agency are working together to help protect residents in Killingworth and Longbenton from future flooding.

Work on the £6 million scheme, which first began in July 2016, is underway once again and is expected to continue until April 2019. It is being carried out by Northumbrian Water’s supply partners Esh-MWH. Sustainable techniques will be used to help manage surface water at Killingworth Lake, where the south bank of the lake will be recontoured and new trees and shrubs will be planted. This will also help to improve wildlife habitats and biodiversity.

A new underground pipeline from Killingworth Lake, across Station Road and through the council depot access road, will also be installed. Under Station Road, the section

of pipe will be fitted using tunnelling instead of digging trenches – meaning the road will remain open as usual.

Lynn Preston, Northumbrian Water’s Project Manager for the scheme said: “We’re looking forward to getting phase three of this major project underway.

“Managing surface water better is key to reducing the risk of flooding, as it frees up space within the network, but working with our partners means that we’re doing this in the best way possible – ensuring we’re also taking into account ways in which we can protect and enhance the environment.

“We’re grateful to our customers for their contributions to this project and their patience so far. We appreciate that the work may cause some short-term disruption, but we’re confident that it will provide long-term

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benefits for the local community.”

Environment Agency Project Manager, Nicola Hyslop, said: “It’s great news that the third and final phase of this project is underway. Together with our partners we’ve worked really hard to ensure the local community is involved in this project and their contributions and suggestions have played a key role throughout.

“As well as reducing flood risk this innovative project is protecting and enhancing the environment and we’re certain it will provide long-term benefits to the community, not just in terms of flood risk but also as a facility for them to enjoy.”

Residents can keep up to date on the progress of the works by following the link to the Killingworth & Longbenton page on www.nwlcommunityportal.co.uk.

WATER INDUSTRY JOURNAL SEPTEMBER 2018

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‘Temporary rivers’ contribute significantly to global CO2 emissions, study finds Global CO2 emissions are being significantly underestimated because the contribution to carbon cycling of more than half of the world’s river networks are being ignored, a new study suggests.

“The return of water to a long-dry riverbed acts as a ‘hot moment’ – a burst of biological activity as dormant microorganisms awaken. Their activity allows the river to ‘breathe’ again, releasing huge amounts of CO2to the atmosphere.

“What we need to work out is how these ‘pulsed’ emissions alter current, global estimates of carbon cycling – and what this means for our ability to adapt to and manage climate change.”Thibault Datry, freshwater scientist at IRSTEA, said: “Very little attention has previously been paid to this plant litter’s fate when a river resumes flowing. Our work implies that the contribution that these dynamic ecosystems make must be included in future global carbon cycling assessments.

“High respiration rates were measured by the research team, reflecting the reactivation of microbial communities within the litter. In turn, this activity released substantial quantities of CO2 into the atmosphere.

Temporary river during its summer dry phase (Image courtesy: Dr Tory Milner)

“Our results suggest that the exclusion of temporary rivers leads to notable underestimation of the contribution of the world’s river networks to the release of CO2 into the atmosphere.”

A major international study led by the IRSTEA research institute in France and involving almost 100 partners, including scientists at Nottingham Trent University, looked specifically at ‘temporary rivers’ – which sometimes stop flowing and may dry out completely.

The study was part of the ‘1000 Intermittent Rivers Project’, which is an international initiative to gain understanding of the ecology of temporary rivers.

It is known that rivers and streams make a disproportionate contribution to global carbon cycling, but temporary rivers – also known as intermittent rivers and ephemeral streams – aren’t included in current assessments.

As the carbon cycle is a significant influence on changing climate, the researchers say the findings are important to help inform ongoing and future predictions of global change and to develop strategies to maximize ecosystem resilience.

Substantial amounts of terrestrial plant litter such as leaves and wood fall into dry riverbeds and accumulate, before undergoing rapid microbial processing when the water returns.

The study, reported in Nature Geoscience, involved analysing the quality and quantity of terrestrial plant litter from 212 dry riverbeds spanning 22 countries across major environmental gradients and climate zones.

Analysis of the plant litter decomposability showed high levels of O2 consumption and CO2 emissions when short-term rewetting events were simulated.

The research team’s estimates indicated that a single pulse of CO2 emission upon litter rewetting could contribute up to 10% of the daily emissions from temporary rivers, particularly in temperate climates.

Estimates of daily CO2 emissions from inland watercourses could rise from between 7 and 152% if data from temporary rivers are added to existing data, they believe.

Aridity, cover of vegetation, channel width and duration of the dry phase all contributed to the variability and decomposability of the plant litter, the researchers found.

Although far less studied than permanent rivers, due to climate change and increasing water demands temporary rivers will are becoming more common in many regions, including those with temperate climates such as the UK. This is the first study to look at temporary rivers’ contribution to global carbon cycling.

Dr Rachel Stubbington, senior lecturer in ecology and environmental sciences in Nottingham Trent University’s School of Science and Technology, said:

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WATER INDUSTRY JOURNAL SEPTEMBER 2018

z NEWS

Houston, we have a membrane!

Southern Water has announced it has installed an innovative new membrane biological reactor (MBR) in Southampton.

As part of the redevelopment of its multimillion pound Woolston treatment works in Southampton, the water company has installed a ‘space-age’ MBR filtration system to treat wastewater on site.

This new ultra-filtration system will remove nearly 100 per cent of all bacteria and solids, ensuring any water released from the treatment works into the environment meet strict EU Bathing Water directive relating to bacteria counts for E.coli and Intestinal Enterococci.

The membrane is so large it could almost stretch from Southampton to Houston, Texas – home to the famous Nasa Space Centre.

Southern Water Project Manager, Richard Hodgson, said: “The MBR is one of many innovative and technologically advanced improvements made at Woolston to ensure the resilience of the wastewater treatment works lasts long into the future.

“This ensures Southern Water maintains its obligations to the Environment Agency and continues on the journey of providing our customers the most efficient and effective wastewater treatment works at Woolston. The MBR is an innovative use of the advancing technology of ultra-filtration and biological treatment.”

Now for the science bit. The MBR is made up of an eight-lane structure, each lane contains five modules. These modules contain 36 rows each with eight bundles and each bundle contains 336 two-meter long membrane fibres.

The Woolston MBR has 3.87million membrane fibres, with a length of over 7741km. This length is only 15km short of the distance from Southampton to Houston, Texas!

The ultra-filtration is carried out by passing the wastewater over the 3.87million membrane fibres and using pumps to draw the wastewater through its pores. It then uses a special system known as PULSION – which passes a bubble or ‘pulse’ of air up through the membrane fibres, constantly removing any accumulated sludge out of the modules.

Chemical cleaning cycles are then carried out every couple of days to limit microbiological growth on the membranes.

The redevelopment scheme at Woolston is scheduled to finish in September 2019.

Plans have been put forward for Hull’s £42m tidal flood scheme Proposals for a multi-million scheme to protect thousands of properties from flooding from the Humber has been put forward to Hull’s planning chiefs.

Planning permission is being sought for a £42 million Humber Hull Frontage Improvement Scheme to improve a 7-8 kilometre stretch of tidal flood defences in the Humber Estuary.

Led by the Environment Agency, the scheme has been designed to better protect 113,000 homes and businesses that are at risk from tidal flooding.

If the scheme gets planning approval, work will start at the end of the year and will be completed by the end of 2020. Nine sites have been identified as part of the scheme including St Andrew’s Quay, Albert Dock and Victoria Dock Village for improved defences.

Contractor BMM JV – a joint venture between BAM Nuttall and Mott MacDonald – are set to deliver the project which will help improve flood risk along the city’s 19 kilometre waterfront.

These improvements in Hull are supported by a further four kilometres (2.5 mile) of new and

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raised tidal defences on either side of the city in the East Riding of Yorkshire, at Hessle and Paull, delivered by East Riding of Yorkshire Council in partnership with the Environment Agency.

The Humber Hull Frontage Improvement Scheme is one of a number of tidal flood alleviation projects that form part of the Humber Flood Risk Management Strategy.

The Environment Agency and local partners are now in the process of developing an advanced approach to managing flooding in tidal areas by the River Humber for the next 100 years.

WATER INDUSTRY JOURNAL SEPTEMBER 2018

NEWS z

BESPOKE INSURANCE & RISK TRANSFER SOLUTIONS FOR THE WATER & WASTE WATER INDUSTRY

Yorkshire Water invests £1.5m in north Yorkshire peat Yorkshire Water has invested £1.5m and worked alongside Yorkshire Peat Partnership (YPP) at the Swinton Estate near Masham to improve the quality of Yorkshire’s drinking water.

Peat has been laid down over the uplands of Yorkshire over thousands of years forming vast, wet areas known as blanket bog.

Healthy blanket bog helps filter water before it reaches Yorkshire’s reservoirs, but damaged peatlands release particles of organic matter that discolours drinking water and is expensive to remove.

In the 70s, much of the county’s peatland was damaged by drainage channels – known as grips – dug to improve the land for agriculture.

As well as drying out the peat, this led to widespread erosion in the form of gullies, bare peat and peat hags – steep walls of peat where wind and water have undercut the vegetation.

Kingsbridge have over 20 years of

Yorkshire Water, YPP and the Swinton Estate have been working together to repair this damage and restore blanket bog at Colsterdale above Masham, near Harrogate.

our team of specialist advisers includes

experience in providing insurance solutions to the UK Water Industry and experts who have actually worked in

The works include blocking 30 km of grips and gullies to help keep the bog wet and stop sediment being washed into the water supply; reducing the slope on peat hags to prevent further erosion; and replanting bare peat and peat hags to return the bog to its natural peat forming state.

the sector. This means Kingsbridge are uniquely placed to work with you, your business and insurers to provide a risk transfer solution that is tailored to

Also included, is an important monitoring study looking at the effectiveness of inoculating areas of moorlands with key species of sphagnum.

your individual business needs.

Andrew Walker, Catchment Strategy Manager at Yorkshire Water said: “Sphagnum is a moss that is a key component of blanket bog which can hold over eight times its weight in water. It helps not only to keep the moors wetter, and the water draining from it cleaner, but it can also help reduce the flow of water off the moors, thereby helping to reduce the impacts of flooding further downstream.

For more information, contact Simon Wyndow 01386 725 900 07989 159 420

“This study, working with Manchester University will help inform and guide land managers as to what species, techniques and density of planting will have the most impact, and we are extremely grateful to the Estate and the Head Keeper in particular, for allowing us access to the monitoring sites over the coming months and years.”

simonw@kingsbridge.co.uk kibl.co.uk

The work will help improve the moor biodiversity and habitat. The UK holds 13 per cent of the world’s blanket bog, which is a key store of carbon, and if properly managed has the potential to sequester and lock up carbon. This is significant in terms of mitigating against climate change.

Dr Tim Thom, Peat Programme Manager at Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, which leads YPP, said: “It’s been tremendous working with Yorkshire Water and the Swinton Estate. We’re looking forward to expanding that work with our research into Sphagnum planting techniques that will help improve peatland restoration across Yorkshire.”

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WATER INDUSTRY JOURNAL SEPTEMBER 2018

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Robin Bolton, CAFRE, Michael Chance, IFA (Irish Farmers’ Association) Donegal County Chairman, Diane Foster, Source to Tap Project Manager, Paul Harper, NI Water Director of Asset Delivery, Trudy Higgins, Irish Water, Environmental Strategy Lead, Mark Horton The Rivers Trust and David Brown Deputy President UFU.

Innovative pilot cross-border Grant scheme helps farmers protect rivers in Counties Donegal and Tyrone An innovative and exciting new pilot crossborder Land Incentive Scheme has been launched in the River Derg catchment, which will support farmers in adopting farming practices that help to protect the quality of river water that is the source of drinking water for communities in Counties Donegal and Tyrone.

Diane Foster NI Water Project Manager said: “The Source to Tap project is led by NI Water in partnership with Irish Water, Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute, East Border Region, Ulster University and The Rivers Trust and is funded by the EU’S INTERREG VA Programme, managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB).

This scheme is part of a major €5.3M crossborder EU INTERREG VA funded project called Source to Tap, which aims to improve water quality in rivers and lakes in the Erne and Derg catchment areas which provide water that serves parts of counties Fermanagh, Tyrone, Donegal, Cavan, Leitrim and Longford.

“We are delighted to launch this initiative as part of the overall project, which will give the farming community the opportunity to apply for 100% funding to support farmers in making small changes in farming practices such as using a contractor to spray rushes and installing stock fencing on watercourses.”

While this particular project directs funding towards improvement at source and this assists greatly with prevention of pollution, its impact will benefit complete communities in all walks of life and as such we fully support the initiative.

The overall aim of the scheme is to protect raw water quality at source by reducing contaminants getting into the water in the first place and raise awareness of the importance of protecting our precious drinking water resources.

The scheme will run from 25 July 2018 to 31 July 2020 and will be operated on a first come first served basis through the Source to Tap project.

The project employs three Project Officers who will work closely with farmers in the Derg area to guide them through the application process and help them identify what improvements can be made on their farms to benefit both their farm businesses and the water environment.

Speaking at the launch event, UFU deputy president, David Brown said: “This project

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is win-win for both the environment and agriculture. Farmers understand the importance of water quality and want to help make a difference. This project will help to give them the advice and tools to do so. It is a great example of collaborative working and we are very pleased to be a part of it.”

Michael Chance, Chairman of the Donegal Irish Farmers’ Association said that this scheme will be of huge benefit to the people of Donegal and Tyrone: “This is real money and will be hugely beneficial in contributing to the enhancement of farmland in the Derg Catchment area while ensuring the protection of our water source for generations to come.”

Michael Clarke, Co. Tyrone Chairman of the Northern Ireland Agricultural Producers’ Association added: “While this particular project directs funding towards improvement at source and this assists greatly with prevention of pollution, its impact will benefit complete communities in all walks of life and as such we fully support the initiative.”

Match-funding for the project has been provided by the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs in Northern Ireland and the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government in Ireland.

Further details are available by contacting +44 (0)7799 774702 or by e-mail at: info@sourcetotap.eu

WATER INDUSTRY JOURNAL SEPTEMBER 2018

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Environment secretary opens Shieldhall tunnel in Glasgow Scotland’s biggest sewer superstructure has become operational in a feat of engineering hailed as “extraordinary” by Environment Secretary Roseanna Cunningham.

She said the Shieldhall Tunnel in Glasgow built on the legacy of the country’s engineering and water pioneers and would benefit communities for centuries to come.

Ms Cunningham visited the Scottish Water control room where the country’s vast network of pipes and sewers are managed and monitored around the clock.

Flows have started to run through the tunnel from across the south-side of Glasgow with communities expected to benefit from fewer flooding incidents and improved environmental conditions.

Ms Cunningham said: “The strategic importance of the Shieldhall Tunnel as part of the ongoing investment across Glasgow by Scottish Water cannot be understated. It’s a fantastic example of the capital investment programme delivering real long-term benefits for communities to reduce flooding, help deal with the impact of climate change and improve the environment.

“Much of our underground infrastructure for water and waste water dates to the Victorian era when we proudly led the way in introducing massive improvements to deliver positive impact on the health of our communities. Communities across Glasgow will benefit for years to come from this latest extraordinary feat of engineering which lies hidden deep beneath the city.

“It represents the latest chapter in our collective aim to provide safe and sustainable ways of managing waste in our biggest city. It is a significant part of the overall investment in Greater Glasgow which is essential to economic prosperity regionally and nationally.

Scottish Water is investing £3.5bn throughout the country to deliver infrastructure which is fit for communities now and for decades to come.”

The tunnel is the flagship project in Scottish Water’s investment in the Glasgow area’s waste water infrastructure, the biggest since Victorian times, and stretches for 3.1 miles from Craigton to Queen’s Park via Bellahouston and Pollok parks.

It was constructed over almost two years by a team of more than 100 workers, from countries across the world, using a state-of-the-art tunnel boring machine (TBM) named Daisy the Driller by a local schoolboy, which weighed 1000 tonnes and was longer than 14 buses.

The tunnel will alleviate pressure on the existing waste water network with 90,000 cubic metres of extra storm water storage.

That’s more than 108m litres or the equivalent of 36 Olympic-sized swimming pools.

It will also reduce the risk of flooding in Aikenhead Road and Curtis Avenue in Mount Florida and Robslee Drive, Robslee Road, Robslee Crescent and Orchard Park Avenue in Giffnock.

Some of the key facts and figures about the £100 million tunnel include: n More than 500,000 tonnes of earth, stone and clay was excavated. n More than 3200 six-segment concrete rings were installed n It took over 1.5 million working hours to construct n Over 90% of material excavated was recycled.

The tunnel will substantially reduce the amount and frequency of waste water discharged from a number of Combined Sewer Overflows (CSOs) and enable more than 90% of what was discharged at these CSOs to be treated at Shieldhall Waste Water Treatment Works before being discharged there.

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Douglas Millican, Scottish Water’s Chief Executive, said: “We are delighted to have completed the Shieldhall Tunnel, which is the flagship project in Scottish Water’s investment in the waste water infrastructure in the Greater Glasgow area – the biggest in well over a century.

“The city’s waste water infrastructure required major improvements to help transform it into a modern, integrated and sustainable system which will improve the environment and biodiversity on the River Clyde and help tackle flooding.

“As the Greater Glasgow area continues to develop, we are modernising our waste water infrastructure to support the needs of both existing and future customers.

“The completion of the Shieldhall Tunnel is a key part of that network modernisation.”

Dominic Flanagan, Scottish Water Project Manager, said: “Many hundreds of people have worked as part of Costain VINCI Construction Grand Projets (correct) Joint Venture (CVJV), which was set up to deliver the tunnel.

“To enable the construction of the tunnel required a wide range of specialist skills, knowledge and expertise. Over the course of the project, our workforce has included local contractors and those with international experience and backgrounds.

“We are all enormously proud of what we have achieved for the good of the people of Greater Glasgow.”

WATER INDUSTRY JOURNAL SEPTEMBER 2018

NEWS z

Untapped potential: Ofwat reviews first year of the business retail water market The business retail water market is off the ground, but not yet in full flow, according to a new report from regulator Ofwat.

The first in-depth review of the non-household retail water market, which opened in April 2017, has found that greater choice and competition is delivering clear benefits for many customers who have switched provider or renegotiated their current deal. These customers have collectively saved around £8 million on their bills and up to 540 million litres of water. Customers have also saved time as a result of simplified billing.

However, smaller business customers are less aware and interested in the market and so many may be missing out on the benefits the new market can offer. Ofwat has identified a number of issues which are impeding the market from working to its full potential for customers, including:

Radar sensor £460*

n Poor interaction between wholesalers and retailers, which is needed to ensure key functions of the market work as smoothly as possible and that customers receive the best experience possible;

Low-cost radar sensor for water level measurement

n A lack of complete, accurate and timely market and customer data, resulting in, for instance, inaccurate or late meter readings which can lead to switching being delayed; and,

One sensor, all round capability - Reliable level control

n Poor performance by wholesalers to deliver good customer outcomes – overall, wholesalers completed only two thirds of their required tasks such as meter reads on time, leading to knock-on impacts for retailers and customers, including late or inaccurate billing.

for water and sewage treatment facilities, pumping stations and rain overflow basins. Level sensing for sludge processing and AD units. Open channel flow measurement, open water and flood level monitoring.

Wholesalers, retailers and the market operator MOSL all have a key role to play in addressing these challenges and working together, they can ensure that we have a well-functioning market with customers at its heart.

VEGAPULS WL S 61 ▪ Measuring range up to 8 m

For its part, Ofwat will continue to take forward a range of work including its review of price protections and exploring what more can be done to encourage wholesalers to meet their obligations to support efficient market functioning.

▪ Use outdoors without restriction ▪ Flood-proof IP68 housing

▪ Operation via Bluetooth with Smartphone, Tablet or PC

Ofwat’s Senior Director for Customers and Casework, Emma Kelso said: “A year on from opening up the business retail water market, we’ve taken the first in-depth look at how that market has performed for its customers, to find out what is working and what isn’t. While many customers are starting to save money, time and water as a result of switching or renegotiating, other customers have yet to benefit as much as they could.

* Scaled pricing: 1 to 3 units £460 | 4 to 9 units 10% discount | 10+ units, price on request

It’s clear from our report that there is still much untapped potential in this market. For instance, our survey of customers reveals that many are interested in a range of new services including around water efficiency.

Further information: www.vega.com/wls61

Call +44 1444 870055

By addressing the challenges we’ve identified around data quality, the performance of wholesalers and the vital relationship between wholesalers and retailers, we will have a market delivering to its full potential with, at its heart, customers who are aware of the options available and who feel able and empowered to participate”.

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WATER INDUSTRY JOURNAL SEPTEMBER 2018

Which Flavours of Asset Risk should you Capture?

Asset rich companies have long understood the risk to performance and service delivery from deterioration of their assets. But the leading companies are now looking to combine their understanding of deterioration with their knowledge of operational risks and network resilience in one place, and are reaching a truly strategic understanding of asset risk. SEAMS Product Manager, Tom Rowson, left, explains the difference in these types of risk, and how you can combine and compare them.

More than One Type of Asset Risk

figure 1

In the asset management industry, considerable effort is put into the modelling of deterioration risk and its mitigation with asset investment plans.

However, two other types of risk have now emerged as having equal, if not greater importance.

Operational risk is day-to-day risk associated with running assets, and it is captured reactively. Operational risk is incurred when an asset appears ready to fail sooner than expected, outside of planned maintenance or replacement windows.

Resilience risk is a measure of a network’s ability to resist infrequent, large-scale ‘shock’ events, such as periods of flooding or drought.

If your assets are put at risk by a shock event, are they able to resist or recover quickly, and will supply to customers be protected?

Visualising Risk

All three risk types can be represented together, on a figurative chart of service through time (figure 1). Deterioration risk is represented by the gradual, overall decline in service. Operational risk is the ‘noise’ on the line – the constant flutter in service as single assets come in or drop out of service. The response to shock events (representing the resilience risk) is shown by the large, sharp dips in the line.

Putting a Number on Risk

Now that you know what kinds of risks you need to consider for your assets, how do you go about assessing the relative scale of each?

Deterioration risk is typically calculated through predictive analytics, using swathes of data combined with theoretical models to forecast the long-term degradation of a set of assets. Data is analysed for aggregated groups of assets in order to provide sufficient statistical rigour in the outputs.

Operational risk is far more reactive, and its capture is by its nature ad hoc. An operational risk is not predicted, but rather the result

of an unexpected circumstance – an asset deteriorating more quickly than predicted, or a digger cutting through a pipe, or an act of malicious damage. Some operational risks require immediate attention, but others can be deferred and taken account of as part of a planned scheme of works.

Resilience risk is a measure of the system’s ability to keep delivering even when infrequent, large scale shock events occur. As such, it should be proactively assessed, but cannot be as forward-looking as deterioration risk. Because events are rare and data sparse, resilience risk calculation cannot rely so heavily on analytics; instead, assessments are carried out by subject matter experts, and there is a reliance on expert opinion to provide qualitative inputs to the assessment process, which can then be translated into an overall quantitative resilience status (or, resilience to the risk of impact from shock events).

Managing Asset Risk

Once risk has been captured for your assets, what do you do with the information? The obvious answer is to manage and mitigate the risks, but how do you go about that?

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The key is to put the risks in a common framework, so that they can be directly compared.

Choosing the measure by which you compare your risks is not necessarily straightforward. A single measure called ‘risk’ may not be directly comparable across risk types and capture methodologies, and so instead the risks have to be converted into time-dependent impacts on key performance, service and cost indicators.

Potential solutions to the risks are also measured in the same terms, and can therefore be submitted to an optimisation engine to produce a plan for capital investment which provides the very best risk reduction for your money, across all types of risk.

A single, unified register of your risks will give you the power to act in a truly strategic way.

If you’re interested in finding out more, or how SEAMS EDA can help you manage asset risk and balance investment, visit www.seamsltd.com or email: contact@seamsltd.com

WATER INDUSTRY JOURNAL SEPTEMBER 2018

MAKING SURE EVERYTHING FLOWS SMOOTHLY Wolseley UK Infrastructure is a leading provider of Civils and Utilities solutions. We supply the essential products and services that enable our communities and businesses to function.

And keep the country connected.

For superior technical expertise, unrivalled range and availability and friendly and responsive service, speak to us today.

Our utilities products include: • Gas pipe • Water pipe • Valves

• Hydrants • Metering • Fittings

• Fabrication • Chambers and sections • Consumables

Tel: 0344 2511 999 fusion-utilities.co.uk

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WATER INDUSTRY JOURNAL SEPTEMBER 2018

z NEWS

The future of the nanoparticle It is entirely conceivable that the engineered nanoparticles that seem like today’s water treatment panacea, could be tomorrow’s ecological dynamite. The potential for the use of nanoparticles in water treatment such as water filtration is too compelling to ignore, despite the potential risks.

Here, Rachael Benstead, senior aquatic ecotoxicologist at Translational science and research organisation, Fera Science Ltd, helps plot a roadmap to a future in which we can take advantage of the benefits of nanotechnology in water and mitigate against the drawbacks.

Nanoparticles are particles between one and 100 nanometers (nm) in size surrounded by an interfacial layer consisting of ions, inorganic and organic molecules. Though usually associated with modern science, nanoparticles have been used as far back as fourth century Rome and were first described in scientific terms by Michael Faraday in his 1847 paper.

A nanoparticle behaves as a whole unit with respect to its transport and properties and is commonly used in many areas of innovation including manufacturing, agriculture, business, medicine and public health.

Water

Within water and wastewater treatment in particular, nanoparticles and other nanotechnology such as nanofilters are now entering the commercial market, which is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 9.7 per cent during the next five years. This is largely due to reducing costs and pressure to supply clean drinking water to the world’s growing population.

The most remarkable example is perhaps the use of nanofilters for reverse osmosis. Reverse osmosis is widely accepted as the best way to desalinate water and involves feeding water through a semipermeable membrane.

Traditionally, this was much too energy intensive to be viable for most uses. However, much less pressure is required to pass water across nanofilters than traditional filters, making the process up to fifty per cent more efficient by using nanotechnology.

Other advantages of nanotechnology are more directly related to the small size. The huge surface area to volume ratio that can only be achieved by such small particles means the material is likely to be much more reactive.

This increased reactivity can mean substances that are well understood in their bulk state might respond differently to expectations in its nanoparticle state. They also have an extremely high mobility, allowing them to react with a large number of molecules in a very fast timescale.

This means, in addition to desalination, nanoparticles can be used to remove

The potential for the use of nanoparticles in water treatment such as water filtration is too compelling to ignore, despite the potential risks sediments, chemical effluents, charged particles and even kill bacteria by releasing silver ions.

However, some of these benefits may also pose risks to the environment if nanoparticles are inadvertently released, either through use or accidentally through spills or steam released during the manufacturing process.

Hazards

Some synthetic nanoparticles could be directly toxic to microbes, plants and animals, where others may provide a secondary risk. For example, silver ions released to kill bacteria during water treatment will devastate biological populations, with knock-on effects to the entire ecosystem. Silver ions effectively kill bacteria, removing a food source for other organisms further up the food chain.

The toxic effects of many nanoparticles are not yet fully understood, especially as they are much more reactive than their largescale bulk equivalents. This could lead to untested and unrecognised, interactions with biological materials. In addition, the fate and behaviour of these particles in the environment is very difficult to properly track and study, with insufficient analytical techniques currently available for the detection and measurement of nanoparticles.

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This being said, there have not yet been any reports of adverse reactions to human health and nanotechnologies promise great benefits, especially in environments where clean water is scarce. However, future research into interactions, conducted to closely mimic the natural environment, such as in a large-scale flow-through mesocosm like Fera’s E-Flows mesocosm, is crucial to determine whether nanotechnology really is the panacea of water treatment.

Nanoparticles and nanofilters offer great potential for water treatment, particularly when facing the challenge of how to produce clean water for those in developing countries. However, the risks of using small, reactive particles, which could inadvertently end up in the water system and affect biological ecosystems cannot be overlooked.

Further testing must be carried out before nanoparticles can be deemed safe to enter the water supply, in order to mitigate the risk of devastating biological communities.

The ground-breaking E-Flows mesocosm project, developed, designed, managed and operated by Fera Science Ltd in partnership with the Centre for Crop Health and Protection (CHAP), supported by Innovate UK, will provide scientific research opportunities across a wide range of industries.

WATER INDUSTRY JOURNAL SEPTEMBER 2018

NEWS z

USW leading on project to help industry make major financial savings A research project that will help industry make significant savings and improve their environmental performance is being spearheaded by the University of South Wales (USW).

The consortium will work together to explore how innovative bioprocesses can be used to improve the overall efficiency of a range of industrial operations. For example, one area of focus will be the industrial demonstration of a biological process that will convert waste gases, including carbon dioxide, into a useful fuel and allow the recovery of any wasted heat energy, therefore improving the overall economic and environmental performance of the end user.

Prof. Sandra Esteves Professor Sandra Esteves, a specialist in bioprocess technology at USW’s Sustainable Environment Research Centre (SERC), is leading the SMART Circle Research Consortium, which aims to help businesses improve their efficiency, reduce environmental impact, generate more income and reduce bills.

Consortium partners include Dwr Cymru Welsh Water and Cogent Power, which is part of the TATA Steel Group. Other partners include GP Biotec, Bryn Power, FRE-Energy, BPE Design and Support, Heatcatcher and, from Spain, the Severo Ochoa Foundation.

The three-year project is funded by a £1m grant from the Welsh Government’s SMART Expertise Programme, which utilises EU structural funds to support innovation in industry, and a £1m match contribution from the industry partners. The project was the first to be funded under the SMART Expertise scheme, with the team highly commended for its innovative approach.

The project also aims to develop technology that can recover unused, high-value molecules including nutrients and enzymes from low-value materials such as sewage sludge, commercial and municipal solid wastes. These high-value materials are then available for use in other industrial processes, and the disposal cost of any remaining waste is greatly reduced.

The ultimate aim of the project is to develop more efficient bio-technology systems that could provide viable solutions to help businesses become more resource efficient and adopt ‘Circular Economy’ approaches.

Prof Esteves, whose expertise is in developing technology that helps to recover energy and materials, said: “The strategy, technology and methods we are working to develop through this research aims to give businesses ways to benefit from using the waste products they produce during their industrial processes.

“By finding ways in which we can use more of the by-products, the businesses will be able to use these to make their processes more efficient, spend less on waste disposal, become more environmentally friendly, and, in turn, improve quality of life for wider society.

production and waste treatment processes which we can study to develop these more efficient systems.”

Mark Cichuta, Director of Product and Process Development at Tata Steel UK Limited, said: “SMART Circle provides us with the opportunity to participate in the development of processes that could improve the efficiency and reduce the carbon emissions of a range of industrial processes. This is exciting, gamechanging research and development, and we are pleased to provide our support to the team.”

Denise Nicholls, Managing Director of FreEnergy Ltd, added: “Fre-Energy is a company that is constantly innovating, so participating in the SMART Circle project is a natural extension of our business activities. Improving resource efficiency invariably provides opportunities across the board – businesses, the environment and society can benefit from the outputs of this exciting and ambitious project.”

While Dr Richard Matthews, Asset Engineer for Dwr Cymru Welsh Water, added: “SMART Circle is an ambitious research project that could lead to far-reaching improvements in our waste water treatment processes over the coming years.

“The principle of extracting the maximum value from the material that we treat will help us to continue to meet our regulatory requirements and protect our environment, as well as providing best value to our customers.”

“Working with business partners will mean that we have access to a wide variety of The SMART Circle Project is partially funded by the European Regional Development Fund as administered by the Welsh Government SMART Expertise programme.

Ofwat calls for game change in leakage Rachel Fletcher Chief Executive for Ofwat said: “Ofwat wants to see a game change on leakage in the water sector. We’ve thrown down the gauntlet for water companies to cut down on leakage by 170 billion litres a year - enough to meet the yearly needs of everyone in the cities of Birmingham, Leeds, Manchester, Liverpool and Cardiff combined - 3.1 million people.”

reduce leakage and have shown that we will take tough action those that fail to meet their leakage commitments.”

Referring to recent reports, Rachel Fletcher continued: “We have not said that water consumption should return to the levels of the 1960s.

Water is an essential service and water companies must be prepared for whatever the weather brings. As well as reducing leakage we expect water companies to do much more to provide customers with the tools they need to use water wisely.”

“Our role is to regulate water companies and not customers’ water use. That is why we have set a challenging target on companies to

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WATER INDUSTRY JOURNAL SEPTEMBER 2018

How the power of location is driving transformation for UK water Water utilities face unprecedented challenges ranging from population growth and the changing climate, to regulatory pressures and delivering a better customer experience.

All while being charged with adapting to technological advances and embracing digital transformation. In this article Kevin Doughty, Head of Utilities for Esri UK, explains how location technology is helping water companies across the UK transform their operations.

Kevin Doughty

Head of Utilities, Esri UK The UK water industry is under tremendous pressure to improve the way it operates. While the 2019 price review (PR19) has a financial dimension to it, it also has a customer-centric focus. Ofwat has said it plans “to deliver PR19 in a way that is customer focused, long term and incentivises companies to innovate and be ambitious”.

Fortunately, water utilities have an incredibly powerful asset in their data: huge amounts of existing data, and data they constantly continue to generate. By embracing digital transformation, a business can turn large volumes of data into actionable information.

Making that information available at the right time, in the right location, and in the right context, from a single version of the truth helps people to work together to collaborate, innovate, break down silos and deliver improved performance.

Digital innovation will be key to success and survival and location data and GIS (geographic information system) technology already plays a huge role enabling organisations build a connected workforce, modernise operational processes while delivering enhanced customer service.

Enhanced operational efficiencies For those of us who have been working in the industry for many years it’s hard to believe that, until relatively recently, many organisations were still reliant on pen and paper in the field, to record assets.

Northumbrian Water presented at Esri UK’s Annual Conference back in May and shared how they are using location technology, as its primary field collection method, to circumvent traditionally slow-moving corporate development cycles and deliver high quality solutions, at a lower cost.

Clive Surman-Wells talked about how they were able to rapidly deploy ArcGIS Collector on iPhones, for use by field workers who are responsible for inspecting and verifying the position of wastewater assets and pipework.

They reduced one 15-year mapping exercise down to three years and drastically reduced the costs of the exercise to £2million from the original budget of £10million, a fantastic example of how a forward-looking team has been able to deliver significantly enhanced operational efficiencies, with real-time data collection and analysis.

Northern Ireland Water’s situational awareness web map provides managers with a clear overview of customer issues in real-time

Exceptional customer service

Another key tenet of digital transformation is how having access to insight, based on the latest data and intelligence, can help to drive a more innovative approach to customer service.

Andy Nicholson, asset data manager at Wessex Water, explains it like this: “The more information you can provide, and the more engagement you can deliver, the more positive a customer is going to feel about your organisation. We can tell people on a live chat, for example, what’s happening in their local vicinity and when we will be working in their area next.”

It is this location-led approach that allows companies to take the information they hold and create a richer experience for customers.

“As a business we are constantly looking for new, creative ways to improve our customer communication and GIS gives us an ideal platform for innovation,” observes Andy.

Informing strategic decisions

Severn Trent Water is a good example of a water company that, since implementing a location technology solution, is using its data to make more informed strategic decisions about asset replacements. The company can also prevent potential asset failures from occurring and therefore avoid the added cost and inconvenience of emergency repairs.

When Northern Ireland Water selected Esri’s location platform as its new corporate GIS system, it didn’t just get all the functionality that the business needed. It also gained a suite of tools creating a ‘place of opportunity’ for

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improving its customers’ experience, reducing costs and removing inefficient processes. Call centre agents can deliver better customer service with immediate visibility of emerging situations. Engineers can design new water networks for developers, significantly faster with automated tools. And field-based teams can upload asset information direct to the Corporate Asset Register with mobile apps.

As Sara Venning, Chief Executive, says “Northern Ireland Water’s new corporate GIS, implemented using Esri technology, gives us the advantage of being able to swiftly deploy spatial solutions to aid decision-making.”

Where next?

Location technology is already helping water companies across the UK transform their operations. Ground-breaking GIS tools and techniques are empowering decision-makers to focus on the most effective customercentric strategies and work with layers of data to uncover hidden insights and share them across the entire organisation.

Improving mission-critical operations gives companies the space to innovate. Already there is much discussion about how augmented reality and location can be combined so, for example, instead of having just a 2D map view, field workers in the future will be able to see the entire infrastructure around them, assets above and below ground. Embracing digital transformation is not only enabling the water industry to address today’s unprecedented challenges, but also invest in the future.

For more information: www.esriuk.com/water

Forward-thinking leaders at today’s water utilities are increasingly looking to location intelligence technologies to help address customer demands and solve business challenges.

Advanced mapping and spatial analytics reveal relationships and patterns, answer questions and help users make more informed decisions in the office and the field.

Intelligent water management and planning begins with location

To find out more, contact us on:

sales@esriuk.com 01296 745599

Discover more at:

esriuk.com/water

WATER INDUSTRY JOURNAL SEPTEMBER 2018

z NEWS

New device will help protect vulnerable communities in Colombia from unsafe water An international collaboration between the University of Bath and Universidad de los Andes has developed a low cost, portable and user-friendly multi-sensing device for detecting heavy metals and measuring physico-chemical parameters in water sources.

The ‘Water Monitoring in Colombian Vulnerable Communities in a Post-Conflict Scenario’ project, financed by the Newton Fund Institutional Links, has developed an integrated sensing device for testing water which can easily be used by non-experts.

The device not only provides a simple and realtime way of testing water systems, it can also simultaneously upload the findings to a webbased platform via a mobile app. The online resource stores the information and visualises the sampling location on a map. The acquired data is public and can be accessed anytime from anywhere in the world.

The device measures four key physicochemical variables in water, including pH levels, conductivity, temperature and dissolved oxygen. It also monitors the presence of heavy metals in water, including mercury.

Colombia is the third most mercurycontaminated country in the world, largely due to intense illegal metal mining. The mercury significantly pollutes the water and sediments of rivers, including parts of the River Amazon.

The pollution builds up in the food chain, primarily within fish consumed by local people, but it can also reach fruit and vegetables through irrigation. In the dry season, river water becomes the major source of drinking water in many areas. Rural indigenous communities are particularly suffering from mercury pollution.

Large numbers of rural municipalities and indigenous territories in Colombia are currently affected by this contamination, with high rates of mercury-related diseases resulting in foetus malformations and brain disorders, rates which are increasing every year.

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The multisensing device was tested with the indigenous community of the Resguardo Santa Sofia, located at the southern tip of the Amazonas region of Colombia. The research team spent nearly three weeks in the Amazon testing the sensor to ensure it met their needs and was easy to use.

Project leader and Senior Lecturer in the University of Bath’s Department of Chemical Engineering, Dr Mirella Di Lorenzo, said: “Due to the lack of financial resources and technology, communities like Santa Sofia in the Amazon have no means of checking if the water they are surrounded by is safe to use.

This multi-sensing device can have a massive impact to these communities, allowing them to easily check if the water they are using is safe to do so.”

The researchers expect that by being able to map out areas of water affected by mercury as well as providing water users with key water variable readings, this approach will help prevent the spread of water-borne diseases. Their vision is that communities are empowered with a means of testing a water supply themselves whilst authorities are provided with evidence of water affected by illegal mining allowing them to act and mitigate this activity.

Dr Alba Graciela Avila Bernal, Associate Professor at the Universidad de los Andes, and Co-Investigator in the project commented:

WATER INDUSTRY JOURNAL SEPTEMBER 2018

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“Humans have contaminated many regions in the world and it is a particular shame we have contaminated the Amazon.

“By combining our expertise in participatory design and humanitarian engineering with the sensing expertise at the University of Bath, we have provided this community with a reliable and affordable way of testing the water they so heavily depend upon.”

This multidisciplinary and multi-cultural project, funded by the Newton Fund Institutional links, has brought researchers from the University of Bath’s (UK) Water Innovation & Research Centre (WIRC @ Bath) and Centre for Sustainable Chemical Technologies (CSCT) together with researchers from Universidad de los Andes’ Faculties of Economics and Engineering, combining their expertise to the benefit of a vulnerable community in one of the most remote parts of Colombia: the Amazon.

The researchers are now aiming to further improve the device by making it more intuitive and smaller; thereby making it easier for a technology that can be used by rural communities.

The researchers are hopeful that this potentially life-changing device can be produced on a large scale and that collected data could be used by leaders in the communities and policy makers.

A short feature film ‘Water Sweet Water’, which showcases the work of the research team during their time spent with the Santa Sofia community, can be viewed at www.monitoreociudadano.uniandes.edu.co

“By combining our expertise in participatory design and humanitarian engineering with the sensing expertise at the University of Bath, we have provided this community with a reliable and affordable way of testing the water they so heavily depend upon.”

We can help you reimagine your water R&D

Water Innovation & Research Centre

Through the Water Innovation and Research Centre at the University of Bath our experts work with industry, academia, and other stakeholders to tackle the fundamental issues surrounding sustainable water. Through WISE, our Centre for Doctoral Training in Water Informatics: Science and Engineering, we work with collaborative partners to train the next generation of skilled water scientists and engineers.

To explore a partnership with water research experts and students at the University of Bath for your organisation, contact water-research@bath.ac.uk.

go.bath.ac.uk/water-research

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20 172 80

years

million m3 of flow treated tonnes of phosphorus removed

Read the case study hydro-int.com/vaxjo

Challenge convention: visit hydro-int.com/vaxjo or search hydro vaxjo online.

Phosphorus Removal Meeting phosphorus removal targets is one of the greatest challenges facing the water industry today. In this section, we look at how the industry is tackling the problem and what technologies and methods are being used to meet the challenge.

WATER INDUSTRY JOURNAL SEPTEMBER 2018

z PHOSPHORUS REMOVAL

The Phosphorus Challenge

By Pete Vale

Innovation Technical Team, Severn Trent

The importance of phosphorus

Phosphorus (P) is essential to life, it is part of the structure and function of all living cells. Without it we can’t grow crops, fruit or vegetables and it’s an essential ingredient in the feed that farmers give to livestock. It is also a non-renewable, finite resource that is becoming rapidly depleted.

However, P is also the most common cause of water quality failures in England. When P enters our rivers and streams its fertilising effect (termed eutrophication) can cause major ecological problems through the excessive growth of algae and plants. That’s why at Severn Trent we’re investing more than £100m on new P removal technologies at our sewage treatment works to improve the quality of water that we discharge into the environment.

Controlling eutrophication

Our modern way of life is very inefficient in its use of nutrients. We apply P to land as fertiliser, some of this may leach directly into the aquatic environment, some will accumulate in soils and some will be converted to food. The P that is converted to food will be consumed and thereafter a substantial proportion will be excreted ending up in sewage. In addition to the P excreted, sewage also contains P from detergents (although due to a ban on the use of P in laundry and dishwasher detergents, this has substantially declined in recent years), from phosphoric acid added to drinking water to prevent plumbosolvency and from trade effluent inputs. Untreated sewage typically contains 6 – 10 mg/l of P, and therefore removing P from the discharge of sewage treatment works (STWs) is necessary to protect our aquatic environment.

Progress in tackling P

The water industry has made great progress in controlling the discharge of P. Since the 1990s, under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive the removal of P was introduced at STWs discharging to some of the worst

Packington STW test-bed during construction

CoMag pilot plant at Packington STW

affected waters. Over the last 20 years the number of STWs with P removal processes installed has increased dramatically, so that by 2015 P reduction was in place at some 650 large STWs, with phosphorus discharge limits typically set at 1 or 2 mg/l total P. It is estimated that the UK water industry will have invested £2 billion by 2020 to improve treatment specifically to remove P. As shown in Figure 2, this has led to a substantial reduction of 60% in the amount of P discharged to rivers from STWs.

The technologies trialled employed a range of different techniques using physical, chemical and biological processes and we have evaluated different solutions for our different sized sites. The technologies assessed included proprietary technologies that have been implemented this AMP and truly novel processes that offer the possibility of more sustainable solutions in the future. The six technologies evaluated are described below:

Tighter limits now required

Despite major progress in reducing P inputs to water, over half of assessed river water bodies and 3/4 of lake water bodies currently exceed their P standard. P is the most common reason for English water bodies not achieving “Good Ecological Status” as required under the Water Framework Directive (WFD).

To respond to the challenge of improving water quality still further, Severn Trent is investing over £100 million in P removal technology in AMP6 (2015 – 2020). An investment that will see around 100 STWs upgraded by March 2020. The WFD requires us to meet much tighter P limits than we have in the past (0.5mg/l), and Severn Trent have invested in technologies to meet even lower limits (to as low as 0.2mg/l). To meet these new targets, our existing technology needs to be upgraded, and we’re trying to do this in the most cost efficient and sustainable way.

Packington STW Low P demonstration facility

2 Pile cloth media filters (Mecana): This technology uses iron dosing to convert soluble P to particulate form and a fine weaved cloth to filter the precipitate. Pile cloth filters use relativity little energy and have proven effective at removing solids. We are installing these filters at over twenty sites in AMP6 and anticipate that this will become an even more widely used process in AMP7. These filters are included in our design manual as a low totex solution for tight P limits on small to medium sized works.

These trials have led to us roll out a number of these technologies to our sites, delivering AMP6 totex efficiencies of over £13 million, a rapid return on innovation investment. For AMP7 we envisage further totex savings of at least a similar scale.

3 Iron dosed tertiary membrane filtration: This technology uses iron-dosed ultrafiltration membranes to ensure virtually all solids are removed from the effluent after iron is used to convert soluble P to particulate P, delivering extremely low effluent P levels. The trial at Packington demonstrated that the process would be capable of meeting the very tightest P permits (of 0.1 mg/l and below) although the totex is likely to be high.

To increase cost efficiency, we have invested £4 million in a state of the art test rig at our Packington STW in order to trial a variety of innovative new phosphorus removal technologies.

Figure 2 – Reduction in the ammonia, BOD and phosphorus load discharged by STWs since 1995.

Source: Environment Agency.

1 Magnetite ballasted coagulation process (CoMag): this process combines a coagulant, a magnetite ballast and a polymer to produce a weighted precipitate that settles very quickly and effectively. The trial proved that very low P levels can be achieved with this process. As a result we are currently installing the process at full scale at Finham STW in Coventry, one of our largest sewage works to achieve a very tight P limit of 0.22mg/l. The CoMag process is now included in our design manual matrix and is seen as particularly suitable for large works with very tight P limits.

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WATER INDUSTRY JOURNAL SEPTEMBER 2018

4 Reactive media reedbeds: This replaces the conventional media (gravel) used in reedbeds with a media that reacts with the P and then filters it out. This process would be ideal for small treatment works where delivering and storing chemicals can be problematic. The steel slag media evaluated at Packington is a by-product of the steel industry. Although the process was shown to be effective at removing P, we still need to find a solution to the elevated pH of the effluent. Development work in this area continues with alternative media being evaluated, for example apatite, a natural rock media with an affinity for P. We have plans to run further trials this AMP with a view to full scale roll-out in AMP7 if successful.

5 Immobilised Algal Bioreactor: This utilises algae to remove P (and ammonia) rather than using chemicals like iron. This offers a more sustainable approach to meeting the challenge of the WFD. This extremely novel (world first) approach encapsulates algae in a bead, significantly reducing the energy required to separate the algae from the treated effluent. Further development is required to increase the readiness of the technology to a point where we can consider its full scale implementation.

6 Nano-particle embedded ion exchange: The final technology we have been evaluating is an ion exchange process, which removes the P by adsorbing it onto

PHOSPHORUS REMOVAL z

Mecana pilot plant at Packington STW a media bed, meaning there is no need to dose chemicals. The media bed can be regenerated, allowing the P to be recovered in the form of a useful mineral (calcium phosphate). Although the ion exchange/ adsorption element of the technology is well developed, further work is required to optimise the regenerant clean-up and P recovery. Cost modelling indicates that this process can be extremely cost effective if these technical issues can be overcome.

Perhaps the greatest attraction of this last technology is the opportunity for P recovery.

Severn Trent has set out its vision to changing the way it delivers wastewater services

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Reactive media reed bed at Packington STW to make the most of resources which are becoming scarcer over time, and to provide more innovative services for customers in urban catchments. By embracing this circular economy approach, Severn Trent will deliver energy neutral, bio-refineries, creating valuable products from what has traditionally been viewed as waste.

Although the drive to meet tighter and tighter P limits in our treated wastewater discharges remains technically challenging, the successes achieved this AMP indicates that the future is bright both for the health of our rivers and in conserving the Earth’s precious resources.

WATER INDUSTRY JOURNAL SEPTEMBER 2018

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Harnessing process analytics to galvanise business improvements In this issue of the Water Industry Journal, we take a look at a business which harnesses process analytics to assist the water industry in tackling phosphorus removal, amongst other challenges.

Metrohm Process Analytics design, develop and custom-build online applications for their customers - replacing laboratory analysis with systems providing continuous online analysis.

Their applications take many of the manual steps out of a process, meaning clients can make more timely, evidence-based decisions.

As Jon Lidster, Metrohm Business Manager explains, “We take the time to understand what a client is trying to achieve, whether it is effective phosphorus removal or another process. We then gather information about their existing processes, their parameters and operating window, helping clients to understand what is going on and what improvements could be made.

“Once we’ve analysed a client’s existing processes, we set to work developing applications in the lab, before scaling them up and building an online application, designing systems that improve and streamline their processes, aiding business improvement.

“When analysing phosphorus removal processes, for example, we would always look at phosphorus recovery too, so that clients can make use of this finite resource, optimising their resources, creating a sustainable future and potentially adding an additional revenue stream to their operations too.

“Harnessing process analytics allows business to work better and smarter, and with any process that involves the application of chemicals, this is especially beneficial, improving safety, helping the environment and potentially reducing costs too.

“The fact that our online systems work continuously and can be accessed remotely has obvious benefits for the many unstaffed and inaccessible sites you find in the water industry and elsewhere.

“Rural sites can be monitored with ease, you’ll receive notification of any emerging problems in real-time, before they escalate, helping to prevent out of consent discharges and enabling your resources to be planned more effectively.”

Metrohm has over 40 years’ experience of process analytics, they have recently invested £1.5million in new premises that provides specialist laboratories and they have an inhouse engineering department, supporting their clients’ applications, with the expertise to design bespoke systems.

“Our analysers have a high capability, are accurate and robust,” explains Jon, “plus they are modular, future-proofing them for our clients, meaning they can be added to over time.”

One such analyser is the 2035 Process Analyser, which provides 24/7 online-monitoring of critical chemical parameters such as ortho- and total phosphate phosphorus in wastewater streams, utilising a compact digestion cuvette photometer module to monitor levels to DIN EN ISO 6878:2004-09.

In addition, Metrohm provides toxic metals monitors, plus pH, ammonia and alkalinity analysers, which work according to the DIN and ISO standard methods and are commonly used in wastewater treatment processing.

“We only sell our own products, we are not re-sellers, all of our components, even down to the screws we use, are designed and manufactured by us, which is rare indeed – meaning we never have supply issues.

Moreover, given we have full support in the UK and around the world, we are always here to give our clients the support they need.”

Metrohms services, go beyond providing a system, for they deliver full support for their applications, with excellent facilities to host training sessions, workshops, seminars and instrument demonstrations, so that businesses make the most of their investment.

One example of a bespoke system they’ve created is the surface water monitoring system designed for Heathrow Airport – a critical application helps keep the airport operating. The mixture of aviation fuel, de-icer and water, plus the vicissitudes of the weather, had proven a challenge for some of their competitors, yet Metrohm designed a system which was fit for purpose, being robust, accurate and reliable.

Metrohm also designed a unique online

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sulphate analyser for the Royal Mint, helping them to utilise their resources more efficiently, allowing for more accurate dosing, with less waste, fewer emissions, helping the environment and helping their bottom-line too. Such systems have obvious relevance for the water industry, not least in the sphere of phosphorus removal, providing the ability to analyse and dose water more accurately.

Metrohm expertise spans a wide range of industries, including the petrochemical and biofuel, pharmaceutical, chemical, polymer and plastics, environmental and energy industries, amongst others. The specialist equipment they’ve designed includes titration, chromatography, spectroscopy and voltammetry instruments to name a few, and they bring all of this expertise to each client.

As Jon explains, “we are proactive and solution driven, our knowledge and experience of a broad range of industries, informs the work we undertake in the water industry, helping to improve business processes.” www.metrohm.co.uk

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Lessons learnt from chemical investigation programmes In this issue of the Water Industry Journal, we speak to Paul Barter, Principal Process Engineer at Hydro International, about his experiences of the Chemical Investigations Programme Phase 2 (CIP2) and suggestions for improvements for future programmes.

Measuring up CIP2

“The CIP2 trials are an industry-wide initiative looking at how we can best go about removing phosphorus from wastewater. As part of the investigations, the UK water industry has been undertaking a number of pilots and full-scale trials using the latest technologies to see what is achievable.

“The findings have been helpful in some respects, providing useful data about what certain technologies can achieve – but the investigations have also had shortcomings.

First and foremost, by only testing new technologies a perception has been created that these are the only technologies which are endorsed for phosphorus removal. This means existing technologies with a tried and tested removal performance in the field have been and will continue to be overlooked.

Changing the goal posts

“Some existing technologies are already achieving the goals set for phosphorus removal, but because phosphorus removal targets have been tightened relatively recently, not all existing technology has been fully optimised, showing how effective it could become.

“It would have been interesting to see what established technologies could achieve when pitted against new ones, thereby providing more meaningful insights for the industry.

After all, what matters is effective phosphorus removal, not the novelty of the technology being used. The relatively narrow scope of the current investigations means the industry has been short-changed.

Untapped potential

“The untapped potential of tried and tested technology is yet to be explored. Looking ahead to CIP3, I would suggest that existing technologies are included, so that we can see precisely what levels of phosphorus removal they can reach.

“There has also been a mismatch in terms of how some of the trials have been conducted, specifically which datasets were used and how they were interpreted - meaning not all of the trials are comparable. Data interpretation should have been the same across the board – but not all of the water companies were working to the same protocol, so they failed to achieve uniformity of results.

“In addition, for a new system to be tested by a single company, does not result in a robust trial from which the industry can extrapolate – it simply doesn’t give a sufficiently in-depth picture of what a system is capable. Ideally,

each system should have been tested by more than one or two companies.

The problem of pollutants

“Another shortcoming in my view is that the investigations have focused solely on phosphorus removal and haven’t looked at this in the context of our broader efforts to remove additional pollutants, like ammonia and nitrogen.

“We mustn’t neglect other pollutants. Looking to CIP3, I would hope it would examine pharmaceutical discharges, for example. Some established technologies, like aerated sand filters, remove a broader range of pollutants, meaning they are both effective and costefficient, meeting more requirements.

Rethinking chemical usage

“How chemicals are fed into the process stream will affect the amount of removals obtained, whatever technology is utilised. Chemicals need to be well-mixed and spread evenly to be able to deliver optimal pollutant removals.

“I would also like to see, as part of CIP3, investigation into dosing methods which will provide insight and guidance for operators to ensure that dosing is optimised and removal targets are met without excessive/overuse of chemicals.

Efficient use of finite resources

“From an environmental perspective, phosphorus is a finite resource that, like all natural resources, will be used up over time.

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Given that it is utilised in so many products, we need to be thinking about how we can use less of it and look more closely at how phosphorus can be both recovered and recycled.

“Society has to come to terms with the idea of making and using products from recovered phosphorus, people tend to be uncomfortable with that, but we have to get over it. We also need to embrace resource efficiency with regards to the water itself – recycling and reusing water to a greater extent. From a municipal perspective, this could involve a greater proportion of drinking water quality being derived from recycled water. For industrial sites, improved treatment processes can lead to more closed loop systems, helping to reduce both water supply and sewerage obligations.

What next for the water industry?

“The water industry could use existing technologies to better effect,” explains Paul, “see how they measure up against new technologies and look at phosphorus removal in the context of our efforts to remove a broader range of pollutants. In addition, the industry should ensure that the chemicals we utilise are employed more efficiently so that we don’t use more than is absolutely necessary.”

For more information about wastewater phosphorus removal technologies visit: www.hydro-int.com/hydro-p-removal

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The C-TECH Process – Phosphorus removal made simple Ben Hazard Process Engineer

What’s the Problem?

Biological phosphorus removal is the phrase on everyone’s lips in the UK water industry at the moment, and achieving Bio-P removal with a low site footprint is the goal. Phosphorus and other nutrients that enter water courses through wastewater effluent discharge cause eutrophication in sensitive areas which drastically harms aquatic life. Therefore there are limits put into place for these sensitive areas on the concentration of nutrients that water companies are allowed to discharge – for phosphorus this currently stands at 2 mg/l for small sites and 1 mg/l for large sites, but this is expected to tighten to 0.1 mg/l in the coming AMP period. The number of sensitive areas is also expected to increase and both these factors highlight the need for water companies to invest in nutrient removal treatment processes to ensure they remain compliant in the years to come. A scarcity of available land for construction and financial constraints from Ofwat also calls for low footprint and low TOTEX solutions to be implemented for nutrient removal.

What’s the Solution?

Bio-P removal is typically achieved by creating the perfect conditions for the growth of phosphorus accumulating organisms (PAOs) within an activated sludge processes (ASP).

These PAOs uptake phosphorus when aerated and are then removed from the treated effluent during sludge removal.

The C-TECH cyclic activated sludge process from SFC Umwelttechnik and delivered

by Trant Engineering provides the perfect conditions for the growth of PAOs and therefore biological phosphorus removal, with treated effluent concentrations of < 1 mg/l.

The C-TECH process is fundamentally an adaption of the sequencing batch reactor (SBR) process, whereby secondary biological

Typical C-TECH Arrangement

Parameter

Design Influent Load (kg/d)

DWF

3,440 m3/d

WWF

9,900 m3/d

Average Influent Concentration (mg/l)

Average Effluent Concentration (mg/l)

January 2014 Effluent Concentration (mg/l)

6,480

218.6

4.7

5.7

COD

14,200

574.6

30.8

36.0

BOD5 SS

4,400

347.8

5.23

6.90

Total P

150

7.0

0.84

0.88

Total N

1,100

46.6

6.63

6.70

treatment and tertiary settling are combined in a single basin. However, with the C-TECH, two or more batch basin are installed in parallel with their sequences out of phase with each other allowing for a continuous flow through the system. Thus no upstream buffer tank is required, unlike traditional SBR systems. Such a process is known as a cyclic activated sludge process.

The phases of the C-TECH process are: Fill/ Aerate, Settle, and Decant, and within these three phases, COD/BOD5, total nitrogen, bio-P, and solids removal all happen within a single tank with no mechanical mixing equipment or complex valving arrangements necessary.

This really highlights the operation simplicity of the process and by eliminating the need for primary and tertiary settling tanks, buffer tanks, and anoxic zones, the overall site footprint reduction becomes clear.

As well as phosphorus removal, the C-TECH design allows for the formation of so-called Macroflocs. The enhanced size of these Macroflocs means that each floc contains an external aerobic zone and an internal anoxic/ anaerobic zone even during the aeration phase of the C-TECH process cycle. This means that both nitrification and denitrification occurs simultaneously within the same reactor zone and cycle phase, therefore reducing the required reactor volume/overall cycle time when compared to traditional AS or SBR processes.

Case Study

The Grossarl plant in Austria gives a good indication of what the latest C-TECH design can achieve in UK conditions. The 18,000 PE, 3,440 m3/d (DWF) plant was built in 2004 as an upgrade to an existing two-lane activated sludge plant. Two new C-TECH lanes were built and brought online either side of the existing lanes, and then the two existing activated sludge lanes were converted into two further C-TECH lanes, creating a four lane system all whilst keeping the site operational. The total volume of the four reactor basins is 5,200 m3 with a footprint of 1130 m2.

Grossarl’s influent consists of a mixture of domestic and industrial wastewater with typical water quality values shown above.

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Grossarl WWTW, Austria, 18,000 PE

Also shown in the table are the design influent and average effluent qualities for 2014. Even during the coldest month, January, when the water temperature is below 8°C, high levels of biological nutrient and BOD5/COD removal are still achieved.

Summary

The C-TECH has had great success worldwide with over 400 installations and is now a fitting technology to meet the rising needs of the UK wastewater industry.

C-TECH Advantages: n Continuous throughput allowing for elimination of buffer tank leading to ca.

50% reduction of plant footprint compared to conventional SBRs. n Excellent effluent quality guaranteed BOD5:SS:TN:TP of < 10:10:10:1 mg/l n Capital savings of around 10-20% when compared to conventional ASPs. n Energy savings of around 75-85% when compared to conventional ASPs. n Very simple operation, with optional OUR control, and DWF, WWF and maintenance cycle protocols as standard.

For more information please visit www.trant.co.uk

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High frequency monitoring to protect UK rivers!

The science behind nutrient pollution in rivers is still poorly understood despite the fact that nitrate and phosphate concentrations in UK rivers are mostly unacceptable. Key to improving our understanding is high-resolution monitoring across a broad spectrum of rivers. Below, Nigel Grimsley from OTT Hydromet describes relatively new technologies that have overcome traditional barriers to the continuous monitoring of nutrients.

Phosphates and nitrates support the growth of aquatic organisms. However, under certain conditions, such as warm, sunny weather and slow moving water, elevated nutrient concentrations can promote the growth of nuisance phytoplankton causing algal blooms (eutrophication), which harm aquatic ecology, making water unsuitable for recreation and more expensive to treat for drinking purposes.

In its State of the Environment report, February 2018, the Environment Agency said: Unacceptable levels of phosphorus in over half of English rivers, usually due to sewage effluent and pollution from farm land, chokes wildlife as algal blooms use up their oxygen. Groundwater quality is currently deteriorating. This vital source of drinking water is often heavily polluted with nitrates, mainly from agriculture. The EU Water Framework Directive (WFD) requires the UK to achieve ‘good status’ of all water bodies by 2015.

Dr Mike Bowes from the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology has published research, with others, in which the effects of varying soluble reactive phosphate (SRP) concentrations on periphyton growth rate (mixture of algae and microbes) were determined in 9 different rivers from around the UK. In all of these experiments, significantly increasing SRP concentrations in the river did not increase periphyton growth rate or biomass. This indicates that in most UK rivers, phosphorus concentrations are in excess, and therefore the process of eutrophication is not necessarily caused by intermittent increases in SRP. Traditional monitoring of upland streams has relied on sampling for lab analysis and research has shown that upland streams are less impaired by nutrient pollution than lowland rivers, but because of their size and limited dilution capacity they are more susceptible. Sampling for laboratory analysis can be a costly and time-consuming activity, particularly at upland streams in remote locations with difficult access. In addition, spot sampling risks missing concentration spikes.

Continuous monitoring is therefore generally preferred, but historically this has been difficult to achieve because of a requirement for frequent re-calibration and mains power.

High resolution SRP monitoring has been made possible with the launch by OTT Hydromet of the

the ‘HydroCycle PO4’ which is a battery-powered wet chemistry analyser for the continuous analysis of SRP. Typically, the HydroCycle PO4 is located in the river for monitoring purposes, but recent work by the Environment Agency has deployed it in a flow-through chamber for measuring extracted water.

The HydroCycle PO4 methodology is based on US EPA standard methods, employing pre-mixed, colour coded cartridges for simple reagent replacement in the field. Weighing less than 8kg fully loaded with reagents, it is quick and easy to deploy, even in remote locations. The instrument has an internal data logger, and in combination with telemetry, provides operators with near real-time access to monitoring data for SRP. Data qualityis underpinned by QA/QC processing in conjunction with an on-board NIST standard, delivering scientifically defensible results.

The National Laboratory Service Instrumentation team (NLSI) provides support to all high resolution water quality monitoring activities undertaken across the EA. Technical Lead Matt Loewenthal says: “We provide the Agency and commercial clients with monitoring systems and associated equipment to meet their precise needs. This includes nutrient monitoring, which is a major interest for everyone involved with water resources.”

Matt’s team has developed water quality monitoring systems that deliver high resolution remote monitoring with equipment that is quick and easy to deploy. There are two main options. The ‘green box’ is a fully instrumented cabinet that can be installed adjacent to a water resource, drawing water and passing

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it through a sensor chamber. Each system is fitted with telemetry so that real-time data is made instantly available to users on the cloud.

Matt says: “The HydroCycle PO4 is currently the only system that can be integrated with all of our remote monitoring systems. Because it’s portable, and runs on 12 volts, it has been relatively easy to integrate into our modular monitoring and telemetry systems.”

Excessive nitrate levels can also have a significant impact on water quality - nitrates are highly mobile and can contaminate groundwater, with serious consequences for wells and drinking water treatment. Nitrate concentrations are therefore of major interest to the EA, but traditional monitoring technology has proved inadequate for long-term monitoring because of a frequent recalibration requirement. To address this, OTT developed the SUNA V2, which is an optical nitrate sensor, providing high levels of accuracy and precision in both freshwater and seawater.

The NLSI has evaluated the SUNA V2 in well water and Matt says: “It performed well – we took grab samples for lab analysis and the SUNA data matched the lab data perfectly. We are therefore excited about the opportunity this presents to measure nitrate continuously, because this will inform our understanding of nitrate pollution, as well as the relationship between groundwater and surface water.”

In summary, improved instrumentation for high resolution monitoring, will facilitate a better understanding of the sources and effects of nutrient pollution, and thereby enable the implementation of effective prevention and mitigation strategies.

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HydroCycle PO4

Remote dissolved Phosphate analyser

New £5million wastewater treatment works in East Devon South West Water has completed a £5million investment in wastewater treatment in East Devon.

Ottery St Mary Wastewater Treatment Works has been decommissioned and a new state-of-the-art works has been constructed next to the existing works at Fluxton. The old site at Ottery remains as an operational site but is now only used for flow control and storm storage.

The project took three years to devise, develop and deliver. The new works was designed and built by South West Water’s H5O delivery alliance in partnership with the company’s wastewater team.

South West Water Scientist Dr Nick Gardner explained: “Ottery St Mary Wastewater Treatment Works was coming to the end of its useful life. Parts of the works dated back to the 1960s, though there had probably been some sort of treatment process on the site for years before that. The works was difficult to access and had become challenging to operate, and as the population of Ottery grew, it struggled to cope.”

For long-term high frequency monitoring of remote locations, the HydroCycle PO4 is ideal for simple deployment in unattended applications.

Wastewater from all of Ottery St Mary is now treated at the new Fluxton and Ottery St Mary Wastewater Treatment Works, which serves a population of around 7,200.

“The original works at Fluxton, which treated waste from Tipton St John, Fluxton, West Hill and about a third of Ottery itself, was left running while we built a completely brand new works right next door,” explained Nick.

• • • • •

“To combat the risk of flooding from the River Otter, the works is built at elevation rather than at ground height, which was another design challenge.

“Fluxton is now one of our most efficient and technologically advanced activated sludge treatment works. We’ve also been able to incorporate a new phosphorus removal process. Phosphorus is an essential element for life in small amounts but if there is too much in a river it can act like a fertiliser, causing excessive weed growth.

Phosphorus has also been linked with algal blooms in Lyme Bay, which is where the River Otter ends up near Budleigh Salterton.

Low detection limit Up to 1,500 tests between service/reagent change Battery powered (12v) Telemetry options Onboard: QA/QC processing reagent cartridges calibration logger

For more info...

Tel: 01246 573 480 uksales@ott.com www.ott.com

“So not only are we are pleased with the new works, but it’s good news for the water quality of the River Otter, and I expect the otters and beavers are very happy too.”

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Effective phosphorus removal today Meeting phosphorus removal targets is one of the greatest challenges facing the water industry today, so in this issue, we speak to Andrew Bibby of water and wastewater treatment specialist Bluewater Bio, about why it is a priority and how best to meet the challenge.

Phosphorus is found in many everyday items that we rely on in our daily lives and in certain circumstances its presence is a good thing.

Phosphorus is a nutrient that increases plant growth, helping us to grow plentiful food crops, yet when it comes to our natural water courses, its presence is a grave concern, as in excess it has such a detrimental impact on aquatic life and systems.

To protect our aquatic heritage for future generations and to ensure we have a safe, ready supply of water today, phosphorus removal is key. This pressing need is underpinned by UK regulations and the European EU Water Framework Directive, which sets out water quality goals which must be met.

“The more stringent limitations on phosphorus levels being set currently makes the challenge even greater, and consequently, the technology traditionally used to meet the targets is no longer sufficiently effective.

“The satisfy today’s and future needs for fine particulate solids removal, media depth is king, but to gain best filtration performance, you need to be able to utilise all the media depth effectively, and conversely clean the captured solids from the media equally as effectively when needed. FilterClear is a high rate multimedia filtration technology that incorporates media particles in a variety of sizes from coarse to fine, and also different densities, light to heavy. In filtration mode, the effluent passes through the coarse to fine media, the finer heavier media at the base of FilterClear capturing the finest particles. In backwash mode, the media is completely fluidised by a combination of water and air scour to remove the entrained solids. At the end of the

backwash cycle, the media naturally stratifies itself, lightest to heaviest, coarse to fine”.

“The benefits of FilterClear are numerous, primarily it achieves consistently higher quality of filtered water than alternative filtration systems, thereby enabling compliance with the new consent for phosphorus, under the Water Framework Directive”.

“In addition to this, it entails minimal operator intervention, less maintenance and less downtime – there are no moving parts, and longer running times (hours) between backwashes. Routine media chemical cleaning and media power washing are not a requirement of FilterClear which obviously has operational cost benefits along with minimising Health and Safety and lifting and access requirements. Consequently, FilterClear offers the lowest whole life cost compared to competing technologies”.

“In terms of iron dosing for phosphorus removal; FilterClear benefits from finer pin head flocs which can penetrate the full depth of media. A simple in-line static mixer is used to thoroughly disperse the iron dosage, additional tanks and mechanical mixers and the associated footprint are not required. The combination of the efficient iron addition and the efficacy of the FilterClear to remove particulate phosphorus solids means we can achieve very low phosphorus levels in a single stage compact process. Using DfMA principles, a typical plant can be unloaded at site, positioned and installed within a day”.

In addition to phosphorus removal, FilterClear has a number of other applications, including the tertiary filtration of wastewater, as at

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Anglian Water’s Bugbrooke Water Recycling Centre, and for desalination pre-treatment, as installed at The King Abdullah University of Science and Technology in Saudi Arabia.

The system has been utilised in industrial processes too, like at Brookside Metals in Wolverhampton, where it reduced the environmental impact of their processes, whilst dramatically reducing their carbon footprint and water bills too. FilterClear has also been used as pre filtration stage to achieve potable water more efficiently at Loch Ascog, Scottish Water, and to harvest and reuse rainwater, as at Nirlon Knowledge Park, in Mumbai, India.

Bluewater Bio has a robust and demonstrable track record providing treatment systems to the water industry, working with companies including Severn Trent, South West Water and Anglian Water. What is telling about their work is not only the calibre of their clients but the repeat custom they have garnered from clients, reflecting the high regard in which they are held.

Earlier this year, for example, it was announced that Severn Trent had chosen FilterClear for the provision of a Tertiary Solids Removal plant at their Brockhampton facility in Gloucestershire, in addition to the installation they already had at Codsall, in the village of Bilbrook to the North of Wolverhampton. They have also recently secure d a third scheme with Severn Trent at Harby STW. A sure sign of confidence in the technology.

Meeting phosphorus removal targets is a priority for the water industry and new technology, like FilterClear, has demonstrable success at meeting those targets and at doing so at a lower cost too. www.bluewaterbio.com

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Meeting 2020 phosphorus limits whilst preparing for growing population Asset Management Programme (AMP 6) has seen a focus on phosphorus removal, and UK water companies have been assessing the different treatment technologies available over a period of months, sometimes years before making investment decisions.

Evoqua Water Technologies offers two innovative systems - BioMag® and CoMag® - that meet both the increasingly stringent effluent limits on phosphorus as well as expanding capacity whilst reusing existing site assets.

One company that has adopted both solutions is Severn Trent Water at their Finham and Rugby Waste Water Treatment Works.

BioMag System – Rugby Sewage Treatment Works

Problem The site is anticipating significant growth in population by 2028 whilst having restricted and limited space on site for the conventional expansion of four additional large clarifiers.

Severn Trent required an innovative solution that will meet the needs of a 25% increase in capacity (flow to full treatment (FFT) of approximately 60,000 m3/day) and the new environmental standards (2020) of <0.4 mg/l total phosphorus.

Solution For Rugby, the new BioMag® system will be installed to meet both the new phosphorus limit and the expected increase in FFT required as the local population increases. As an alternative to adding more final settlement tanks, the BioMag system will allow Rugby to utilize its existing assets - resulting in installation at a fraction of the cost of conventional expansion. Settling tests indicate that by converting to the BioMag system the existing final settlement tanks at Rugby will be capable of treating double the existing capacity - ensuring that future FFT loads can be accommodated.

The BioMag system uses a magnetite ballast – fully inert, iron ore particles – to enhance settling rates of the existing activated sludge process. The settlement rates across the existing final settlement tanks will be greatly improved even with the predicted 25% increase in flow anticipated at the works.

Conversion to the BioMag system will also allow the new stricter effluent limits on phosphorus to be met without the need for further tertiary treatment Ed Ruswa, Senior Process Design Engineer for Severn Trent Water says, ‘Conventional treatment methods would have required a large expansion at a higher cost, however by transferring this innovative technology from North America and following UK water industry funded pilot trials, the BioMag system

will help Severn Trent deliver its customer funded objectives and continue to offer the cheapest customer bills in the UK.’

About the BioMag system

The BioMag system can achieve up to 2-3 times the throughput of existing conventional activated sludge plants by improving settlement and allowing the user to run at higher mixed liquor suspended solids (MLSS) in the biological tanks. BioMag systems improve settling, allow for increase in throughput, provide better effluent quality and can be installed within the existing asset footprint - making it an ideal process for expansion of existing plants.

CoMag® System – Finham Sewage Treatment Plant

Problem The Finham plant was charged with meeting a new phosphorus limit of 0.22 mg/l of total phosphorus (T-P) by 2020 before the treated water discharges into the River Sowe. The plant is also expecting to treat more flow to these significantly more stringent effluent treatment standards.

Solution For Finham the CoMag system is being installed to meet these challenging new phosphorus limits being imposed by the Environment Agency. Finham is one of the largest plants (FFT of 250,000 m3/day) within the Severn Trent Water group treating wastewater from the City of Coventry. Due to the scale of the

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plant, a reliable, proven and secure technology was required. The CoMag system had been previously trialed by Severn Trent Water and this provided the confidence that the CoMag system was the correct technology choice.

As well as the process reliability, the design team used existing redundant sand filters on the site as the mixing tanks for the CoMag system which saved significant civil cost.

“After evaluating several technologies, we selected the CoMag system because it allows us to cost effectively meet new phosphorus discharge limits,” said Peter Sugden, Programme Manager for Severn Trent Water. “We are saving a significant amount of money by reusing existing but redundant sand filter infrastructure as the reaction tanks. We are also saving space by using custom-designed clarifiers from Evoqua that can process wastewater ten times faster than a conventional clarifier, thanks to the CoMag system.”

About the CoMag System

The CoMag system can achieve total phosphorus down to 0.05 mg/L when integrated into a coagulation/flocculation process or clarifier.

Retrofit costs are also reduced with the CoMag system because it is compatible with most existing infrastructure and clarifiers.

Additionally, the CoMag system’s magnetite ballast is 75 percent smaller than sand particles and less abrasive, which helps extend equipment service life. Up to 99 percent of magnetite is recovered for reuse in the system.

Magnetite-ballasted clarification enables this 5.5 m diam. clarifier to handle 9000 m3/day. Dense floc settles immediately beneath the center well, rather than dissipating throughout the clarifier.

SETTLE THE FLOC DOWN Evoqua’s BioMag® and CoMag® systems use magnetite to ballast floc and deliver rapid and reliable settling. Both systems dramatically improve plant capacity and treatment performance (especially Watch our new video phosphorus reduction) with existing tanks and a limited footprint. on magnetite ballasted Choose the BioMag System for ballasting biological floc to enhance activated sludge processes and achieve total phosphorus (TP) of <0.2 mg/l.

settling at

www.evoqua.com/ settledown

Choose the CoMag System for ballasting chemical floc to remove particulate contaminants (including TP of <0.1 mg/l) in wastewater.

© 2018 Evoqua Water Technologies LLC. BioMag and CoMag are trademarks of Evoqua its subsidiaries and affiliates in some countries.

WATER INDUSTRY JOURNAL SEPTEMBER 2018

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Beyond phosphorus removal Meeting new phosphorus consent levels is a priority for the water industry – but what method works best for the many wastewater sites that are inaccessible, where space is limited and where environmental concern and regulatory measures are paramount?

Phosphorus removal has often been achieved using ‘adsorption’ techniques in which metal salts in the form of liquid chemicals are added to wastewater – but as with any process that involves chemical application there are associated risks involving the transportation, handling, storage and mis-dosing of the chemicals, as well as the steady increase in the cost of liquid chemicals.

New hope ahead

The size and inaccessibility of some wastewater sites, especially given that some are unmanned makes the application of chemicals even more of a challenge. However, promising results yielded by the UKWIR Chemical Investigations Programme trials indicate that a new approach is possible.

Soneco®, a patented technology combining ‘Electrolysis’, together with ‘Ultrasound’, has been successfully utilised by water treatment specialist Gareth Morgan, CEO of ‘Power & Water’, to provide a safe, efficient and innovative method of treating water by electro-

generating pH-neutral reactive reagents (metal cations) and precisely metering them directly into the process stream.

In the recent trials, their Soneco® system achieved consistent Total Phosphorus removal to levels below 0.5mgl-1, with Ortho Phosphate results as low as 0.03mgl-1.

Not only is the system extremely effective, however, it is also cost-efficient, as the operational costs are lower than traditional methods, primarily compared to chemical treatment. Soneco® has been proven to be a highly cost-effective method of P removal, especially at smaller works and those where alkalinity dosing is required.

With a small physical footprint, Soneco® is easily integrated or retro-fitted to existing over-loaded or under-performing works, and sludge volumes are up to 40 per cent lower than with other methods. The system is eco-friendly and has a greatly reduced environmental impact and improved carbon footprint.

Optimising finite resources

The capabilities of this technology reach beyond wastewater treatment as it has been successfully used in mining and groundwater, agriculture and aquaculture applications.

Making the best use of the earth’s finite resources is a priority and recycling nutrients, like phosphorus, wherever possible is crucial, so it is important to recognise that Soneco® systems have the capacity to not only remove, but to capture nutrients for re-use.

Soneco® technology has been installed at a land-based aquaculture plant in Norway, for example, which has allowed the introduction and development of ‘circular economy’ principles into operations at the waste management plant, meaning fish sludge can be turned into usable fertiliser without the need for liquid chemicals, polymers and filters.

With a small physical footprint, Soneco® is easily integrated or retro-fitted to existing over-loaded or under-performing works, and sludge volumes are up to 40 per cent lower than with other methods. The system is eco-friendly and has a greatly reduced environmental impact and improved carbon footprint.

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Soneco® DB4 Reactor

Better slurry management

A robust and effective example of nutrient capture can be found at the Gelli Aur campus of Coleg Sir Gâr, where Power & Water has installed an economically and environmentally viable slurry management system which will address the agricultural industry’s impact on the environment by tackling pollution with a ‘head-on’ approach.

The need is pressing; in Wales alone, as Natural Resources Wales has found, there have been between 85 and 120 pollution incidents in each of the last six years, caused by dairy and beef farms in the region.

Power & Water’s Soneco® technology is the ‘beating heart’ of the innovative slurrydewatering and purification process, which recovers nutrients whilst removing pathogens and recalcitrant organics from farmyard slurry.

The treated water can be recycled for use on the farm or safely discharged into a local watercourse, which is not only useful for the farm and beneficial for the environment, but economic too; reducing water costs and over-reliance on raw materials throughout the supply chain.

Given that the slurry produced has been dewatered by up to 80%, it can be stacked, stored and applied more easily and effectively, reducing the associated costs and the risk of pollution. As the system is low voltage and can

Agricultural Slurry Dewatering and Purification System using Soneco® technology

be powered by renewable energy, it is also a sustainable and low-carbon alternative.

Mining the potential

The challenge posed by the legacy of the abandoned metal mines which pepper our landscape is another example of how Soneco® treatment systems have been applied to good effect, facilitating the removal of iron, lead, zinc and cadmium.

The Cwm Rheidol mine complex, 15km east of Aberystwyth, is a good case in point, having been cited as one of the ten most polluting mines in Wales: independent laboratory test confirmed that the Soneco® system achieved 99.5% removal of metals in filtered samples.

Where once eight tons of iron were being discharged into the water, following treatment, it was found that no metal deposits were released into the local watercourse

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at all. Not only does the process help the environment, but it holds the potential for precious metals to be extracted and re-used, helping to make the best use of the earth’s depleting natural resources and potentially providing another revenue stream.

Practical, effective, viable

The rugged design, small footprint and potential for remote, online-operation, make the Soneco® water treatment systems ideal for use on remote sites, whether wastewater treatment facilities, in agriculture, aquaculture or elsewhere. Moreover, it is a practical, viable system which delivers consistent results. www.powerandwater.com

WATER INDUSTRY JOURNAL SEPTEMBER 2018

z PHOSPHORUS REMOVAL

Yorkshire Water to improve 196km of rivers by reducing phosphorus levels Yorkshire Water is investing £70 million to improve the final effluent from 16 of its waste water treatment works to meet new environmental targets on phosphorus removal.

As part of the Water Framework Directive, the amount of phosphorus has become a measure of the health of rivers and watercourses.

As a result of Yorkshire Water’s investment, over 196 kilometres of watercourses will be improved and will ensure the company exceeds targets to reduce phosphorus and in turn improve the local environment.

to doing everything we can to improve our local environment and by completing this work we’ll ensure the water we return to the environment is of the highest quality and deliver significant environmental benefits, and in particular to aquatic life.”

Mark Allsop, communications advisor at Yorkshire Water, said: “This work will build on our vision to take responsibility for the water environment for good. We’re committed

Phosphorus is a normal part of domestic sewage, entering the sewer system via domestic showers and washing machines due to products such as shampoo and liquid

detergent containing phosphorus. It can also wash off from agricultural fields after the use of fertilisers and be dissolved from soil which can be difficult to control.

If a river becomes overly enriched it can lead to excessive plant and algae growth that can lead to oxygen depletion from the water, resulting in fish suffocating.

All work will be completed by the end of 2019.

Introducing Soneco ® Power & Water have ingeniously combined electrolysis and ultrasound in a single reactor to provide effective and environmentally-friendly water treatment.

Soneco® is safe and cost-effective; with all the benefits of physical, chemical and oxidative treatments.

Agricultural Slurry Dewatering and Purification System using Soneco® technology

The ‘beating heart’ of the process...

Modular design allows easy integration into existing treatment processes or can be provided as a standalone reactor.

Soneco® DB4 Reactor

Soneco® systems are programmed to treat a wide variety of waste streams simply by altering the parameters on the power supply unit and changing the electrode plates.

Power & Water’s patented sono-electrochemical technology is leading in the field of contemporary water treatment.

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Purification through Innovation www.powerandwater.com +44 (0) 1792 700225

WATER INDUSTRY JOURNAL SEPTEMBER 2018

NEWS z

Construction starts on North East flood scheme

Coun. Maxell, Tom Pitman and Liz Walters at the Bede Burn

Construction work on the main part of the £2.5million Monkton Flood Alleviation Scheme in South Tyneside has started this week.

Contractor Balfour Beatty is carrying out flood protection work across Monkton and Hebburn with work expected to be complete by the end of the year. It will protect around 100 homes and businesses from surface water flooding.

To minimise disruption, work that needs to take place close to local schools will be done during the school summer holidays, with construction in areas less affected by travel to and from school being completed in the autumn.

The main construction work follows a project in March this year to open up a section of the Bede Burn running underground – known as ‘daylighting’ – to the rear of Toner Avenue School. This was part of the ‘Living Waterways’ scheme to restore the burn and create a green space for the community to enjoy.

The Monkton Flood Alleviation Scheme is being delivered by South Tyneside Council and

its partners at the Environment Agency and Tyne Rivers Trust.

Main engineering work

Tom Pitman, Project Manager for the Environment Agency and South Tyneside Council, said: “The work in the Spring to open up the Bede Burn and create a green space was really well received by the community and we’re pleased it will be a great facility for them to use in the future.

“We’re now on to the main engineering work which will include improved drainage, swales to collect surface water run-off and an attenuation basin which is designed to collect water and slowly release it into the Bede Burn.

“While there will inevitably be some disruption while we complete this work, we are working hard to keep it to a minimum. In particular the bulk of the work we need to do near to schools will be done during the school summer holidays.”

‘Delighted’ construction is underway

Councillor Nancy Maxwell, Lead Member for Area Management and Community Safety, added: “I’m delighted to see the construction phase of this project get underway. The work done earlier this year behind Toner Avenue

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School has created a wonderful open space, which the community will be able to enjoy once the main flood alleviation works have been completed. We would ask residents to bear with us during this short term disruption.

“Once complete, around 100 properties are going to reap the benefits of this scheme, with not only reduced flood risk but enhancements to the local environment too.”

The scheme involves managing surface water where problems have been identified around the Monkton Burn, Lukes Lane Estate and Leam Lane area, Mill Lane, Lilac Walk/College Road, Devon Road, Campbell Park Road/ Thirlmere Court and Mountbatten Avenue areas.

The project will have wider social and environmental benefits, encouraging local people and children to get involved in creating valuable new habitat.

The project is largely funded by the Environment Agency, as well as a contribution from the local levy – which is money raised by local authorities for flood projects.

Motorists and pedestrians are advised there will be some diversions. The latest information on the scheme – including details of timescales and the required traffic management - can be found at the Monkton Flood Alleviation Scheme website

Lakes & Water Courses

Fabrication

Water Turbines

Water Play Parks

Water Features

LEADING WATER ENVIRONMENT CONTRACTORS, FOR CONSTRUCTION, RESTORATION & MAINTENANCE OF LAKES & WATER COURSES CONSTRUCTION/RESTORATION/MAINTENANCE: LAKES - RIVERS - CANALS - WATER FEATURES - WATER PLAY PARKS FLOOD ALLEVIATION - ASSET MAINTENANCE - DE-SILTING - FISH AND EEL PASSES - AQUATIC WEED CONTROL FISHERIES MANAGEMENT - AQUATIC WEED HARVESTING FABRICATION: STAINLESS STEEL - MILD STEEL - HARDWOOD SOFTWOOD - RECYCLED PLASTIC - GLASS REINFORCED PLASTIC (GRP) CONSULTANCY: ENVIRONMENTAL SOLUTIONS & SURVEYS - PLANNING APPROVALS - ECOLOGICAL & WASTE PERMITS - PROTECTIVE SPECIES SURVEYS - WATER QUALITY INVESTIGATION - RIVER HABITAT SURVEYS - AQUATIC PLANTING SCHEMES

Kingcombe Stonbury - The Cropmead Estate, Crewkerne, Somerset, TA18 7HQ t 01460 279200 e kingcombe@stonbury.co.uk www.kingcombestonbury.com

Clean Water

Waste Water

Water Courses

Civils

INDUSTRY LEADING SPECIALISTS IN THE REFURBISHMENT OF WATER RETAINING STRUCTURES AND ASSOCIATED ASSETS REFURB/MAINTENANCE: IMPOUNDING & SERVICE RESERVOIRS - WATER TOWERS - CLEAN & SEWAGE TREATMENT WORKS - DAMS - SPILLWAYS - AQUEDUCTS - PIPE BRIDGES - PIPEWORK - BUNDS - CONCRETE/STEEL TANKS & VESSELS - WATER COURSES SERVICES: INSPECTION/SURVEY - RELINING - SPECIALIST COATINGS - CORROSION PROTECTION WATERPROOFING - CONCRETE & STEEL REPAIRS - CLEANING & CHLORINATION - FLOOD ALLEVIATION DESIGN/INSTALL: STEEL WATER CONTROL STRUCTURES - SECURITY WORKS INC LPC4 ACCESS COVERS - ACCESS LADDERS, HANDRAILS & WALKWAYS - SURGE VESSELS - M&E CIVILS: NEW BUILD RESERVOIRS & TANKS - LAGOONS - VALVES - DRAINAGE - DEEP EXCAVATION - STREETWORKS - UNDERGROUND PIPEWORK - RETAINING WALLS - ACCESS ROADS, HARD STANDING & PARKING AREAS - CABINETS - SMALL BUILDING INSTALLATION - DEMOLITION - FLOOR SLABS & SCREEDS Head Office: Chawston House, Chawston Lane, Chawston, Bedfordshire, MK44 3BH t 01234 750924 e enquiries@stonbury.co.uk www.stonbury.com

WATER INDUSTRY JOURNAL SEPTEMBER 2018

z CATCHMENT MANAGEMENT

Natural Capital approaches to Catchment Management

South West Water’s Upstream Thinking programme is an investment in catchment resilience Catchment Management and Natural Capital approaches have been highlighted by OFWAT as absolute requirements within the PR19 investment plans for water and sewage companies, alongside planning for resilience and the use of new market-led mechanisms for delivery.

The programme has two areas of work, lowland farms and upland peatland. Both are part of a long-term sustainable approach to managing costs by investing in natural capital as a way of reducing ongoing maintenance or delaying large capital investments, helping to keep customers’ future bills down.

To help understand the complexities of a “Natural Capital Approach to Catchment Management” South West Water’s Upstream Thinking and Biodiversity Manager, Dr David Smith, discusses the investments undertaken

by South West Water through its Upstream Thinking programme since 2008.

The Upstream Thinking approach to catchment management

Catchment management activities have become commonplace across the water industry and investments have been wideranging and focused on many outcomes from the specific, such as Metaldehyde reduction, to larger multiple-objective programmes.

South West Water’s innovative Upstream Thinking programme has evolved into the latter category, with a long history of developing many of the approaches now being promoted by OFWAT. Since the initial farm engagement projects with the newly formed Westcountry Rivers Trust in 2008, to reduce nutrient inputs causing algal blooms at Tamar Lakes, it has grown to a £10m investment focused on protecting rivers and reservoirs from detrimental landscape impacts across catchments and 15 water treatment works, supplying 310ml/day, or 72% of the region’s tap water.

South West Water’s flagship environmental programme was developed to protect raw water quality and supply at source through working with a range of 3rd party organisations in the supply catchments.

We focused on farm engagement and infrastructure investments alongside direct investments in habitat restoration such as the mires and culm restoration work.

Back in 2008, we were faced with increasing nutrient problems in our smaller, shallow reservoirs within the dairy farming landscape of Cornwall and Devon and increasing flashy DOC and sediment laden flows in the larger rivers we abstract from. With no significant catchment landholding we had to adopt an approach of working with others, both partners and landholders, to bring about change in the way the land is managed in the catchments.

The Upstream Thinking Programme is built on the principle of using trusted 3rd party organisations who have good knowledge of the catchments and the farming community as

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brokers between the Water Company who are seeking to invest in cleaner water and assured supplies and the land-owners and managers who have these “ecosystem services” to sell, but not the understanding of how to realise the business benefits that could arise. The Upstream Thinking farm advisors are staff from our delivery partners in Cornwall and Devon Wildlife Trusts, Exmoor National Park or Westcountry River Trust and they approach the farming community on the twin basis that they are not figures of authority from the Water Company or Environment Agency and that they have something to offer that will benefit their business. Both are important for starting the conversation and developing trust.

The advisors offer advice on how to manage spending on resources such as nutrient inputs, how to improve infrastructure to reduce risk around slurry management, and advice on habitat creation or management.

This is backed up with match funding from South West Water to put the infrastructure in place, in return for future commitments on sustainable farm planning and the delivery of cleaner sustainable run-off from the farms.

This is, in the new language of Natural Capital approaches, a “Payment for Environmental Services and Goods”.

The investment that leads to the delivery of these services is an investment in the Natural Capital that provides them, be it a direct investment in a farm wetland or a fenced riverside buffer strip or an indirect investment

WATER INDUSTRY JOURNAL SEPTEMBER 2018

in a larger slurry store that leads to better decision-making around when to drive on the land to apply it, with resultant better soil condition, reduced compaction and less soil run-off into rivers.

The involvement of 3rd party Trusts has another critical advantage in their ability and experience in accessing match funding from sources not available to South West Water. They use this to support and extend delivery of the Upstream Thinking programme in the catchments, as well as the first source of grant funding for the farm infrastructure investments. In AMP5 this match funding contribution from sources such as Interreg and Countryside Stewardship tripled the value of the South West Water investment and the pot available for work in the catchments.

The use of the partners as 3rd party agents in the catchments also significantly improved the reputation of South West Water and the partners as it delivers economic gain to the farmer involved and reputational enhancement among South West Water customers who included environmental improvement in the 2015-20 customer panel business plan consultations.

The challenges Upstream Thinking seeks to address

Upstream Thinking aims to counter the multiple background resilience issues (climate change, agricultural intensification, urban expansion, bio-fuel production, etc) causing deteriorating raw water quality from catchments in the region and across the UK. Figures from the Environment Agency show that the quality of English rivers has continued to decline, in the South West River Basin District only 23% of water bodies are considered in good ecological status.

Agriculture or rural land management issues were cited as the reasons for failure in 44% (table above) with new challenges emerging (geosmin, new chemicals and veterinary medicines), alongside existing concerns (Phosphate (P), Nitrogen (N), ammonia, Faecal indicator Organisms (FIOs) sediment DOC and pesticides).

CATCHMENT MANAGEMENT z

Agriculture or Rural land management related reasons

Total reasons

Chemicals

18

248

7%

Ammonia

10

26

38%

Fine sediment

74

89

83%

Nitrate

13

18

72%

Phosphate

508

1021

50%

Total

623

1402

44%

Pressure

Agriculture reasons as % of the total

Table: Agricultural and rural land management pressures identified as preventing waters reaching good status (reasons for not achieving good status) in the South West region The risks from this declining water quality that Upstream Thinking seeks to address include loss of service at water treatment works and potential additional costs due to unusable raw water supplies, taste and odour failures, and greater asset running costs leading to increased future investment and asset maintenance costs. The current programme also has a focus on pesticide reductions due to the schemes being on the National Environment Programme as Drinking Water Protected Areas at risk for pesticides.

Summary of long-term water company benefits: n Resilience in quality and supply of raw water at drinking water treatment works n A reactive presence on the ground in catchments n A reduction in resource management and raw supply pumping costs n Drinking water treatment costs reduced through less chemical use, sludge disposal costs, pumping and carbon costs.

Successful Natural Capital outcomes from Upstream Thinking Engagement in Upstream Thinking has brought over 40,000 hectares into improved management. The delivery partners and the University of Exeter (UoE) have developed a

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coordinated monitoring strategy to define the impacts of this, both within the catchments and at South West Waterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s water treatment works.

Clear evidence is now emerging of the resultant benefits to the natural capital stock of the upland catchments and river water quality, supported for example by independent research from the Defra-led Demonstration Test Catchment (DTC) on the Cauldworthy, a sub-catchment of the Tamar where numbers of fish fry have increased significantly since Upstream Thinking started.

Moving forward - emerging innovation in Natural Capital delivery

Catchment-scale thinking has evolved considerably since Upstream Thinking started and new ideas and ways of thinking now include the use of market-led Ecosystem Service payments and other innovative incentives for delivery, as well as the development of catchment management for natural flood risk management, catchment offsetting and other future applications.

The central ethos remains the same however, looking after catchments and raw water supplies at source is a sound investment in a natural capital solution for long-term resilience.

WATER INDUSTRY JOURNAL SEPTEMBER 2018

z CATCHMENT MANAGEMENT

Big data supporting future catchment management planning This spring and summer has seen extremes of weather persisting across much of the UK, with torrential rain followed by prolonged dry periods and unusually high temperatures. So it is a poignant time to stop and think about our future water management approaches. In this article we consider what these challenges mean for the water sector and show how Ricardo is supporting water companies to identify and demonstrate the effectiveness of big data catchment management solutions.

The challenge

Too little or too much water will always have a significant impact on the farming community, energy production, land owners, water companies (and their consumers), wider business needs and the environment.

Defra’s 25 year plan(1) aims to ‘leave our environment in a better state than we found it’ with ambitions to ensure clean and plentiful water, thriving plants and wildlife and a reduction in hazards associated with floods and droughts. Meanwhile, Ofwat’s PR19(2) is geared to incentivising innovative approaches that provide sufficient, affordable clean water under growing population and climate change scenarios.

Fifty five percent of the UK’s rivers were deemed to be in a less than good status for phosphorus in 2016(3), but of course it is not just phosphorus that affects the quality of the environment. If you add waste water pollution from industry and road runoff untangling pollution cause and effect and identifying the best solutions and where to apply them within a catchment becomes complex.

Supplies of clean water are further pressurised by climatic-induced hydrological uncertainty and associated flood risk and conversely pipe leakage (estimated as 22% of all water used in 2016/2017(4)) which can exacerbate risks associated with drought. In this context, innovative catchment approaches that combine waste and clean water to tackle increasing water resource pressures are becoming a priority.

Moving from tried and tested end of pipe solutions: the evidence gap With such challenges, and strict guidance such as the European Drinking Water Directive stating limits of 0.1µg/l for each pesticide, there is a need to deliver sustainable, cost-effective approaches to tackle environmental pressures and provide benefits to people and wildlife.

Embracing more innovative holistic water management alternatives and avoiding traditional high-cost engineered solutions requires water companies to have confidence that they can demonstrate collective financial, social and environmental benefits,

risk reduction accrued and long-term sustainability. A strong appreciation of stakeholder aspirations is a good starting point when combined with a sound understanding of catchment risks related to local climate, population and land-use changes. This is when big data can be used to help support these critical decisions.

Using and managing big data

“Ricardo used monthly satellite data, with other factors, to produce a risk map to help understand why water courses are failing for environmental quality standards.”

Future risk management comes down to having information for the right place and time scale. Both baseline and future information must be robust enough to answer resilience questions. Traditionally, collecting and analysing this data has been time consuming and costly, and when spread over many years, the whole process can become prohibitively expensive.

Ricardo recognises the need to make the most of all the environmental data available to solve complex problems. The graphical interpretation presented below is just one example of many solutions that we have developed that use big data to support risk analysis and identify environmental hotspots.

Taking a digital systems approach to data collection via remote monitoring and control (micro-drones, autonomous vehicles and environmental sensors) is now seen as part of the solution. Whether it be 15-minute autonomous water quality and water level evidence or monthly changes in land cover from imagery, the thirst for real time data is insatiable. But with this comes a requirement to use new approaches, such as machine learning and artificial intelligence, to process data more quickly and efficiently to provide scenarios and support decision making.

In a constantly changing world the need to implement cost-effective innovative catchment management to ensure future water resource and environmental resilience is no longer a ‘nice to have’. As water companies prepare to move away from vastly centralised assets to more joined-up solutions that still meet the needs of customers this approach will become more the norm. But understanding catchment complexity relies on innovative integration of data to tease out innovative solutions to problems that are cost effective and resilient for rural and cityscapes alike. Big data is here to stay but how you use and manage it will determine its success in supporting decision making.

Ricardo has developed a cost-effective method to support open discussions with stakeholders (from residential and industrial water customers to regulatory organisations) ultimately to agree which catchment solutions can provide the greatest combined water resource, environmental and societal effects. Embedding quick to run algorithms into a model that uses open source GPS and satellite imagery, alongside other data, can identify zones of influence and enable an end-user to quickly compare the impact of different environmental factors.

The advantage of this approach is that the methodology can be easily adapted to a range of environmental questions (e.g. the risk to peatlands under different climatic conditions or the identification of urban infrastructure suitable to reduce flood risk) and can accommodate a range of data types and sizes.

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The case for change?

ee.ricardo.com/water References

1. HM Government. A Green Future: Our 25 Year Plan to Improve the Environment Open Government Licence version 3.0, 2018 2. Delivering Water 2020: Our Final Methodology for the 2019 price review, Ofwat, December 2017 3. The state of the environment: water quality, Environment Agency, February 2018 4. Water companies losing vast amounts through leakage, as drought fears rise. The Guardian, D Carrington, Environment Editor, 11 May 2017

Using big data to support catchment management solutions U NEED TO KN T YO OW HA W

Ricardo has a track record of supporting UK water companies to assess water resource management and drought plan solutions.

We use data to support these critical decisions.

Now we are deploying this analytical expertise to uncover new ways to tackle the water industry’s most pressing challenges and deliver resilient, sustainable and cost effective outcomes for consumers and the environment. Here’s how.

SOLUTIONS

OF

AP

YS AL

S

AN

IS

EXI

STIN G DATA

TA FIL LI N G I N DA

G

What we need to know: baseline data for future scenarios

Floods & droughts

Pollution & ecology

Population growth

Landuse

We use big data to probe the greatest environmental challenges – identifying ways to deliver affordable and sustainable clean water under growing population and climate change scenarios.

Effective analysis of existing data

Collect

Review & analyse

Harmonise

We use advanced machine learning and artificial intelligence approaches to build interactive platforms that process existing data for enhanced decision making.

Risk mapping to support stakeholder engagement and options appraisal

Remote monitoring

Satellite imaging

We combine satellite imagery and remote sensing with field derived data to identify sustainable catchment solutions. But it’s not all about machines – we engage directly with stakeholders to understand their aspirations.

The outcome: catchment solutions for customers and environmental resilience Spring 2016

Summer 2016

Autumn 2016

Winter 2016

Find out how Ricardo can support you to make the most of your data to inform catchment thinking.

Diffuse sediment risk Negligible risk

Ricardo’s advanced modelling systems convert big data into precise scenario analysis. Our water sector experts use this to support risk analysis and identify key environmental hotspots and potential changes as a result of climate, landuse and population changes.

Low risk

Moderate risk

High risk

Cloud

Ricardo combined monthly satellite data with other factors to better understand why water courses are failing for environmental quality

Contact enquiry-ee@ricardo.com or visit https://ee.ricardo.com/water

www.ricardo.com

WATER INDUSTRY JOURNAL SEPTEMBER 2018

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Putting green infrastructure to the test for urban catchments

To find out how extreme rainfall events affect a city, looking at how water moves through the wider catchment is a good place to start. To understand how it interacts with the landscape and vegetation: even better, as plants, soils, trees and other green features may provide solutions to manage surface water drainage that could be part of a smart, sustainable catchment-based strategy for flood management.

Authors

Dr Claire Walsh, National Green Infrastructure Facility, Newcastle University Dr Ross Stirling, National Green Infrastructure Facility, Newcastle University Kevin Stott, National Green Infrastructure Facility, Newcastle University

Brett Cherry, water & sustainability writer, Institute for Sustainability, Newcastle University Built-up environments are part of the water catchment too. Despite their paved surfaces, roads and buildings, water in urban areas behaves the same way as it does in a rural catchment. But in some cases urban catchments are more difficult to manage because water builds up in the infrastructure below ground with no place to go, leading to flooding. It is also much more challenging to store or absorb rainfall on paved surfaces, unless they are made permeable.

This presents challenges for cities which have redirected or eliminated the natural pathways for water to flow. By working with the urban water catchment green infrastructure could make cities more sustainable, allowing them to adapt to climate change, improve air quality and increase biodiversity.

There are few places in the world where green infrastructure features in cities are tested in scientifically rigorous ways. While some cities have incorporated green infrastructure into their planning they may have done so with little if any evidence to justify its implementation. Perceived benefits are not the same as well tested and trialled ones.

Without a doubt green infrastructure has a role in tackling a range of problems cities are facing, especially surface water flooding. But not all green infrastructure works within every context and the water sector could definitely benefit from real-world data, scenarios and simulations of how green as well as blue infrastructure interacts with traditional grey infrastructure.

This is where real-world demonstrators or ‘living labs’ are important in identifying the

attributes of green infrastructure at a range of scales. Data is required for ensuring these benefits are reliable in the short and long term future, making digital sensing invaluable to monitoring urban water catchments.

Cities are unique places for testing catchment strategies for flood alleviation, reducing water scarcity, enhancing ecosystems and sequestering carbon. Blue-green infrastructure has the potential to provide these services and possibly much more, especially when considering evidence that green features enhance property value and citizens’ wellbeing.

The city of Newcastle has been a demonstrator city for blue green infrastructure since 2013.

Working with the local authority, SMEs and Northumbrian Water, both hydrologic and hydraulic modelling of surface water and implementation of blue-green features in the city, were used to develop practical solutions for reducing flood risk in the urban catchment of Newcastle.

The National Green Infrastructure Facility (NGIF) is building upon current and previous research on blue-green infrastructure in cities. Funded by EPSRC through the UKCRIC programme it is based at Newcastle University’s award winning Urban Sciences Building on the Newcastle Helix site, the

48

largest urban development outside of London with research, business and innovation dedicated to helping people live longer, healthier and more sustainable lives.

In collaboration with Northumbrian Water and other stakeholders, NGIF is dedicated to providing proof of concept for green infrastructure solutions in real-world settings.

There is no other facility in the country that provides this level of experimental research, demonstration and innovation. It seeks to answer some of the big questions on green infrastructure for cities.

Questions include how well does green infrastructure fare in extreme weather conditions? Are there any reasons for it to be preferred over grey infrastructure? And what knock on benefits if any does green infrastructure provide? For example, does it alleviate flooding even during the most intense rainfall events? Without researching green features in the field these questions can only be answered anecdotally or in some cases not at all.

In these challenging financial times, the UK water sector, government and local authorities must have reliable data and understanding of what green infrastructure can and cannot provide to cities in order for them to invest in it. It is generally agreed

WATER INDUSTRY JOURNAL SEPTEMBER 2018

CATCHMENT MANAGEMENT z

Data from these heavily instrumented features helps us to understand how they function in simulated and real-world storm scenarios. Trees in the facility are fitted with instrumentation to measure how much water they uptake and transpire, monitored with wireless digital sensors. Much of the data generated from the facility will be freely available via the Urban Observatory, a city-wide urban sensing network in the North East of England led by Newcastle University. The Observatory is the largest open digital sensor network in the world.

that green infrastructure is not a panacea for flood hazards, nor will it make cities 100% resilient to them. However, it does seem that using green infrastructure when applied appropriately could be one of the most effective forms of flood defence on offer. If this is the case then research in this area could be essential to not only reducing damage to infrastructure caused by flooding, but also potentially save lives.

Combined with digital urban sensing, green infrastructure enables us to interact with urban water catchments at multiple scales.

From a systems engineering point of view a tree is no longer simply a ‘tree’ but a node within a wider green infrastructure network that provides basic infrastructure or ecosystem services, such as abstracting water. Soil is highly important as it provides a sink for rainwater. Different types of soil also have multiple sustainability characteristics that could be harnessed for slowing, storing and filtering surface water flows. Soils are also an important carbon sink. An annual growth rate of 4% in the soil carbon stocks would halt the increase in CO2 concentration in the atmosphere related to human activities.

The National Green Infrastructure Facility is testing different ways to use the soil to not only soak up water but to absorb more carbon and to recover and store solar thermal energy

for buildings. The research is literally ‘groundbreaking’ and is the first time a facility of this kind is actually part of a city’s fabric. It has implications for urban planning in the city of Newcastle and in cities throughout the UK, if not the world, for testing and demonstrating green infrastructure technologies.

The facility is equipped with ten experimental lysimeters embedded with digital sensing that measure a variety of soils under controlled conditions, including soil moisture, percolation and environmental factors, such as rainfall and drought. Together with in-pavement bioretention features, they make it possible to measure the performance of Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS), including water attenuation, storage, treatment and other benefits.

As extreme rainfall events are expected to increase in the UK according to the latest climate projections, we need to make available as many tools as possible for mitigating flood hazards. Implementing effective green infrastructure solutions to flooding in urban catchments is one of those tools, which may also have large potential to help resolve other problems that nearly all cities have, such as air contamination, over-heating and the need for carbon mitigation. The future of cities using green infrastructure to tackle some of these problems is indeed exciting, and we invite collaborators from the private and public sectors to explore what the National Green Infrastructure Facility may offer to them in addressing these global challenges.

Further info: Urban Observatory www.urbanobservatory.ac.uk

World-leading water research Our areas of expertise: • Advanced biology for water engineering • Green infrastructure testing facilities • Adapting cities and infrastructure to climate change • Sustainable wastewater treatment at scale • Advanced city-scale flood modelling • Remote sensing, geospatial data and digital innovation We partner with industry to accelerate innovation and tackle the big challenges facing the water sector.

Find out more about our work and join us in creating a sustainable future for water:

go.ncl.ac.uk/sage/water

Working towards the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGS).

www.ncl.ac.uk 49

WATER INDUSTRY JOURNAL SEPTEMBER 2018

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Scotland’s Centre of Expertise for Waters – supporting the development and implementation of water policy

The Centre of Expertise for Waters (CREW) is an essential part of water policy development and implementation in Scotland, and with international reach. CREW works closely with policy makers, bringing together leading scientists to deliver accessible research, evidence and expert opinion. Innovative methods for knowledge exchange are at the forefront of our work, communicating our science widely for the greatest possible impact.

Because of our approach and reputation, we are seen as a world-leader in science policy interaction.

Since its creation in 2011, CREW has proven itself to be a highly successful science/ policy interface and is increasingly viewed as the ‘go to’ centre for water knowledge and policy support in Scotland partly through its evolution in line with user needs, and most notably becoming a key pillar of the Scottish Government`s Hydro Nation Strategy. The Hydro Nation Strategy is a cornerstone policy for the Scottish Government and aims develop Scotland’s water resources to maximise the benefit to the Scottish Economy (Scotland holds around 90% of the surface water of the UK).

CREW’s users are those responsible for the development and implementation of water

policy and include policy and implementation teams within Scottish Government, its agencies and associated industries. Policy teams include those responsible for the Hydro Nation Strategy, Floods Directive, Drinking Water Directive, the Water Framework Directive, Sustainable Rural Development aquatic ecology and habitat management.

Water is crosscutting and there is a wide range of international and domestic drivers that are also relevant.

As well as supporting the delivery of specific water policies, our work also helps deliver the Scottish Government’s strategic objectives.

We are pivotal in the implementation of Flood Risk Management - where research

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on effective public communication has created more resilient communities-and River Basin Management Planning, where both morphology and diffuse pollution are significant issue. CREW contributes knowledge on how to assess the effectiveness of catchment-based interventions, informing support options within the Scotland Rural Development Programme. In partnership with our users, our innovative research has helped improve the quality and provision of drinking water. CREW also plays a critical role in acting as a facilitator that brings together industry, policy and academia as part of the Hydro Nation Agenda. The science/policy interface works best when relationships

WATER INDUSTRY JOURNAL SEPTEMBER 2018

are allowed to build between users and scientists to ensure user needs are clearly understood and articulated. To facilitate this, user groups have been established around the main policy areas and CREW has established a core network of leading academics across the universities in Scotland, the UK and Europe to deliver policy relevant leading edge research. The outcome of these discussions are developed into policy relevant research projects and knowledge briefs. The collaborative process increases the impact of research to the user community and creates relevant and contemporary outputs and outcomes. Co-production is continued throughout the research process to delivery,

CATCHMENT MANAGEMENT z

pulling in the wealth of expertise from across the supply sector both within the institutes working on government programmes and the Universities, building capacity for future work.

CREW has an important role in wider policy engagement in Scotland and networking both within the UK and beyond to ensure awareness of emerging policy/research agendas, to ensure CREW is informed of current thinking and debate and generally to make links and help ensure joined up work across the sector. CREW being represented on a range of boards and advisory groups helps facilitate this and establishes links with other similar international initiatives.

CREW draws on the scientific expertise that sits within the Strategic Programme of Research (SRP), funded by the Scottish Government, and the Scottish Higher Education community accessing a high quality, multidisciplinary science base that helps provide knowledge with a fast track to impact. The Hydro Nation Scholars Programme (HNSP), managed by CREW on behalf of the Scottish Government, funds postgraduate research projects aligned to the strategic priorities of the Hydro Nation Agenda, with the aim of creating a global water alumni. Scholars benefit from specialised programmes including the opportunity to undertake placement at

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water-related institutions such as Scottish Water, the Scottish Government, Scottish Environment Protection Agency, or industry.

We presently have 17 scholars from 14 countries and a further 5 starting in October 2018.

In addition to the policy research CREW and the James Hutton Institute are supporting the delivery of the Hydro Nation International programme that provides cutting edge water research in India, Malawi, Pakistan, China and other countries. The principle aim is to deliver research with Scottish experts that address some of the most pressing water challenges outlined in the Sustainable Development Goal 6 (improved water and sanitation for all by 2030). Projects include a closed loop decentralised water system for rural India which has been designed with input from the local community. The modular design opens many opportunities to build capacity with the potential to roll out similar systems in multiple rural locations in India and other countries.

More information on CREW, the Hydro Nation Scholars and the James Hutton Institute can be found at: www.CREW.ac.uk

www.hydronationscholars.scot www.hutton.ac.uk

www.huttonltd.com

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Innovation and collaboration: what next for catchment management?

In this issue, we speak to Mott MacDonald’s Water Resources team, who work across the water sector in the UK and internationally, taking a holistic and collaborative approach to water quantity and quality challenges.

Traditionally these challenges were met through hard engineering solutions, such as end-of-pipe treatment, concrete flood defences or new sources of water. The industry-wide and regulatory drive for innovation and collaboration provides opportunities for sustainable, catchment-focused solutions, addressing some of the most pressing concerns facing the industry - protecting the environment and ensuring resilient water supplies for the future What catchment management approaches have you been using to improve water quality?

Mott MacDonald is at the forefront of delivering catchment management appraisals and modelling investigations, addressing high levels of pesticides, nutrients, bacteria and plastics in surface, ground and coastal waters.

Whilst such pollutant-specific approaches are important in meeting regulatory drivers, we also promote a more holistic view, incorporating wider benefits such as provision for ecosystem services.

Can this holistic approach be used to address water quantity concerns?

Absolutely; a recent successful example of an integrated approach to address water quantity challenges comes from the Water Resources East (WRE) project. Mott MacDonald works collaboratively with partners and Anglian Water on this project, bringing together stakeholders from a range of sectors, regulators and NGOs. WRE is creating a longterm multi-sector water resources strategy for the East of England to provide a sustainable supply for the next 100 years, resilient to the effects of climate change, population growth and drought.

What are the challenges facing the adoption of truly integrated catchment management in the water industry?

Solutions often depend on different elements of water company operations, managed by different teams across the business, which presents a challenge. By collaborating across teams and with industry partners, water companies can optimise their expertise and expenditure, ensuring a robust outcome for themselves, wider society and the environment.

The asset management and environmental planning timescales water companies work to are frequently too short to prove compliance and wider benefits of catchment-based solutions. Due to the time taken for water to travel from a field to an aquifer, it can be

Rutland Water over 50 years for catchment management interventions at the land surface to be realised at a groundwater well. When working to a 25year planning horizon, justifying investments for programmes with such long payback can be difficult. It is critical to engage with regulators to ensure understanding of this and influence decision-making.

One of the greatest challenges is recognition and acceptance of the uncertainty inherent in catchment management. End-of-pipe solutions typically guarantee a pollutant reduction to within a specified limit, but often at high totex and carbon cost. Alternative catchment solutions can also boost ecosystem services and natural capital, with positive impacts on human health and well-being, however, there is a risk that outcomes for a target quality metric are less certain or controllable. The multiple benefits gained by in-catchment solutions may outweigh the cost of rare target breaches, but for such an approach to be tolerable to water companies, regulators need to accept uncertainty and recognise it within consents.

How can the risks you describe be mitigated?

Good data is key to understanding a problem, to robustly assess the costs and benefits of potential solutions, and work with uncertainties. With more information available than ever before, data analytics can provide outcomes based on robust up-todate evidence. Mott MacDonald’s awardwinning ‘Safeswim’ water quality initiative, commissioned by Auckland Council, New Zealand, uses real-time rainfall data to predict water quality at Auckland beaches. The results are online, so the public can make informed decisions about which beach to visit.

A comprehensive understanding of the industry and regulatory environment is essential. We work with water companies and regulators, and understand all aspects of the

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water industry; from how water companies operate, to the factors that impact upon their business, and the cycles within which they plan investment. An extensive knowledge of the regulatory environment in which the industry operates underpins our work, and we understand available funding sources and the necessity of building a strong business case to illustrate the benefits of every cost.

What does the future hold for catchment management?

Emerging policies, in the light of Brexit, abstraction reform, Defra’s Health and Harmony paper and their 25 Year Environment Plan provide opportunities to change how we address industry-wide challenges. We are already exploring multi-sector water management options with Anglian Water in one of the Environment Agency’s Initial Priority Catchments, supporting clients with natural capital approaches to investments, pioneering nature-based solutions and providing thought leadership for emerging concerns such as plastics.

Embracing new technologies also presents opportunities. Cloud computing can be used to simulate multiple model runs in a shorter time, quickly expanding the evidence base from which options can be developed and decisions made. In a coastal modelling project for Dwr Cymru Welsh Water we used more than 120 virtual computers to reduce model run-time from 6 months to 6 weeks.

By collaborating to connect people, data and resources, we can open opportunities to achieve more cost-effective solutions with greater benefits to the water industry, the environment and society.

For more information on Mott MacDonald’s approaches to catchment management, please contact: water.resources@mottmac.com

From source, to sea We deliver innovative and integrated solutions to water quality challenges

We apply a multi-sector approach to understanding the sources of water quality issues, surface water and groundwater pathways, and receptors â&#x20AC;&#x201C; human and environmental.

We successfully integrate our holistic understanding with policy, stakeholder engagement and natural capital.

Our solutions focus on sustainability and are sensitive to external drivers.

For more information contact: water.resources@mottmac.com

mottmac.com

AVK UK LIMITED SUPPLY DN800 RESILIENT SEATED GATE VALVES FOR DALMACOULTER RESILIENCE SCHEME

AVK UK Limited was awarded a contract for the provision of four DN800 Series 55 Resilient Seated Gate Valves along with nine DN900 Metal Seated Gate Valves by the Caledonia Water Alliance (Morrison Utility Services Limited and AECOM) on the Dalmacoulter Resilience Scheme for ultimate client Scottish Water.

The valves are the first of their kind ever to have been supplied on a UK scheme having only been available and supplied up to DN600 before this order. Discussions began early 2016, and the valves were delivered to site in October 2016. The Caledonia Water Alliance, formed by Morrison Utility Services Limited and AECOM, was named in 2014 as the preferred bidder to support the delivery of Scottish Water’s water infrastructure element of its capital investment programme.

The contract included programme management, together with the design and construction of works associated with the water network across the whole of Scotland along with new assets, renewals, modifications, maintenance and refurbishment of water networks and pumping stations. The Dalmacoulter Resilience Scheme is for the construction of a 1000mm diameter HPPE pipeline approximately 6km in length running from Cumbernauld to Airdrie.

The pipeline is being constructed in duplication to the existing pre-stressed concrete pumping main to ensure the resilience of supply to 185,000 people.

www.avkuk.co.uk

Wilson McPhail, AVK UK Limited Business Manager for Scotland, explained why the DN800 Series 55 Resilient Seated Gate Valves were chosen for the scheme, “We had worked closely and collaborated with the Caledonia Water Team on the design requirements.

It was established that on two of the DN800 Gate Valves, there would not be enough headroom for the valves to sit in the vertical position. One of the key advantages of the AVK Series 55 Resilient Seated Gate Valve is that you can install them vertically or horizontally as standard without any modifications required to the valve. This allowed us to easily overcome this challenge whilst giving the customer the flexibility to install in either position.”

The valves were manufactured at AVK’s state of the art machining facility in Anhui, China. “The usage of the DN800 Series 55 not only solved the immediate challenge but also provided the client with other additional benefits. The AVK Series 55 Gate valves have a lower operating torque in comparison to a Metal Seated Gate Valve which is significant for the gearing or actuator size resulting in cost savings to the client, the valves are designed to be 100% drop tight which cannot be achieved in a metal seated valve. They are the optimum valves for this scheme.” Wilson continued.

AVK UK Limited is continuously developing new products to meet the ever-increasing demand within the sector. Work is already underway for the development of DN900 and DN1000 diameter Series 55 Resilient Seated Gate Valves that should be available early 2018.

Wilson concluded, “Our development and manufacturing teams constantly liaise with market leaders to identify new ways of doing things and new products.”

For further details on this scheme, please contact: Wilson McPhail - Business Manager - Scotland M: +44 (0) 7515 576658 E: wimc@avkuk.co.uk

EXPECT... LASTING INNOVATIONS TO COMPLIMENT OUR LARGE DIAMETER VALVE RANGE WE OFFER

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Series 265/30 Dismantling Joint DN300-1600

Series 260/60 & 61 Tensile Resistant Flange Adaptor DN350-1200

Series 260/30 Flange Adaptor DN350-1600

Series 265/50 Dismantling Joint DN300-2200

The AVK Series 265/30 and 265/50 Dismantling Joints: • Available in size range DN300-2200.

• Longitudinal adjustment 60mm.

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Series 259/30 Stepped Coupling DN350-1600

The AVK Series 258, 259 and 260 Couplings and Flange Adaptors: • Available in size range DN350-1600.

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Flange adaptor only • PN16 drilling available as standard.

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• Cogged flange adaptor version to suit ‘special’ drillings. Adaptors can be notched.

T: +44 (0) 1604 601188 | E: customerservice@avkuk.co.uk

Series 258/61 Tensile Resistant Coupling DN350-700

The AVK Series 260/60 & 61, 258/60 and 258/6X Tensile Resistant Flange Adaptors and Couplings • Available in size range DN350-1200 (Series 260/61 DN350-700, Series 260/61 DN800-1200).

• End restraint is obtained by individual grippers independently torqued.

• Full tensile (end-load) capabilities.

• When fitted on polyethylene pipe, heat blankets are not required offering cost savings on installations.

• EPDM seals as standard.

• Blue fusion bonded epoxy coating to WIS 4-52-01.

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• The range is capable of connecting majority of pipeline materials such as ABS, cast iron, ductile iron, epoxy coated steel, Polyethylene PE80 and PE100 and PVC. Flange adaptor only • PN16 drilling available as standard.

• Other drillings available to order.

• Cogged flange adaptor version to suit ‘special’ drillings. Adaptors can be notched.

Flow and Level measurement Flow and level measurement have become all the more important given the pressures that the water industry is under. Managing the available supplies of water as effectively and sustainably as possible is a priority. In this, section we look at how this is being achieved.

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NI Water tapping into intelligent IT systems in a bid to assess performance of sewerage networks Like other water companies across the UK, NI Water is striving to capture data on the performance of its sewerage networks - in particular discharges from Combined Sewer Overflows (CSO) and Wastewater Pumping Stations (WwPS) to Shellfish and Bathing Waters – in a bid to provide greater visibility to environmental stakeholders.

Over 70% of the public sewer system in Northern Ireland is ‘combined’ and during periods of intense rainfall the capacity of the system is often overwhelmed resulting in discharges to the environment.

from minimising routine maintenance. In addition, the monitoring of CSOs would also reduce the impact of pollution events due to blocked sewers.

Lessons learnt from the initial CSO monitoring project have allowed NI Water to hone its installations and processes, develop smarter IT systems and invest in more reliable methods of data gathering.

NI Water has made significant investment in Event Duration Monitoring (EDM) to establish, in line with environmental regulatory requirements, when spills are occurring from CSOs and WwPSs and for how long.

On this basis, in 2017 the team from NI Water’s Integrated Capital Delivery undertook a pilot study of 20 WwPS and 10 CSOs in a bid to trial other technologies available and incorporate them into NI Water’s existing data collection systems.

Initial research

An early CSO monitoring project carried out

by NI Water – which involved the installation of data loggers at CSOs; rain gauges and telemetry outstations – provided a valuable insight into the whole process of EDM and highlighted some of the difficulties associated with the process. These included: n Installation of the data loggers presented health and safety and maintenance issues with equipment being damaged during desilting of the CSO chamber and through water ingress. n Battery life was not as robust as expected, n Data loggers only communication was via GSM - as some of the CSOs were remote GSM signal was not as reliable. n Data loggers were not integrated into the existing NI Water telemetry protocols, data was transmitted to a stand-alone monitoring system requiring additional resources.

CSO with ultrasonic controllers installed and NIE supply NI Water’s Asset Management team prioritised WwPS and CSOs within 2km of Bathing and Shellfish Waters which require overflow monitoring equipment. This was to be installed to monitor each overflow event and, via telemetry, collect data such as dates and times as requested by the ‘Revised Bathing Water Directive’; and, where possible, flows and volumes of spills.

An additional driver for monitoring of the CSOs, is to assess the performance of the wastewater network and efficiencies derived

The objective of this subsequent monitoring project is to achieve: n In-day monitoring of overflow event, level and duration. n Estimate of volume of spill based on level, duration and characteristics of application. n Agglomeration of Shellfish and Bathing Water volumes to be estimated. n Monitoring of rainfall. n Alarm raised on an overflow with no rainfall. n Trends of sewer levels to advise desalting operations. n Signature design to achieve the above.

EDM in bathing and shellfish waters

The requirements of the revised Bathing Water Directive have been introduced to local legislation by the Quality of Bathing Water Regulations (NI) 2008. Under the new directive NI Water must provide all the following information: n Location of wastewater outfall pipes. n Location of consented storm overflows. n Date and times of when CSOs release stormwater into the sea.

While it is early days, NI Water is confident that by integrating these intelligent IT systems, the company will be in a better position to accurately inform key stakeholders on the performance of the wastewater network and allow potential impacts to be proactively managed.

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Telemetry aerial, kiosk with ultrasonic controller and telemetry unit

Technocover over screen chamber, hinged manhole cover on ultrasonic chamber

Integrating intelligent IT systems

Unlike any project before, this latest EDM aims to calculate estimated volumes of spillages from WwPS overflows where possible. Since this had never been done before within NI Water, a fundamental element to achieving this key objective was developing intelligent IT systems to support the EDM process.

Over the last year, NI Water’s Business Analytics Team have been working closely with colleagues from Integrated Capital Delivery to develop bespoke programmes to gather and process a range of relevant EDM data.

For the wastewater pumping stations involved in this latest project, flow rate is estimated based on the rate of rise prior to the overflow beginning. A capacity curve is stored for each wet well and associated network, and when an overflow occurs, the code checks back to the previous two values and takes the volume filled in that duration divided by the time between points to estimate flow rate. The estimated volume is simply calculated based on the duration of the overflow event and the estimated flow rate.

A ‘perseverance’ has been set for overflows to try and remove false positives, which were being received. The project is in its infancy, but it is intended to include a sanity check against a theoretical maximum flow rate based on the potential head and pipe diameters in the sewer network. Other future work includes: n Agglomeration to Shellfish and Bathing Water sites, developed through the intelligent IT system.

stations as data for the wastewater network is amended in corporate systems.

For CSOs, overflows are measured based on an ultrasonic on the weir. The level recorded from this is converted into an estimated flow rate based on a calculation using the length of weir. Other factors have been developed into the IT system such as: the type of weir i.e. single sided, double sided or screened weirs, with consideration for size and spacing of perforations along with an approximation for blinding. Whilst this is currently done on site, going forward it is planned to send back only the level and perform the calculation at the IT end.

n Cross-referencing overflows with rainfall data, pump trips, power failures and possibly tide times to try and help identify causes.

For both WwPSs and CSOs, NI Water is working towards developing scripts to perform these calculations automatically, once the relevant data has been found in both telemetry and CAR (NI Water’s Corporate Asset Register). This has a number of benefits including:

n Dynamically calculating and automatically updating capacity curves for pumping

n The fact calculations do not need to be set up individually on a site-by-site basis.

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n If the network or assets on it are subsequently changed (i.e. a new/different screen is fitted to a CSO, or additional sewers are added to a WwPS affecting the capacity curves) the calculations will automatically update without a site visit being necessary. n If the assumption used in the calculation methodology ever needs to be changed then this can be done for every site in one place without any site visits being needed.

While it is early days, NI Water is confident that by integrating these intelligent IT systems, the company will be in a better position to accurately inform key stakeholders on the performance of the wastewater network and allow potential impacts to be proactively managed.

The valuable asset data collected can also be fed into a range of modelling projects that are currently underway in Northern Ireland.

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Accurate flow and level measurement In this issue of the Water Industry Journal, we speak to John Hatton of TT Electronics about why precise, continuous flow and level measurement are a must for the water industry in order to meet the challenges ahead.

Flow and level measurement have become all the more important given the pressures that the water industry is under. The drive to improve customer service, whilst keeping bills down is challenging enough, however, water companies are having to achieve this in the context of climate change too.

Excessive rainfall causing flooding and sewage overflow, plus lengthy dry spells that cause droughts – are all part of the erratic weather conditions with which water companies are having to contend, making their challenge even greater. Legacy issues add a further complication, as all of this has to be achieved with an infrastructure that covers vast areas and which is in some instances is both inaccessible and ageing.

Managing the available supplies of water as effectively as possible, is all the more important in the light of these challenges so that we can all be assured water will be where it needs to be, whenever it needs to be, without disruption to customers. We all want to be able to turn on the tap and refresh our thirst, knowing that we have a safe, plentiful supply of water, day and night.

The magnitude of the challenge ahead is one of the reasons that the water industry came together to create a framework for longterm water resource planning. Regulators, companies, academics and NGO’s, led by Water UK, undertook extensive modelling for various scenarios and developed a framework which suggested a number of ways to make our water supply more resilient.

Promoting more efficient water use in homes and businesses, through improved building standards and the greater uptake of smart meters, for example, was one aspect of the report. The other was the necessity for the improved management of water when it is moving from one region to another through our pipelines, in our reservoirs and treatment centres.

It is in this context that flow and level measurement prove particularly important so that the industry can detect leaks faster and more accurately, meaning that their resources are planned accordingly and maintenance work is targeted where it is most needed, quickly. Ensuring that the flow of water encounters as little disruption as possible.

Now, more than ever, water companies need to be able to monitor water levels and flow continuously, whether in pipelines, reservoirs or at water treatment facilities in order to meet customer need and to ensure the water supply is resilient even in the face of these challenging circumstances.

The industry needs to gain insights and build up data that will enable it to make evidence-based decisions about maintenance, upgrades and improvements so that they can make the best use of the resources possible, nipping problems in the bud before they escalate. Better operations, result in a better service, which is better for water companies, better for their customers and better for the environment too.

Any technology the industry embraces must have the ability to meet the exacting standards of measurement necessitated by the industry and its regulators today. Technology which is also robust, with the ability to operate and deliver data even when the unexpected happens – like in particularly extreme weather conditions.

Level transmitters, leak detection systems and flow metres comprise just some of the equipment that is being utilised by the industry to assist them in making evidence-based

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decisions and in operating more efficiently.

Finding an instrument manufacturer with the experience of providing high specification flow and measurement devices to highly regulated industries such as the water industry can be difficult. TT Electronics, is one such manufacturer, whose instruments have been designed for applications such as water pumps, reservoirs, boreholes, river, tank and are configured for use in leak detection.

TT Electronics’ experience encompasses the water industry, in addition to the utility industries as a whole, as well as offshore exploration, medical, fire, glass, steel, the automotive and aerospace industries – to name but a few. Their precision measurement equipment can be calibrated to meet the needs of specific industries and particular customers, and their service encompasses not only the equipment itself but also its installation and maintenance too.

As John explains: “We understand what the water industry is trying to achieve, the issues faced and can assist overcome them. We work with customers to design products specifically to suit their applications and the demanding nature of those applications. We provide products that allow you to do your job.” www.ttelectronics.com

TT Electronics’ flow and pressure portfolio from Roxspur Measurement & Control is rugged and reliable, suitable for the most challenging of water and wastewater applications.

Level/Depth Transmitters • Lightning protection as standard • Wide operational and compensated temperature range • Rugged construction • Excellent long-term stability • CE compliant NGX/LGX Flow Meters • Easy to use, high visibility scale • UV stabilised rigid safety cover • Gas or liquid flow measurement • Instantaneous response • Accuracy up to ±1.25% FSD • ATEX infrared alarm option

www.ttelectronics.com

roxspursales@ttelectronics.com

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Battery powered Katronic KATflow 200 offers portability and flexibility in non-invasive flow monitoring

Clamp on flow measurement for reliable measurement with no process interruption

Non-invasive Liquid Flow Measurement – Keep Calm and Clamp-On

By Andrew Sutton, Managing Director, Katronic technologies Ltd. The water and waste treatment industry is one of the biggest users of process instrumentation, but also presents some of the biggest challenges. There are all the usual requirements – flow, level, temperature etc, but often in remote areas, or as part of a secure network, and for potable water, in hygienic conditions. It is also a critical service and the process can often only be interrupted in an emergency. Invasive flow measurement instruments, unless installed as part of a new-build project, involve breaking into the pipes, possibly including tankering and civils disturbance and even traffic management issues. They can even provide sites for microbial and algal growth to flourish.

Non-invasive, clamp on flow measurement using ultrasonic techniques provides a method to measure reliably and repeatably without interrupting the process and without compromising the cleanliness of the pipe.

How does non-invasive clamp-on measurement work?

Regardless of whether the flowmeter is fixed to a wall or is a portable, battery-powered unit, flow is sensed by a pair of compact, IP68 rated stainless steel transducers, which are fixed to the outside of the pipe by clamps or chains.

These transducers pass an ultrasonic signal through the pipe walls and the liquid. Each transducer sends and receives the ultrasonic ‘echoes’ that return through the liquid that are then analysed within the flowmeter. Advanced

signal analysis compares the signal in each direction and calculates the flow velocity.

An easy way to think of the way the measurement works is to imagine a rowing boat on a river. If the boat is rowed a known distance downstream and then back upstream, the time required varies in proportion to the speed of the river flow. In the same way the ultrasonic pulses are both emitted and detected by the pair of transducers a known distance apart, so reflections from the inside of the pipe are affected by the flow rate and so are measured both ‘upstream’ and ‘downstream’.

Particularly on a small pipe, the difference between upstream and downstream times can be a matter of nanoseconds, so the flow meter system considers a number of reflections, or ‘passes’ to increase the confidence in the measurement. The flowmeter analyses the reflected ultrasonic pulses, taking into consideration the effect the pipe material has on the flow. A good, modern clamp-on flowmeter will include built-in tools that help to optimise the installation, maximising the signal strength and giving dynamic feedback to make sure that the transducers are accurately positioned on the pipe.

The flowmeter is making a direct measurement of flow velocity which is then converted, based on the set up of the unit, into any other flow parameter required within the process, typically litres per second. Measurable flow rates range from 0.01 metres per second all the way up to 25 metres per second.

Typical applications – asset management and energy saving

The first question should always be ‘what are

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we trying to achieve?’. A clamp-on flowmeter offers a typical accuracy of ±2% of flow velocity with repeatability of around 0.15%. There may be critical measurements where the operator will have to accept the inconvenience and cost of an invasive approach. For the majority of applications within a process environment, however, a couple of percent accuracy is adequate.

Clamp-on flowmeters are available in both fixed and portable forms, portable versions providing opportunities for temporary process monitoring, for example to verify pump performance, allowing service and maintenance to become predictive. Some pumps will have run for many hours, others for far less, and the wear on the pumps may have been affected by the process conditions when they were on duty. With a simple clamp-on measurement, individual pump performance can be determined directly, so maintenance priorities can be decided on the basis of actual repair and service requirements rather than time.

Higher specification clamp-on flowmeters are able to accept a second pair of transducers, along with a pair of temperature sensors. Flow and temperature measurements can therefore be integrated to directly measure heat flow.

By comparing heat flow ‘in’ with heat flow ‘out’, energy usage can be directly measured, logged and tracked to identify opportunities for energy savings.

Clamp-on, non-invasive ultrasonic flowmeters are clean, easy to install and use, and versatile.

Water 4.0 and Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) technologies means that process instrumentation that can be easily incorporated into an existing process is becoming more and more essential. The clamp-on flowmeter is set to be an important part of that growth.

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Specialists in Ultrasonic Flow Measurement

+44 (0)2476 714 111 • info@katronic.co.uk • katronic.com 63

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RADAR or Ultrasonic? The choice really is yours now The battle of the non-contacting measurement methods has ‘raged’, at least for those inside the industry, for more than a decade. Only now, though, with the advent of interchangeable transducers, are users able to enjoy the best of both worlds. varying the frequency of the signal. The frequency of the returning signal is compared to the signal being emitted at that moment using a mathematical technique called Fast Fourier Transform (FFT), the difference between the two corresponding to the time the signal has taken to return. FMCW is the more accurate of the two techniques, with a narrower beam angle and, typically, a stronger signal.

Within the water industry, ultrasonic systems have ruled the roost world-wide, as increasing sophistication has made sure that ultrasonics are rock solid reliable in terms of measurement confidence, and the latest systems have been built specifically around the sophisticated control, security and communications requirements of the water and waste water industries. Asset Management, predictive maintenance, TOTEX, EDM and more have influenced and informed developments in the technology, so that a modern ultrasonic controller is much more a pumping station management system than a level measurement device. Hundreds of thousands of sophisticated ultrasonic measurement and control devices provide vital enabling technology to control pumping stations – from the arctic circle to the baking heat of Western Australia, without any backup, in critical control applications managing water and waste water networks and providing the key measurements and control signals to drive key installations.

At Pulsar, we estimate that more than 95% of the measurement challenges we are presented with are readily measured using ultrasonic systems. However, there are certain measurements where RADAR units score well. For reasons mentioned below, ultrasonic measurement can struggle in digesters, because of the methane-rich atmosphere.

In a pressurised atmosphere the ultrasonic signal can fail, and probably most regularly, an ultrasonic system can be unstable on some types of foamy surfaces.

Outside the water/waste industries, the picture is more nuanced, with RADAR systems offering significant advantages in a number of situations. RADAR is unaffected by the medium it travels through and immune to pressure or temperature changes, whereas ultrasonic systems are at their best in situations where the measurement conditions are consistent. The accuracy of the ultrasonic measurement depends on the accuracy of the knowledge of the speed of sound within the application. For example if there are layers in the medium, which can happen in petrochemical applications, the ultrasound signal is affected along with accuracy. Some atmospheres attenuate an ultrasonic signal too, for example high Carbon dioxide concentrations in breweries where measurement may not be possible over more than very short distances.

How else do RADAR and Ultrasonic Systems Differ?

It could be said that there are three, rather than two non-contacting mechanisms

So, what’s new?

RADAR reading through sight glass on chemical tank here. Ultrasonic measurement operates by a transducer emitting and receiving an ultrasound pulse, which bounces from the target, each process exciting a piezo-electric crystal array. The pulse, naturally, reflects from every hard surface within the area of the sound pulse, normally referred to as the ‘beam angle’ and is analysed either within the transducer itself or in the controller. That’s an important point, and one I’ll return to shortly.

The competing echoes are disregarded and the ‘true echo’ identified. Pulsar originated their DATEM system of echo discrimination back in the 1990’s and have continued to develop and refine the algorithms so that now, there are very few applications where an ultrasonic system won’t work, unless it is a result of the atmosphere rather than, for example, a cluttered wet well.

Non-contacting RADAR comes in two types, pulsed and FMCW, or Frequency Modulated Continuous Wave. Both work by emitting radio frequency energy and measuring the time it takes for a signal to return from a target with a significantly higher dielectric constant than air. The key difference is that the pulsed RADAR emits a series of radio frequency pulses and measures the time it takes for the signal to return from the target to the emitter. A challenge when, at the speed of light, the signal will return in a fraction of a microsecond. FMCW also measures ‘time of flight’ but transmits continuously, constantly

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What Pulsar have achieved is to create a smart RADAR transducer family, the dBR16 and dBR8, which contain the initial signal processing software is within the transducer itself rather than in an associated controller. It still needs the controller to finalise the calculations, it is still a two-part system, but what that means is that the family of controllers that provide the range of water-industry specific functionality and have been developed around ultrasonic technology operate just as well with RADAR measurement as they do with ultrasonic. So, for example, a Pulsar Ultra 3 controller includes a substantial set of control functions designed around the requirements of a small pumping station, removing the need for detailed programming of the site PLC. If the conditions of the station change, if foam levels, for example, become an issue, then it is a straightforward swap-out to replace an ultrasonic ‘head’ with a RADAR transducer.

Seamless and straightforward, with no loss of service. Not only that, but dBR RADAR is backwards compatible with existing Pulsar controllers, so a dBR RADAR transducer can be retro-fitted to an existing installation where conditions have changed.

How to assess applications for RADAR or Ultrasonic measurement

Just to emphasise the point, there is now no difference in control and measurement functionality between RADAR and ultrasonic systems. Pulsar controllers will operate exactly the same way, in control and communication terms, whether they are fitted with a dB10 ultrasonic transducer or a dBR8 RADAR head.

A Pulsar Ultimate Controller will still offer the comprehensive set of control tools, still operates as a PLC, RTU and pump controller in one economic, easily programmed unit, still supplies valuable and water-industry specific functions including tariff management, time to spill alarms, pump trip/reset management to avoid unnecessary vehicle movements and site attendance, and still logs data and communicates via WITS whichever measurement is used.

Therefore, the ONLY assessment you need to make when deciding between RADAR and

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ultrasonic is the measurement itself. First off, when making the assessment, you can start from an assumption: it’s probably ultrasonic.

The vast majority of the measurements we make and the applications we see are easily within the limits of ultrasonic measurement, even the cluttered, busy wet wells and foamy surfaces that we see every day in sewage treatment applications. There are, however, some situations where you should consider RADAR: Accuracy Although Pulsar ultrasonic systems are the most accurate you can get on short-range Open Channel Flow MCERTS applications, on longer range - more than a few metres – applications, RADAR has the edge. We normally quote an ultrasonic application at ±0.25% of measurement range, so for a 6m measurement a typical accuracy would be ±15mm, whereas a similar RADAR measurement would offer accuracy around ±2mm.

High temperature Any application where the liquid or solid surface is hot can create a temperature gradient above the surface, which affects the speed of sound and creates an inconsistent ultrasonic signal, reducing accuracy.

Electrical or acoustic noise RADAR is unaffected by electrical noise, for example from a nearby inverter, or excessive

Ultra 5 works with RADAR or Ultrasonic transducer acoustic noise in the well. It’s very difficult to assess this prior to installation, making Pulsar’s approach a simple retrofit option.

Foam RADAR measurement will tend to give a more stable result on a foamy surface than ultrasonic.

Dosing plant A really interesting application of RADAR is in chemical dosing plant, where chemicals are supplied in plastic IBCs. Because plastic has a low dielectric constant compared to a liquid surface, RADAR can ‘see’ through the container wall to the liquid surface, meaning that you can accurately measure usage and re-order points without having to introduce a process connection to the container. The ±2mm accuracy really helps here too.

Digesters A long-term frustration for ultrasonic measurements has been the inability to measure reliably within the methane-rich, elevated temperature and pressurised environment in a sludge digester. With the increase in emphasis on bio-gas generation, RADAR measurement offers an easy and well-understood way to measure levels in the digesters with a standard set of communications and control tools connected to the rest of the site.

Conclusion

With the advent of the new interchangeability, RADAR and ultrasonic are able to be considered as simply two approaches to the same problem. Project specification has been made easier, because every application can be considered with a single set of control tools and only the change in measurement transducer to decide, and even then, those decisions can be made retrospectively without the associated delay, expense and inconvenience of having to program a new controller which may or may not be compatible with the rest of the site tools.

Service and on-site maintenance are made much simpler – only one set of control spares, only one set of instructions to learn.

From simple level and flow measurement .... ... to the most advanced pumping station control systems in the world

Ultrasonic OR FMCW RADAR - YOU choose dBR RADAR transducers are compatible with current and previous Pulsar controllers - full control functionality regardless of technology

The specialists in non-contacting pump, level and flow control +44 (0) 1684 891371, info@pulsar-pm.com, www.pulsar-pm.com

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®

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z FLOW & LEVEL MEASUREMENT

Accessible SIRIS thin plate weir system

Fully accessible critical depth flume channel

Mobile flow calibration

Flow measurement “Do It Once – Do it right” – SIRIS Environmental Limited The MCERTS self-monitoring of flow scheme was introduced by the Environment Agency to govern the regulation of treated flows being discharged back into the environment, typically from sewage treatment sites within the UK. Since the scheme was introduced back in the early 2000’s there has been an overall improvement in flow measurement systems and MCERTS is often used as a benchmark standard for any new flow measurement system. New critical depth flumes, v-notch thin plate weirs and electromagnetic flow systems have been installed throughout the UK to meet the MCERTS standard and as such the end user have a more robust flow measurement system.

However, problems remain, and in nearly all cases this can be traced back to the initial design. MCERTS puts great emphasis on the need for any flow measurement system to be easily maintainable. This is from both an operational point of view but also to allow for routine calibration checks. If the flow measurement system cannot be calibrated or maintained, then you cannot easily know for sure if it is operating correctly.

The classic historical case for this is that of buried electromagnetic flow measurement systems. Techniques such as the Siris PROVALoop mobile flow calibration rig have been introduced to allow periodic calibration checks which provide evidence that the flow meter is operating correctly and that the level of fouling within the sensor tube is to an acceptable low limit. However, these types

of tests are often not straightforward and require a good deal of planning. Luckily buried electromagnetic flow measurement systems are becoming a thing of the past. Problems however do remain with flow measurement chambers being designed to the absolute minimum requirements. The 5-diameter upstream approach distance is applied in a lot of designs with no consideration as to how the system can be calibrated. A common method used for a routine calibration of an electromagnetic flow system is to use a clamp on time of flight flow meter on the same section of pipe adjacent to the electromagnetic flow meter. A portable time of flight flow meter will often require a greater approach length than that of the electromagnetic flow sensor, therefore the system should be designed to accommodate the time of flight flow meter in the first instance.

Another example of poor design is that of access and confined spaces. Thin plate weirs (eg: v-notch weirs) and critical depth flumes are gravity type flow measurement systems and are used extensively for accurate flow measurement on sewage treatment works.

Access to both the flume and approach section are required to allow sediment deposits to be removed. This is also the case with a thin plate weir system. Often both these types of systems are in confined spaces which makes access for maintenance a challenge. The water industry commonly applies the C&G confined space rules and as such new flow measurement chambers should be designed to allow safe access and egress. Too often we

still come across new build NC2 type confined space chambers with flow measurement systems installed which require a 2-person team and tripod. For weekly maintenance this cannot be an acceptable solution for a single site operator.

Designers & consultants have a difficult balancing act. They are tasked with providing a cost-effective flow measurement system that is fully compliant from both a health and safety point of view and an MCERTS view. All too often the resulting Health and Safety requirements will cause a flow measurement system to subsequently fail an MCERTS site inspection.

For example, if it is shown that operational personnel are prevented from doing a routine maintenance task. Bolted down covers over a flume or v-notch thin plate weir can often result in an MCERTS failure as a site operator may mention they cannot be safely removed for maintenance. Hinged lockable covers are the obvious solution to this problem but are seldom used in the first instance due to cost.

Luckily help is at hand, SIRIS Environmental limited provide flow measurement design and consultancy to help ensure regulatory compliance and ensure any new flow measurement system is done properly in the fist place. As we always say when it comes to flow measurement “Do it once Do it right”.

Since the scheme was introduced back in the early 2000’s there has been an overall improvement in flow measurement systems and MCERTS is often used as a benchmark standard for any new flow measurement system.

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WRAS approval granted for Mag Flow Meters M1000, M2000 and M5000 ranges from Badger Meter are now WRAS approved by the United Kingdom Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations and Scottish Water Byelaws. WRAS approval is also accepted in many countries worldwide as a water quality safety standard.

Bell Flow Systems promotes all three approved models, manufactured by Badger Meter USA, acting as exclusive UK distributor.

The low-cost M1000 electromagnetic flow meter is specifically designed for industrial water/wastewater, machinery plant, tankers and bowsers as well as for batching process applications of potable water. The flow meter combines a general-purpose LCD display featuring various outputs and communications protocols with a standard flanged flow detector body and choice of liners, representing the latest innovation in mag meter design and signal processing. The model features a user-friendly, streamlined design with rugged electronics housing. Available in sizes up to DN500.

The higher accuracy M2000 electromagnetic flow meter features an advanced, user-friendly design. Suitable for field verification testing with the use of a simple, handheld device.

The M2000 is manufactured under strict quality standards, employing sophisticated

production techniques. The patented microprocessor-based signal conversion software facilitates accuracies of ±0.25%. The wide selection of liner and electrode materials ensures maximum compatibility and minimum maintenance over long operating periods. Available in sizes up to DN600 (WRAS approved to DN200) with internal data logger and remote telemetry options.

The M5000 range of battery powered mag flow meters are the ideal solution for remote applications and for location in chambers where power is not able to be supplied.

Providing accurate measurements of +/ 0.4%, designed for potable water applications, the M5000 offers the same user-friendly design

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as the M2000, but is instead battery operated - delivering 10+ years of reliable performance.

This range is purpose built for field verification testing with the use of a simple, handheld device. Available in sizes up to DN600 (WRAS approved to DN200) with options including MID/OIML custody transfer approvals and remote telemetry and logging options.

All three models also feature a large selection of additional options including power, signal outputs, liner materials and choice of electrodes materials.

Contact Bell Flow Systems for further information sales@bellflowsystems.co.uk or visit www.bellflowsystems.co.uk for further information on this product.

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Sometimes, you have to be in it to win it If your process involves the manufacture or processing of liquids and you need to know the level of that liquid through your plant, then chances are you will start your considerations of the most suitable level sensor by looking at non-contact sensors.

it to measure the fluid level accurately underneath.

To maintain a high quality return signal, ultrasonic sensors like a reflective surface to bounce off. In many applications liquid surface can be turbulent, particularly if agitated.

Disrupted surfaces will scatter the sound pulse affecting performance of the sensor.

Due to its unique design, the immersed probe of the Gill sensor is unaffected by turbulence, can withstand lateral loads, providing a dependable, accurate output.

Keeping sensors out of measured fluid offers seemingly obvious advantages over immersed sensors such as float or capacitive devices, particularly if the liquid has suspended solids or other matter that would clog up or accumulate on the sensor, making their data unreliable or inaccurate.

However, the introduction of an innovative new conductive level sensor from Gill Sensors means it is not the clear-cut decision it once was. Here we take a look at some of the issues faced when using the most popular technology – ultrasonic – which Gill’s new sensor helps overcome.

Temperature change affects the speed of sound waves, which alters the time-of-flight pulses from ultrasonic sensors, affecting sensor accuracy. Some ultrasonic sensors include temperature compensation but, if the temperature is measured in the sensor

itself, it may be higher than the ambient temperature, particularly in direct sun. The Gill sensor remains stable across its operating temperature range of -40° to +85°C. Foam is a natural enemy of ultrasonic sensors because it absorbs the pulses from the sensor, degrading the reflected signal making the sensor inoperable. The Gill sensor will penetrate any foam depth or density allowing

Water & Wastewater Liquid Level Sensing RELIABLE & ACCURATE LEVEL MEASUREMENT

Ultrasonic sensors must be mounted to avoid coating by material or condensation. Coatings dissipate the signal, sometimes such that there is insufficient power to get the signal through the coating and back again. Regular cleaning can be one way to overcome this. Gill’s conductive level sensor has a smooth, nonstick FEP coating without any holes or cavities, meaning that it will not clog up or become coated with solids, giving reliable ‘fit-andforget’ measurement performance - whatever it is immersed in.

To find out more about this unique sensor, visit gillsc.com/level..

Visit us on stand 5P65 at the Waste Water Expo, NEC Birmingham, 12 & 13 September

The 7014 non-stick liquid level sensor has been designed to provide reliable and accurate level measurement of fluids that, because of their composition, can prove challenging to measure by conventional sensors.

With no cleaning or re-calibration it is unaffected by suspended solids, foam, flocculants, surface turbulence, humidity or condensation

More information at gillsc.com/water Sensors & Controls

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micronics PORTAFLOW D550 Non-Invasive Doppler Flow Meter Portable Flow Meter for Dirty or Aerated Liquids. Investigate and Troubleshoot Flow from Outside the Pipe.

Micronics Doppler Flow Meter used in service centres of world’s leading pump manufacturer Sulzer one of the world’s leading manufacturers of custom engineered high-energy pumps for the oil and gas, water and hydrocarbon processing industries and power generation markets used the Micronics D550 Doppler Flow Meter in 4 service centres nationwide to optimise performance, improve site operations and reduce energy costs, including at Anglian Water’s Empingham STW Inlet Pump Station.

Ideal to measure full pipe flow of any liquid containing gas bubbles or solids > 100 microns and recommended for: Sewage, Treated Wastewater, Aerated Water, Sludge and Slurries, Viscous Liquids, Abrasives, Food Products, Pulp Stock, Acids and Caustics.

Anglian Water Energy Team called in Sulzer to look at refurbishing the Inlet Pump Station. The aim was to improve the operation of the site as the existing pumps did not deliver the required flows and continually suffered from blockages. During the inspection of the site it was quickly realised that, along with the operational benefits, energy costs could be reduced by installing new Sulzer Effex pumps, which Sulzer presented and delivered to the Energy Team. Flows were increased by the installation of the Micronics unit to deliver the required consented flow during storm conditions and a control system was put in place to manage the required flow rate to the works. The result was the transformation of a very old and failing pump station into an efficient, low maintenance station saving over £1k in energy costs per year.

Find out what’s flowing where and solve flow problems, simply and quickly?

Investigate and Balance Flow, Check Performance of Pumps or other Flow Meters

The Micronics D550 Portable Doppler Flow Meter is used to monitor and balance flow, or to troubleshoot flow problems in full pipes.

It is ideal to evaluate performance of in-line flow meters and can be installed, calibrated and started-up in minutes. It is particularly useful for projects where a permanent flow meter is not required or to temporarily replace installed flow transmitters. Operation is straightforward. The ultrasonic sensor is clamped on the outside of a pipe. An acoustic pulse is reflected back to the sensor from particles or gases in the flowing liquid. The flow rate of any fluid can be measured as long as it contains air bubbles or solids. It is ideal for wastewater, slurries, sludge and most chemicals, acids, caustics and lubrication fluids. With its internal battery the PF D550 can be operated all day and then recharged overnight. For continuous use it can be powered by a supplied 110-240VAC wall plug adapter. A 300,000 point data logger is built-in.

n D isplays, Datalogs, Transmits and Totalizes

Flow in Closed Pipes n F ast, Easy Flow Measurement with

Non-Invasive Ultrasonic Sensor n V ersatile, Easy to Use n I deal for Dirty or Contaminated Liquids

www.micronicsflowmeters.com or call

+44 (0)1628 642057

Adam Rawlings, Sulzer’s Asset Enhancement Manager was pleased with the selection of the Micronics units. “We will definitely make use of them in the future. They are our preferred unit, having tried others in the past. I would recommend them for similar uses throughout the oil and gas, water and hydrocarbon processing industries and power generation markets.”

For further information on this project or the Micronics range call Micronics on +44(0)1628 810456, or visit www.micronicsflowmeters.com

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WATER INDUSTRY JOURNAL SEPTEMBER 2018

RELIABILITY EFFICIENCY SOLUTIONS EXPERIENCE INNOVATION

The water sector is changing We can help you deal with the challenges and be ‘Future Ready’ - whatever the future may hold.

• • • • •

Ageing assets Growth Affordability Resilience Environment

• • • • •

Customer wishes Energy Climate change Competition Smart networks

WSP is a globally-acclaimed professional services firm. Our teams of technical experts and strategic advisors have skills including engineering, environment, planning, science and architecture.

www.aerzen.co.uk +44(0) 208 502 8100 Compressed air, gas and vacuum solutions sales@aerzen.co.uk

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WATER INDUSTRY JOURNAL SEPTEMBER 2018

The journey to professional qualifications Obtaining a professional registration (Chartered, Incorporated or Technician) used to be seen as an absolute requirement to work in the water sector. However in recent years the proportion of staff with a formal professional registration has reduced in most organisations. There are several reasons for this including increased specialisation of early career professionals so that they do not achieve the rounded experience needed for a formal professional qualification.

By Martin Osborne

the challenges that they will face in their first months at work.

WSP is aiming to reverse this trend with a target of having 60% of technical staff professionally registered by 2020. We believe that a strong, enthusiastic and forwardthinking workforce is a prerequisite to WSP success. Therefore, investing in the development of our early career professionals and more experienced staff is critical to retain the best talent and maintain our competitive edge.

When new technical staff join us, their induction process includes encouragement to gain a professional registration and information provided by a range of professional institutions (including the Institute of Water) on the routes to registration and benefits from achieving it.

This is the first encouragement to set targets for professional development and find the support to achieve them. We then support them in all aspects of career development to remove all of the barriers to achieving this.

Technical Director WSP

Developing staff to achieve a professional qualification is not something to think about when they have a few years’ experience and are ready to sit the assessment. At WSP we start thinking about it even before they start work with us.

Each year, we look for the brightest and best school- and college-leavers to join our teams, as apprentices combining training with work on exciting projects. A key early part of the apprentice journey is choice of the professional registration that they are aiming for and engagement with the relevant professional institution. We develop discipline specific competency plans; and individual competency plans based on the development requirements of the selected institution.

For graduates joining us, we will already have helped to shape their development through our involvement with university courses either as visiting lecturer or member of an advisory panel helping to shape the content of their course to match the needs of the industry and

Once staff join us their learning and development continue. We have developed structured training courses that are aligned with the competency requirements of professional institutions. Our Urban Drainage Academy has been running successfully for many years and delivers training matched to the competency requirements for catchment planning. We are now developing parallel courses for water distribution planners and for flood risk management staff. We also offer this training to staff from our key clients, so that our staff understand more of their needs and to ensure our clients understand what we are trying to do for them.

More experienced staff are not left out with regular “lunch and learn” sessions to provide a refresher of existing skills or to provide guidance in new techniques, standards and methodologies. These are provided either as face-to-face sessions or on-line webinars but with interaction through questions and discussion encouraged in both cases.

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A key step is to monitor progress with an on-line competency database where all staff record registrations, specialist technical skills and development aims. With this information we can support those wanting to gain a registration and also identify those who could achieve a registration but have not yet started their journey.

We offer support and encouragement through a combination of the Learning and Development team, the line manager and most importantly an experienced mentor from outside of their immediate team. The system also allows experienced staff to register offers of support so that staff can search for a suitable mentor.

We also provide financial incentives with a bonus for both the staff member and their mentor when they gain their target professional registration. For mentors the key incentive is making a difference in helping enrich the personal development of a member of staff. As one of our Senior Engineers put it, “Mentoring broadens the mind and helping others to develop is always rewarding - and gives me the chance to give something back for all the help I received.”

So the journey to professional registration is not a short sprint when you have a few years’ experience, nor is it a lonely journey setting and meeting your own targets. Rather, it is a long-term opportunity for team members to support each other to develop their skills and capabilities. wsp.com

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z WASTEWATER TREATMENT & TECHNOLOGY

Cambrian North Swale – photograph courtesy of Morgan Sindall

Innovating to tackle the combined sewer challenge The Welsh Water Capital Delivery Alliance has developed an exciting innovative solution to help to manage the longstanding challenges faced by the industry from combined sewer networks. Mike Taylor at Sweco, explains how Welsh Water’s innovative solution to address the increased volume of rainwater entering the network can form part of a catchment approach to improving the local environment.

The purpose of combined sewer overflows is to protect homes from sewer flooding during storm conditions. The UK’s legacy of a network of combined sewers means that the number of weather-related sewage spills from combined sewers has risen as the effect of climate change and urban impermeable areas and population growth have contributed to an increase in rainfall run off entering the network.

One area where this has become a particular concern is the sewerage catchments of Llanelli and Gowerton in South Wales.

The story so far

Welsh Water’s Wastewater Treatment Works at Llanelli and Gowerton both discharge treated effluent into a sensitive local water body. The area supports an important cockle industry and is a Special Area of Conservation under the European Union’s Habitats Directive.

Over the years, increasing urbanisation and more frequent, high intensity storms have put a lot of pressure on the combined sewer system, and the number of weather related spills into the estuary can exceed desirable frequencies.

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To address this, Welsh Water has been delivering a catchment approach to reduce the overall number of spills in Llanelli and Gowerton designed to meet the outputs agreed with their regulator.

During AMP5, the company developed their RainScape approach which targeted the separation of surface water from the sewers and looked at how to use sustainable drainage systems to slow and manage flows at root cause in the upstream catchment area.

RainScape has had a significant impact, removing around 48Ha of impermeable area

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draining to the network and the volume of combined sewer overflow water spills has significantly reduced from 3.8 million cubic metres per year to around 1.2million cubic metres in the Llanelli Catchment alone.

However, the final part of the catchment approach to meet quality requirements needed a different approach, as continuing with RainScape would be a significant expense, and take too long to complete.

In AMP6, the Welsh Water Capital Delivery Alliance continued to develop and deliver RainScape and smart network solutions, but an innovative solution was required to process all flows (including the weather influenced peak flows) arriving at the Llanelli and Gowerton works and to treat them to meet EU Final Effluent standards.

Traditionally, the required effluent quality would be achieved by installing large storm tanks which would store the peak flow water until it could be processed by the wastewater treatment works. However, achieving this would mean installing tanks with around 216,000 cubic metres of capacity at Llanelli, and 300,000 cubic metres at Gowerton - the combined equivalent of 206 Olympic swimming pools. High capital and operational costs, combined with the large land requirements, meant this approach was not only technically unfeasible and unmanageable; but completely unaffordable, so an alternative solution was required.

Peak Flow Equivalent Treatment

Welsh Water opted for a pioneering method using treatment technology which would only operate when flows exceeded levels that could be processed by the existing treatment works, an approach known as peak flow equivalent treatment (PFET). This approach will reduce the remaining 1.2million cubic meters down to 110,000 cubic meters spilling from combined sewer overflows.

Llanelli Wastewater Treatment Works receives two pumped flows which deliver a combined maximum of nearly 1,400 litres per second during the peak storm conditions.

The existing treatment works has capacity to treat at least 599 litres per second. The next 650 litres per second will, once the project is complete, go through the new PFET unit for treatment, and the potential remaining 150 litres per second at maximum flow will go into the existing storm tanks.

The two flows from the existing treatment works and the new PFET unit will then be blended together to ensure the combined effluents meet the permit standard for that site.

Peak Flow Treatment at Llanelli WwTW

Finding the solution

The process of designing a solution was not without challenges.

The existing treatment works relies heavily on biological processing of the sewage but the intermittent nature of the flow through the PFET unit meant that this approach was not feasible, and the plant would need to rely on a purely physical method of treatment.

The requirement for any solution to sit inside the existing footprint of the wastewater treatment works presented a further challenge. The team carried out an assessment of all the available potential technologies, scoring them against criteria that included filtration performance, physical footprint requirement, operating costs and ongoing maintenance requirements.

Two of the most promising options identified by this analysis were then extensively tested in pilot plants at Gowerton Wastewater Treatment Works, using manufactured effluent to simulate multiple scenarios that may face the new unit from different levels of weather related flow and durations of operation.

Trials on the two selected options involved the analysis of effluent against a number of factors including those identified in the regulator’s consents for the treatment works. This included parameters such as total suspended solids, biochemical oxygen demand, chemical oxygen demand, and maximum and minimum pH, as well as total ammonia, nitrogen and phosphorus.

Extensive data modelling was used to allow the team to understand how the levels in the outflow would be affected by changes in the composition of the in-flow to the sites and to determine the levels of risk of Welsh Water permit requirements being exceeded over an extended period of time.

For this purpose, a Monte Carlo model was created for the system – a mathematical modelling tool that can calculate the probabilities of possible outcomes occurring in a complex system, based on a wide range of different variables; this allowed the team to calculate likely failure rates of the system.

Based on this work, a solution that uses compressible media filtration was selected and this, combined with UV treatment, will ensure that the blended effluent leaving the two treatment works will meet the regulator’s requirements, even in maximum-flow conditions.

Next steps

Having established the technology that will be used, the team is now in the process of creating a detailed design of the structures that will contain the new PFET unit - a process that involves extensive structural and dynamic modelling.

The new unit will be housed in a complex pre-cast concrete casing and be located on the sites alongside existing works. The early stages of construction are already underway on both sites, with the new process scheduled to go live in 2020.

“The purpose of combined sewer overflows is to protect homes from sewer flooding during storm conditions. The UK’s legacy of a network of combined sewers means that the number of weather-related sewage spills from combined sewers has risen as the effect of climate change and urban impermeable areas and population growth have contributed to an increase in rainfall run off entering the network.”

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z WASTEWATER TREATMENT & TECHNOLOGY

What if we simply didn’t treat wastewater?

The importance of industrial wastewater (pre-)treatment ‘If our wastewater is going to be treated at a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) anyway, why can’t my people simply pour it down the drain?’ As BakerCorp’s Filtration Manager for its European operations, it’s something I’m often asked. And it’s a very reasonable question.

processes and/or bacteria biodegrade the pollution. When the flow, type and/or concentration would have a negative impact on the aquatic ecosystem because they exceed the maximum removal capabilities, you’ve got to (pre-)treat it yourself. Reasonable enough, right?

The answer is that, whether municipal or industrial, all WWTPs are only designed to manage certain pollution loads, which are a combination of composition, flow and concentration. Exceed those loads and the WWTP can’t cope. In practice, this means that if you operate in certain industries and/or generate wastewater, you must either fully treat or pre-treat that wastewater yourself.

Just one reason why carrying out your own treatment can make sense.

There’s a financial driver if you’re emitting pollutants of a type or volume that require extra treatment for which the public water authorities would charge you. If the amount of these pollutants you produce exceeds a certain threshold, and you can afford the investment, then usually it will be cheaper to carry out the treatment yourself.

The business case for treatment of wastewater For a business, there are a number of key drivers for treating or pre-treating your wastewater:

The legal driver applies when you produce wastewater that’s purged directly or indirectly to surface water. If indirectly, the wastewater will be processed within WWTPs, usually using a traditional activated sludge system. With both the direct and indirect routes, biological

The ethical driver. For most companies there are other drivers, too. Such as a commitment to social responsibility or the environment. One ‘green’ reason to (pre-)treat your wastewater is the need for us as a society to reuse water more. Producing clean drinking water is getting increasingly difficult due to growing quantities of contaminants in it, such as hormones and medicines. Treatment onsite makes it possible to reuse that water.

The reputational driver. Today, a good reputation with consumers and other stakeholders is crucial to any business. And when it comes to environmental issues, your good name can be wiped out at a stroke.

Imagine, for example, that your company ignores the legislation and fails to treat wastewater it should treat, or neglects to follow its on-site treatment protocols properly.

If as a result you produce pollutants that reach a WWTP not designed to handle them, you’ve got a problem on your hands that can quickly become complex and costly. Worst-case scenario, your pollutants end up in our rivers and tap water. In which case, good luck to any company trying to deal with the legal and PR fallout!

The real reason we must treat pollutants

Though at times it may not feel that way, government doesn’t normally make up rules for the sake of it. The reason we’re legally obliged to treat our wastewater is that otherwise pollutants would have a major negative impact on: n People: ourselves and future generations. n Flora & Fauna: both current and future species.

Mention protecting fauna and most of us think of endangered species or images of poor creatures washed up on shores or riverbanks.

But the biggest threat from ignoring pollutants is not to our furry friends but to our microscopic ones: the bacteria who convert our waste into something harmless.

Types of pollutants

When people talk about emissions, they’re usually only thinking of vapours or fumes.

But actually there’s many more, which we can summarise in four categories: n Vaporised pollution — including gases harmful to humans, animals or even the ozone layer.

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WATER INDUSTRY JOURNAL SEPTEMBER 2018

WASTEWATER TREATMENT & TECHNOLOGY z

2. The higher levels of toxic components would harm bacteria, flora and fauna.

3. The water’s increased turbidity caused by suspended, emulsified or floating pollution would affect its quality as a habitat for flora, fauna and bacteria. And plants wouldn’t get enough light for photosynthesis, so they wouldn’t grow to convert nutrients into oxygen, which again would ultimately lead to oxygen depletion.

What can we do? n Visible liquified pollution — such as settling particles, suspended solids and floating liquids. n Dissolved liquified pollution — including acids and toxic heavy metals like copper, zinc and chrome. But also dissolved pollutants such as sugar, nitrogen, phosphorus, medicines and hormones. n Solid waste — including chemical, biological, organic and oil-polluted sludge.

All these pollutants will impact water quality.

Not only through direct pollution but also by dry or wet deposition and leaching, thus affecting aquatic ecosystems. So, clearly it’s in everyone’s interest to treat pollutants effectively.

But what would happen if we did nothing…?

If we didn’t reduce the levels of pollutants either at source or prior to their emission into water, air and land, it would have a massive negative impact on our aquatic ecosystems: 1. There wouldn’t be enough oxygen to deal with the increased amount of biodegradable pollution — so-called oxygen depletion.

The job of people like me is to help stop any of that happening. But like most issues in our world, we can only address the problem successfully when we collaborate. The challenges I help customers address vary enormously. From preventing different types of pollutants from entering liquid containment tanks on the one hand, to stopping fumes escaping them on the other. And from getting pollutants to bypass or not negatively impact existing treatment systems to stimulating the treatment of biodegradable pollution.

In future articles, I’ll look more closely at the specific challenges companies face and the practical solutions we offer to resolve them — some ingenious, some surprisingly simple.

As long as it does the job, and our microscopic bacterial friends continue to thrive and keep our waterways clean, I’ll be a happy man.

Contact

Feel free to get in touch to learn more about the smart and cost-effective solutions out there, or to discuss your specific wastewater treatment challenges. For contact details, visit the BakerCorp website www.bakercorp.com.

Follow BakerCorp on LinkedIn for company news and future articles: www.linkedin.com/ company/bakercorp-europe.

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About the author

Bart Ros is a water treatment expert with an academic degree in Environmental Technology. During his career he has gained wide experience in filtration and wastewater treatment.

He held positions as Environmental Consultant for a Dutch Consultancy, as an Entrepreneur and as Business Development Manager with a supplier/ installer of industrial MBR-systems.

This extensive knowledge enables him to understand all aspects of industrial wastewater challenges. In 2015 he joined BakerCorp where he currently holds the position as Filtration Manager Europe. In this role he’s responsible for the design of new filtration equipment, the training of BakerCorp Europe’s branch teams and delivering day-to-day support, in order to respond to customer challenges by providing the most appropriate integrated liquid management solutions.

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WATER INDUSTRY JOURNAL SEPTEMBER 2018

WASTEWATER TREATMENT & TECHNOLOGY z

New ‘no dig’ technology to add 50 years lifespan to Yorkshire Water’s sewer infrastructure Yorkshire Water has trialled a world first ‘no dig’ gravityfed sewer lining system to increase the lifespan of its underground sewers by up to 50 years.

Use of the technology is also expected to save the firm around £1.25m over five years by renewing large sections of its underground gravity fed sewer infrastructure without having to replace it.

It consists of a carbon fibre spray lining application that rapidly sets to create a ‘pipe within a pipe’, creating a 2mm thick extra layer of structural integrity that protects against groundwater infiltration.

The technology can also be applied without having to dig up the road surface, which will result in less road closures and traffic disruptions.

Mark Gregory, Project Manager at Yorkshire Water, said: “We have previously carried out successful trials with this technology on our water mains and sewers, but this is a world first in terms of using it specifically for gravity fed sewers. The pray liner has proved itself to be a highly cost-effective effective and innovative way to renew ageing infrastructure.

By applying this technology we will substantially reduce the risk of failure to our ageing underground assets and also improve the life span by 50 years.”

Yorkshire Water plan to initially use the new technology on vulnerable rising main sewers

and following a review aim to examine future applications on its waste water network and its potential to be used on the clean water network.

The technology has been developed by Axalta Coating Systems and Yorkshire Water, and applied by SCHUR Ltd and Peter Duffy Ltd based in Wakefield.

Yorkshire Water is working closely with the public health and safety organisation known as NSF-WRc to establish industry standards for use of the new technology.

We have previously carried out successful trials with this technology on our water mains and sewers, but this is a world first in terms of using it specifically for gravity fed sewers.

Providing trusted performance Scottish Water are a publicly owned company, answerable to the Scottish Parliament and the people of Scotland. It is their duty to provide 1.34 billion litres of drinking water every day and also take and deal with 847 million litres of waste water daily.

Before

After

A serious challenge, particularly with the wide spread land use across the country and the diverse landscape for an area its size.

So when Water Process Solutions limited were asked to assist in an upgrade project for one of the Water Treatment Facilities at Rawburn Duns, we were very pleased to get involved. The site had been running with a lime powder feeder which was coming to the end of its working life so a smart approach with a reliable, fully supported and robust working system was requested. Along with this request was the desire for a larger storage system to relieve a little pressure for the site management engineers, during maintenance or process attention need times.

Water Process Solutions were able to offer a complete replacement batch make-up system to suit not only the larger feed and storage requests but also retain much of the existing process pipework and all of the existing control systems and therefore enabling the project to be

completed at a far faster rate and much lower cost.

The positive side of this was to enable the control and operational expectations of the system to remain as known and the global system / SCADA to remain online and unchanged.

Water Process Solutions (WPS) were pleased to supply 2 systems comprising; 1000L stainless Steel fabricated storage and mixing tanks, a mixer system to operate efficiently with the existing drive and larger tank dimensions, a volumetric lime feeder system complete with inlet hopper to mate with existing powder storage unit, Stainless Steel screw and local control panel for both local manual and automated control.

For the supply and installation, WPS worked

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closely with Ross Shire Engineering. RSE are very large and very well established engineering contractor - a go to partner for Scottish Water.

The supply and overall execution was quick, without any delay or issue, with the final commissioning and switch over going without a hitch to leave Scottish Water with a clean, tidy, fully functional system with ongoing support from WPS. For further details or discussion, please contact: Aran Bray Mobile: +44 (0) 7557 363 728 Main Office: +44 (0) 1622 719945 aran.bray@waterprocesssolutions.com www.waterprocesssolutions.com

WATER INDUSTRY JOURNAL SEPTEMBER 2018 z WASTEWATER TREATMENT & TECHNOLOGY

WASTEWATER WATER INDUSTRY JOURNAL SEPTEMBER 2018z

Selwood’s leading pump technology provides robust overpumping solution for water company A reliable and trustworthy overpumping solution that would perform over an extended period of time was required during major repair works at a wastewater treatment works in Scotland.

Kelda Water Services, a leading water and wastewater contract operations company, was faced with a challenge when a chamber collapsed at its works at Persley, near Aberdeen and adjacent to the River Don. The pipe collapsed due to the river going into spate. A solution that would safely prevent any effluent escaping and temporarily overpump while repair works were carried out was needed swiftly. A temporary dam was constructed and the chamber was plugged as an interim measure.

Leading pump solutions provider Selwood, which has a longstanding relationship with Kelda Water’s subsidiary company Yorkshire Water, was contacted and specialists were sent to carry out a full on-site inspection and devise an appropriate solution.

The S200 pump, part of Selwood’s industryleading solids handling range, was chosen as the best pump for the specifications of the overpumping job. The S200, designed and manufactured at Selwood’s Hampshire-based headquarters, features outstanding pumping capabilities, including a capacity of 560m3/h, total head of 23m, a pump speed of 1600 rpm,

and a solids size of up to 100mm. Kelda Water rented five of the units for the application and the pumps were supplied in Selwood’s renowned Super Silent canopies, which set the benchmark for minimal noise impact in urban or semi-urban areas.

Kelda Water also rented two of Selwood’s D150 “Drainer” pumps, which are known for their efficiency in high-volume fluid transfer. The D pumps, with a total head of 40.5m and a pump speed of 2000 rpm, were able to safely keep the dam dry while contractors carried out repair work.

All pumps were working off four specialist telemetry systems, saving on both fuel and labour for the customer.

The application was carried out over an eightweek period and the team at Kelda Water benefited from the proximity of Selwood’s local branch at Kintore. As well as the expertise of Selwood’s specialists, they were given peace of mind by the company’s genuine 24/7 emergency call out system and the supply of any accessories and spares needed throughout the course of the project.

Alex Cain, Regional Account Manager at Selwood’s Aberdeen branch, said: “This was a major overpumping job that went very smoothly over the eight weeks.

“We were pleased to be able to assist Kelda Water Services with a robust solution and to offer peace of mind by fully installing and uninstalling the pumps. Failure of the pumps would have flooded the treatment works and we were pleased to offer 100 per cent assurance in our pump technology. Kelda Water were very happy with the solution and

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we look forward to working with them again in the future.”

Selwood has the largest dedicated network of pump rental branches across the UK, together with specialist worldwide pump distributors.

The Aberdeen branch opened last year, complementing existing branches in Glasgow and Edinburgh and further reinforcing Selwood’s strong profile within the Scottish water industry. The extension of Selwood’s branch network in recent years, including another new branch in Saltash, Cornwall, has run in parallel to an £8.2m investment into its pump rental fleet unit.

Selwood is also leading the way to pioneer new models to meet the demands of the market as part of an ongoing programme of product development. Following on from the hugely successful launch in 2017 of the S150 Super Silent 30kW Electric – setting a new benchmark in solids handling excellence – the company designed, manufactured and launched the environmentally-friendly S160Eco pump this year.

The S160Eco, housed in Selwood’s renowned Super Silent canopies, is the quietest pump on the market as tested against EU directive 2000/14/EC and is designed to meet stringent EU Stage IIIB emissions regulations. Driven by an Isuzu diesel engine, the six-inch S160Eco is offered as an upgrade over Selwood’s current S150 model, offering a 28.5% increase in pressure, resulting in an extra 5m head.

Selwood’s people are proud of the company’s heritage, which spans more than 70 years, and are committed to remaining at the cutting edge of pumping solutions technology. For more information visit www.selwood.co.uk

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WATER INDUSTRY JOURNAL SEPTEMBER 2018

z ANAEROBIC DIGESTION

A lot to digest Charlotte Morton, Chief Executive of the Anaerobic Digestion & Bioresources Association, outlines the latest developments in the wastewater AD industry and sets out what government needs to do to help the sector meet a range of policy goals.

Where are we today?

Anaerobic digestion (AD) has been at the heart of sludge treatment in the UK since the building of the first plants to treat sewage in the late 1980s. Recycling energy-rich sludge through AD allows water companies to turn wastewater into renewable heat and power, low-carbon transport fuel, and nutrient-rich biofertiliser.

With the water industry consuming 2-3% of all power in the UK, AD offers water companies a way to generate their own energy while reducing odours from sewage and reducing the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions. Digestate biofertiliser from AD has the potential to displace 400,000 tonnes of CO2 and reduce

imports of artificial, fossil-fuel-based fertilisers by around £150m, as well as helping to restore vital nutrients and organic matter to soil.

In the UK, around 1.5 million tonnes of dry sludge and 25-30 million tonnes of wet sludge is currently recycled through AD, equating to 84% of all sludge. More than 160 sewage AD plants across the UK treat this waste, with a total capacity of 234 MW electrical-equivalent.

While the installed theoretical capacity of UK sewage AD plants has grown by just 9% since 2012, electricity output from sewage biogas has risen from just less than 800 GWh per year in 2012 to over 1 TWh per year in 2017, an astounding rise of 43% in just five years.

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There has also been a marked rise in the number of gas-to-grid sewage AD plants since the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) was introduced in 2011. While additions to the nine existing gas-to-grid sewage AD plants are expected now that higher RHI tariff levels have been restored and Tariff Guarantees introduced, the lack of certainty around renewable heat support beyond 2020 means it is unclear how this section of the market will develop.

Pre-treatment

While excellent progress has been made in recent years in recycling sewage sludge through AD, there’s still a long way to go to

WATER INDUSTRY JOURNAL SEPTEMBER 2018

ANAEROBIC DIGESTION z

with more use of advanced AD, electricity output from sewage biogas could increase to as much as 1.6 TWh per year.

Implementing such technologies, however, is not straightforward: the cost of pre-treatment technologies can vary significantly according to the type of technology being used and the specific conditions of the AD site. Finding the right balance between the energy input needed to run these technologies and the energy output that they deliver is also a delicate balance.

The increased efficiency of advanced AD processes can also have the unintended consequence of causing as much as 50% of digestion capacity to be taken offline due to reduced demand, which in turn leads to unused or under-utilised capacity. With technology getting better and smaller and the costs of long-distance haulage becoming increasingly difficult to bear, some plants are therefore scaling down their operations, challenging traditional notions of economies of scale.

Water 2020 and co-digestion

Another potential opportunity for the industry is Ofwat’s Water 2020 programme, which is designed to promote free markets between water companies and the commercial biowaste sector. While the water industry has the largest AD asset base in the UK, it has until now only been able to use this for treating sewage sludge.

optimise processes. Because so many sewage treatment plants are still using infrastructure that can be decades old, the industry is now focusing on doing more with existing technologies, future-proofing its assets without having to spend a huge amount of money on building new plants.

The result of this is that an increasing number of water companies both in the UK and globally are turning to advanced AD in the form of retrofittable pre-treatment technologies such as enzymic or thermal hydrolysis. By making sludge more digestible, these technologies allow plants to generate more energy more quickly and produce a higher quality of digestate. The waste stream produced by pre-treatment separation technologies can also be further treated to clean and dewater the material, reducing disposal volumes and costs. We estimate that

Ofwat’s aim in opening up the wastewater market is to allow third parties to enter the market to improve competition and bring down costs for consumers, particularly through co-digestion of sewage and other AD feedstocks such as food waste. The UK is one of the few countries where food waste isn’t currently mixed with wastewater for AD treatment. There are a number of potential efficiencies to be made by allowing codigestion; for example, if sludge was able to be treated in food waste AD plants, this could reduce the distance between where sewage sludge is produced and where it is treated, which is currently often up to 50 km.

However, different existing regulations for wastewater and commercial AD plants and the costs of complying with these make co-digestion difficult and expensive, with operators having to balance the marginal gains with the risks involved. For example, sludge is not an eligible feedstock for AD plants claiming the Feed-In Tariff for

renewable electricity generation, and digestate containing sludge is not currently eligible to be approved under the PAS 110 quality specification.

Other discrepancies between the two industries are also proving difficult to overcome. Sewage sludge has a low biogas yield compared to food waste, while gate fees are often too high for sewage sludge to go into food waste plants.

There are also different pre-treatment processes for the two feedstocks, as well as potentially increased costs on water bills (as much as £300 per tonne of food waste per year) if food waste was to be processed through sewers. Along with regulations, these are issues that will need to be resolved before co-digestion can become a profitable business opportunity.

Given the often significant differences in make-up of AD plants in and outside of the sewage sector, the effects of Water 2020 are likely to vary hugely from plant to plant, with the result that many water companies and AD operators outside the water sector have so far been guarded in their reaction to Ofwat’s planned changes. The extent to which companies outside the wastewater sector will look to enter the sewage market and the difference this will make a difference to cost are not yet clear.

What does the future hold?

With the UK population forecast to hit 75 million by 2100, it’s clear that the demand for wastewater services will only increase, which should bring more market opportunities.

And with more than 80 per cent of global wastewater resulting from human activities currently being discharged into rivers or sea without any pollution removal and 1.8 billion people using a faecally contaminated water source worldwide, there are also huge opportunities for the world-leading UK sewage AD industry to help relieve these pressures through exporting its technology and expertise.

But back here in the UK, as we look to enter a new era for wastewater bioresources, what the sector really needs is clear and joined-up thinking from regulators and government departments that will support sewage AD in meeting a range of policy goals, from reducing greenhouse gas emissions through to generating renewable energy and restoring soil health. Only through this joined-up thinking can opportunities such as Water 2020 and co-digestion be fully exploited and their benefits fully realised.

Ofwat’s aim in opening up the wastewater market is to allow third parties to enter the market to improve competition and bring down costs for consumers, particularly through co-digestion of sewage and other AD feedstocks such as food waste.

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z ANAEROBIC DIGESTION

Time for a step change in AD performance?

It is no secret that in recent years the anaerobic digestion industry has been undergoing a period of change. There is a distinct sentiment that development has slowed and something needs to be done to bring new life back into the sector.

By Sam Kerr

(Process Engineer) AMT

This fact is most clear in the German market which used to boast over 1,000 new plants a year; this metric has since dropped to below 150 in 2016. We see the effects of this trend in the UK as well with the recent receivership of big AD developer Clearfleau, and no end of reports that existing plants are under performing on a technical and economic level.

The government’s response to this, at least in the UK, was to bump up RHI (renewable heat incentive) figures last May. This was great short-term news for the industry and has certainly improved the situation; but it should not be forgotten that government subsidies like this have shown themselves to be inherently variable and they are generally reducing.

And even more importantly; this will not last forever. Industry has also responded positively with European average plant performance increasing to over 89% in recent years.

At a recent Biovale AD group meeting I heard someone say, “The key to success in AD, regardless of feedstock, is a good plant manager; a good engineer that understands the proper mixing, feedstocks and retention times.” Indeed, it seems the industry has heeded this advice as plant performance continues to improve. However, this approach will only go so far. Many plants are designed on marginal economics and even a 10%

deviation from planned performance can be enough to raise payback times above the 3-4 year ideal. To me, these solutions although great for the industry, treat the symptoms not the infection. A significant proportion of AD processes are not productive enough to drive the economics and the industry is suffering because of it. A technical solution is needed to increase the viability and stability of the industry.

The slowest step in an AD process is the hydrolysis stage where water reacts with the feedstock breaking it down into a more digestible component. In any process to speed up generation of products you need to focus on increasing the rate of slowest step; and indeed for AD there are many technologies that are able to achieve this. Enzymes can be added to catalyse the hydrolysis, steam can be injected to provide the energy for this reaction, ultrasonic devices work by creating cavitation in the fluid, separate material with specific nutritional components can be added to optimise the activity of the anaerobic microbes, thermophilic microbes can be used to run the reactor at a hotter temperature increasing gas generation, and the list goes on. Indeed, my own work is in developing industrial microwave technology for this purpose.

What is most exciting to me is that for the vast majority of existing AD sites there will be at least one technology that can be retrofitted.

And with most technologies boasting a 25%60% increase in performance compared to a standard process (be that gas output, reduction in required retention time or something else) there is huge potential to push existing AD assets beyond their original designs.

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However, technology development is a tough business and only a few of the above systems have been successfully commercially deployed in the water/sludge industry and beyond. Of course, part of this is down to the “race to be second”. Plant operators and investors can have much more confidence in a technology when then know it isn’t first of a kind. Also, the benefits of speeding up an AD process are not always clear: you could run the reaction to a greater completion generating more methane, you could achieve the same gas yield in a much shorter time (this is particularly important for new plants), an existing AD system could be adapted to handle increased feedstock flowrates, less feedstock could be used to achieve the same gas output, and again the list goes on.

All these benefits mean different things to different people. As an example, I spoke to a farmer recently running a small CHP facility; he wanted to reduce his energy crop usage to free up his land for more productive use. The fact that the industry has a huge variety in customer needs on top of variations in plant design, scale of process and feedstocks makes this a very complex problem to solve. Despite this I remain positive that these solutions will find their place in the market. It is my hope that in 10 years it becomes standard practice for any AD site to come with a form of pretreatment or process intensification. And with this; the industry can take a step forwards in the right direction towards improved profitability and sustainability.

For more information on my work with microwave pre-treatment visit www.amt.bio or send me a message to info@amt.bio

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ANAEROBIC DIGESTION z

Old sewage sludge incinerator in Brighouse set to be demolished An old sewage sludge incinerator in Brighouse, west Yorkshire, built in 1992 will be demolished to make way for a £57m state-ofthe-art facility energy and recycling centre converting human waste into electricity.

The electricity will be used to power Brighouse’s sewage treatment plant, making it self-sufficient, and feed any excess electricity into the national grid to power homes in Calderdale and Kirklees. In total the new selfpowered facility will be capable of generating 2.4 megawatts of electricity, which is the equivalent of powering around 5,000 homes per year.

The ‘poo-power’ technology, known officially as anaerobic digestion, will also reduce nitric oxide emissions from the site and help improve air quality.

Demolition of the old incinerator has already begin and the symbolic chimney is now being carefully dismantled using a giant crane. The new renewable energy facility will then be built by Murphy Construction.

Yorkshire Water’s communications advisor Mark Allsop said: ‘This scheme supports our

commitment to invest in renewable energy and benefit the environment as we look at ways of reducing carbon emissions. Anaerobic digestion is a fantastic technology, heating up sludge to produce a bio-gas which is used to generate electricity. The new facility is expected to be ready to open by mid-2021.”

Investment in this unique type of renewable energy technology has played a leading role in reducing the firm’s carbon footprint, with 18 of its major sewage treatment works each

generating electricity from this renewable source.

The new facility at Brighouse will improve the quality of the sludge that is produced, meaning less of it ending up in landfill.

Located off Cooper Bridge Road next to the River Calder, Brighouse sewage treatment works was damaged during the 2015 Boxing Day Floods meaning sludge had to be transported off site to be treated elsewhere.

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WATER INDUSTRY JOURNAL SEPTEMBER 2018

z ANAEROBIC DIGESTION

What do planes and anaerobic digestion have in common?

The answer is the autoclave. Many parts on planes are cured using autoclaves while a Poolebased high value engineering company has pioneered the use of autoclaves in the waste industry.

AeroThermal has developed an advanced anaerobic digestion system which uses an autoclave for thermal pressure hydrolysation (TPH). This pre-treats food waste and other bio-waste organics prior to going to mesophilic anaerobic digestion.

A 65m3 TPH vessel is currently being installed at a new bio-waste anaerobic digestion site in the Midlands and will handle almost 50,000 tonnes of food waste per year. It is a key component at the new facility and has been provided in partnership with Jones Celtic Bioenergy.

During each hydrolysation cycle, food waste is shredded to less than 50mm in diameter before being transferred to the vessel. Here it is then put under vacuum and sterilised with steam. The drum rotates and some liquid is added.

The process breaks down all the cellulosic material and a substance like wet earth emerges and is collected in a discharge tank.

This is screened and the organic part goes into the anaerobic digesters, producing high yields of biogas, which will be upgraded and injected into the national gas grid.

AeroThermal has demonstrated that pretreating food and packaging waste in the TPH before anaerobic digestion significantly increases methane generation and substantially reduces the amount of material requiring disposal.

Christian Toll, AeroThermal’s CEO, said: “We have conclusively proven that there are significant advantages in applying thermal hydrolysis to a wide range of waste materials, including the efficient separation of food waste, and ultimately recovering feedstock for anaerobic digesters for energy production.

“We are proud to have developed this system in partnership with Jones Celtic, and we are looking forward to our autoclave generating significant quantities of green energy from waste that would otherwise go to landfill.”

Scientific tests conducted by the company’s in-house laboratory have conclusively proven that there are significant advantages with prior-thermal hydrolysation of food waste. It can be used on cross contaminated materials eg packaging (plastics, paper, metals)and food waste together.

n Semi-continuous anaerobic digestion testing

The high temperature and steam environment break down all the organics, achieving very high conversion into feedstock and very high recovery rate of re-cyclables. Paper and cardboard is turned into feedstock for the anaerobic digester.

n COD

AeroThermal research showed that pretreating black bag municipal waste in an autoclave before sending it to anaerobic digestion could increase methane generation by over 300% and substantially reduce the amount of material requiring disposal.

In this case the autoclave was initially evacuated using a vacuum pump to remove incondensable gases which were filtered out in activated carbon filter beds. The autoclave was then brought up to pressure and temperature by the injection of steam and when the temperature had equalised throughout, the autoclave load was left to “cook”.

Test results revealed that autoclaving gives a very high gas yield (about 150m3/tonne).

Autoclaving also greatly increased the fraction of the waste that could be digested, as well as the gas yield from each kilogram of waste sent to the digesters which substantially reduced the amount of material requiring disposal.

The experiments were carried out in AeroThermal’s contract R&D facility, which specialises in the examination of the anaerobic biodegradation potential of different waste materials. The company has a team of scientists and the latest high-tech equipment, including 36 laboratory-scale constantly stirred digesters which can deliver: n Bio Methane Potential (BMP) testing

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n pH measurement n DS & VS testing n Biogas composition n Volatile Fatty Acid (VFA) measurement n Ammonia Nitrogen and Total Nitrogen analysis Another benefit was that autoclaved materials were less susceptible to the development of high VFA concentrations than un-autoclaved material and steam consumption was in close agreement with predictions.

Christian Toll added: “Our research has proven conclusively that autoclaving can make waste disposal more cost effective and less damaging to the environment.

“This is a win-win in anybody’s book! Now we’re seeing this technology made a reality in a state-of-the-art facility. TPH delivers real efficiencies in generating energy from waste, and we will be rolling out this technology across the UK and indeed globally in the coming months.”

AeroThermal is a British company with over 35 years’ experience in designing and manufacturing bespoke autoclaves for worldleading companies in the waste, aerospace, motorsport, military, electronics and tobacco sectors.

Members of the AeroThermal team have helped design, build and operate more than 40 anaerobic digestion systems that process waste, sewage and farm substrates in the UK and China.

For more information, visit: www.aerothermalgroup.com.

WATER INDUSTRY JOURNAL SEPTEMBER 2018

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Yorkshire Water sets out its Bioresources market offering Yorkshire Water demonstrated its continued commitment to pursuing an innovative, market-led approach to Bioresources by holding its second market engagement event.

At its supplier day in April Yorkshire Water set out its ambitions to be an industry leader in Bioresources. This second event aimed to provide further clarity to the market on the services it is looking for help delivering, and offered a chance to meet other interested companies to discuss collaborative offers.

and an opportunity for challenge from attendees.

companies, the firm is also to work alongside other water companies.

Yorkshire Water Head of Energy & Recycling, Ben Roche, said: “It is a hugely exciting time for our team as Bioresources has a huge role to play in reducing customer bills and helping to protect the environment.

The firm is aiming to be a driving force in innovation and efficiency in the industry and is looking for different ideas and approaches to help it get there. This includes within thickening and dewatering services, the provision and management of efficient sludge treatment capacity and the outsourcing of biogas management. The day involved discussing current thinking on these services

“Working differently with our partners will provide new opportunities and help us deliver innovative approaches which will lead to long term benefits.

Donna Rawlinson from Northumbrian Water was in attendance. She said: “Collaboration with Yorkshire Water at this event and through our ongoing relationship allows us to further explore the synergies between our organisations and to build upon the work we already do together, where Northumbrian Water occasionally provides a biosolids treatment service to Yorkshire Water through our Bran Sands Regional Sludge Treatment Centre on Teesside.”

“Collaboration days are vital, as we can see what each company can do and importantly how they would work together and with us.”

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New possibilities for AD in the utility industries and beyond Treating low strength wastewater at low temperature

How best to treat wastewater is one of the greatest challenges facing the water industry.

The environmental concerns are two-fold, firstly, the impact of discharges on the environment and secondly, the high energy usage integral to some traditional treatments.

Meeting these challenges, moreover, has to be achieved without passing the cost onto customers - so finding a sustainable alternative for which a strong business case can be built is crucial. Most Anaerobic Digestion (AD) systems necessitate the use of high temperatures, which in turn, mean their energy usage is high – negating their benefits in some respects.

ambient temperatures as low as 4 degrees Celsius, meaning all of the energy produced can be recovered.

The biogas produced is of high quality, with a typical methane content of 85%, it has lots of possibilities – it could be used for on-site electricity and/or heat generation or even utilised to power a vehicle.

The treatment plants can also be easily integrated into existing infrastructure or installed as part of a new build wastewater treatment plant - meeting the needs of almost any site, taking up little space and minimising downtime during their installation.

Pioneering research, now proven at full scale, by the Department of Microbiology at The National University of Ireland, Galway, has led to a low-temperature AD being developed which is ideal for treating high volumes of low strength wastewater.

NVP Energy has gone from strength to strength, with their first commissioned energy plant going into operation in 2016 for the ABP Food Group, one of Europe’s leading privately owned food processors, at their site in Lurgan, Co. Armagh.

The technology has been developed over a number of years, first at the lab bench, then scaled up over 100 times in order to be piloted in the food & drink and municipal industries, testing the technology’s effectiveness, reliability and feasibility.

As ABP’s sustainability manager John Durkan explains: “ABP is always on the look out to support and enable innovative and technology driven projects that will solve problems, so this project ticked all our boxes. It’s carbon neutral, sustainable, odourless, cutting edge technology, low cost of treatment, no sludge production with clean waste water discharge.

On top of that, it delivers high quality methane gas for use on site.”

In 2013, NVP Energy was formed to transfer the technology to the commercial sector, making it available to the food and drink, dairy and utility industries; and the results have been staggering.

The innovative design and microbiology typically achieves a reduction in organic wastewater contaminants that is greater than 80%. So efficient is the technology, that it has been shown to reduce energy costs by as much as 90% and reduce sludge production by 90% when compared to activated sludge treatment installations.

This ground-breaking wastewater treatment technology incorporates anaerobic granular biofilms which convert the organic pollutants to biogas with a high methane content. The unique design allows the process to proceed with no external heat input, operating at

Following this successful installation, NVP Energy opened their second plant in 2017 for Arrabawn Dairies Group, as Jerry Ryan, their Technical & Quality Director attests: “NVP Energy are extremely professional to work with from initial contact and feasibility assessment to installation of the solution.

Their cost effective wastewater treatment solution with its short return on investment made it an easy choice.”

It is clear that NVP Energy’s wastewater treatment plants provide a plethora of benefits, from removing pollutants from wastewater effectively to producing high quality biogas, that can be utilised in a number of ways.

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Overall, the technology has the potential to reduce the cost of wastewater treatment, as it doesn’t necessitate high electricity usage, so the operating costs are reduced. In fact, the energy the plants produce is greater than the energy they use, meaning the excess can be used in a number of ways.

NVP Energy has garnered a number of awards for this low-temperature AD technology including the 2018 Energy Globe Award, of which they are just about to take receipt and the 2017 ‘Best Technology Innovation’ at the BlueTech Forum, which is synonymous with water innovation.

Additional accolades include the ‘Most Innovative New Technology of the Year’ at the Water Industry Achievement Awards (2015) and the ‘Innovation Award for Energy from Waste’ at the Environment & Energy Awards (2015) – plus many more.

Building on their success, a number of new projects are currently in construction in the brewing, malting and municipal industries, most notably with brewing giant – Heineken on a UK brewing site. The company are bringing their ground-breaking technology to the UK, Europe and the US – and to industries where AD had previously been thought unfeasible.

NVP Energy is fast overturning such assumptions, showing that AD treatment plants can be energy efficient and costeffective - potentially turning an operational loss into an additional source of revenue.

Their AD technology that treats low strength wastewater at low temperature, is now being used in the water, meat processing, dairy, brewing, malting distilling and bottling industries. nvpenergy.com

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Containment Systems â&#x20AC;&#x201C; we can help you meet your obligations CQA International Ltd (Containment Quality Associates) is an environmental engineering consultancy specialising in containment engineering worldwide for over 25 years. Our experienced engineers have designed and supervised the construction of containment systems in the UK and overseas for a range of purposes, including waste management, mining, oil & gas, industrial applications, agriculture, water supply and anaerobic digestion amongst others.

Why are containment systems important?

otherwise be apparent only after a failure.

Rectifying a competed system can be much more expensive, especially if it has failed.

As the owner or operator of a site where potentially polluting substances are used or stored, you are required to identify the hazards, assess the risks and mitigate potential impacts.

Containment systems are the most common form of mitigation, including Primary (tanks and lagoons), Secondary (bunded areas) and Tertiary (remote storage).

CQAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s experience includes conceptual design, cost estimation, planning and detailed design, to ensure that the containment system is fit for purpose. Our input into site selection and integration with the facility can enhance efficiency. The selection of suitable materials and accurate construction specifications optimise construction cost and ensure that operational risks are minimised.

An ineffective containment system can cause direct impacts from leaks and spills.

Environmental harm and breaches of licence can have major financial and reputational consequences which are recorded against the company. A recognised fault can be equally problematical, even without a spill. Could your business function if operations have to be suspended because the authorities find deficiencies in the containment system? A correctly designed and installed containment system will help you to avoid such problems.

The importance of Construction Quality Assurance

Construction quality assurance is important in manufacturing and construction. Containment systems are no different, whether they are primary, such as landfills, lagoons or mining infrastructure, or secondary, such as spill prevention systems.

Installing a containment system

The cost of installing a containment system will depend on the complexity of the site and when the system is installed. Retrofitting an old plant is likely to be more expensive.

Modern facilities are required to include containment systems and will be included in the overall budget. Some facility designers may not be experts in containment systems and you could consider a specialist designer for this item. This often produces benefits in cost and performance.

There have been many high-profile incidents over the years where containment systems have failed. Most designs that CQA has reviewed either fall short of being fit for purpose or are unnecessarily expensive.

Expensive, over-engineered systems do not necessarily provide additional protection if the designer is not familiar with containment systems.

CQA is involved with projects at all stages: from concept, where a preliminary design has been produced for pricing; through to construction management, quality assurance and complete design build packages. We have seen many examples of poorly designed containment systems that have delayed start-up and resulted in substantial remedial costs, even before income is generated. CQA could make a big difference in avoiding such issues at the concept stage. The correct procedures and reporting of quality assurance is increasingly important for obtaining operational licences.

For example, we have seen operators spending more than 10% of the total CAPEX on concrete secondary containment. An adequate system could have been constructed for a fraction of the cost using natural clay.

The cost of failure

We have also seen failures of digestate storage lagoon as a direct result of poor design.

Reconstruction costs were several times the original budget. These plants also required expensive temporary digestate control measures to avoid shut-down.

When CQA designs a containment system, a Construction Quality Assurance Plan is produced which provides clear and precise specifications for materials and methodologies for the installation works. The installation is then supervised, inspected and tested against the quality plan. Finally, a comprehensive CQA Validation Report presents the results to prove that these benchmarks have been achieved.

This approach is widely accepted as proof the containment system complies with regulations and has been properly constructed.

This can speed up permitting. It also provides you with the confidence that you have a robust and reliable installation.

CQA International Ltd would be pleased to provide complimentary advice on how you can optimise your containment system requirements.

Please contact our director, Darren Bland at darren.bland@cqainternational.co.uk, or visit www.cqainternational.co.uk

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Sludge management – biosolids’ recycling Dr David Tompkins, Head of Knowledge Exchange & Innovation at Aqua Enviro. Aqua Enviro is the UK consultancy within SUEZ Water Technologies & Solutions.

Biosolids (or treated sewage sludges) typically have two markets – land application and incineration. Application to land, in compliance with the regulatory and good practice requirements, is still considered the best practicable environmental option in most cases.

Alongside Spain and France, the UK recycles the majority of biosolids to these markets, with an emphasis on agricultural land.

However, this approach is not universal, and other nations have taken different approaches. Biosolids are largely incinerated in the Netherlands, due to absence of suitable landbank – the high density of livestock businesses meaning that there is insufficient available land there to accept nutrients from other sources. In Germany we have seen a move to incineration of sludges from larger works – driven by concerns around the quality of biosolids and their suitability for land application. Alongside this, Germany has recognised the need to keep phosphorus within the active economy, and this resource must be recovered from incinerator ashes in most cases. Biosolids from smaller works can continue to be applied to land.

Within this context, the PR19 process is gaining momentum – and Ofwat are pressing ahead with their development of a ‘bioresources’ market,

bioresources being a catch-all that covers both treated and un-treated sewage sludges. What might a direction of travel look like?

industry become the victim of ministerial whim, as soil-based markets are prohibited as a quick fix to the unquantified ‘problem’ of plastics in sludges? Will we see a diversion of biosolids to commercial energy-from-waste facilities?

On the one hand we have witnessed the roll-out of the Biosolids Assurance Scheme – a welcome development that adds transparency and consistency to biosolids’ management, particularly when applied to agricultural land.

On the other hand, we have also seen a huge increase in public awareness of the issue of plastics in the water / aquatic environment.

When might this awareness extend to encompass plastics in the soil / terrestrial environment?

What could be the impact on current biosolids’ recycling routes if this was to happen? Could the

Whilst there are no simple answers to these questions, we can be confident that haulage of bioresources represents the most significant single cost in sludge management for most UK water & sewerage companies. Strategic planning for cross-boundary trading, treatment and end markets should become an increasingly common feature of the UK market – with a renewed focus on thickening and (particularly) de-watering technologies that can cost-effectively reduce haulage costs.

Helping companies achieve and sustain the highest standards across the entire industrial water cycle Our holistic approach helps clients identify and capture performance improvement opportunities across their processes, from water saving and energy recovery measures to the re-use of wastewater in process systems For more information on our capabilities contact us on 0870 241 6643 Or visit www.suezwater.co.uk/wastewater-treatment

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2G CHP units plus gas treatment installed by Scottish Water Horizons to help recycle food waste As environmental and recycling targets become ever more stringent, local authorities and businesses are looking for viable, competitively priced solutions to managing waste and reducing its environmental impact.

By Mark Holtmann

2G Energy Ltd

That’s why 2G, a leading manufacturer of CHP plants, were hired by Scottish Water Horizons to upgrade their state-of-the-art anaerobic digestion (AD) facility at its Deerdykes Development Centre near Cumbernauld, north of Glasgow. This fully enclosed, modern facility has been operating since 2010 and can handle up to 30,000 tonnes of food waste each year from a wide variety of sources, ranging from food producers and supermarkets to the catering industry and local authorities.

With AD technology, biodegradable material is broken down by micro-organisms in the absence of oxygen. AD is currently being widely used to treat waste water and can also be used to treat other organic wastes, including food waste, manure, sewage sludge and biofuel crops At Deerdykes, the AD process breaks down food waste to produce biogas. This is being used as fuel by two Combined Heat and Power (CHP) units, which produce electricity

and heat, thus drastically increasing energy generation. The two units, provided by 2G Energy, each produce 550 kW of electrical energy and 543 kW of thermal energy. The electricity is used to power the works on site, with any surplus offered to the national grid. The heat is used in the facility to aid the fermentation process 2G’s two 550 kW CHP units produce 8.6 GWh per annum which is an increase over the previous 6 GWh per annum from the existing CHPs on site, providing Scottish Water Horizons’ potential to increase its contribution to the export capacity of electricity from 1 MW to 2 MW. They have also increased efficiency to 41.2 percent.

customers and the environment. As well as recycling food waste, the company operates in various other sectors such as the developer industry, research and innovation and lowcarbon energy. The Deerdykes AD facility provides an environmentally-friendly solution for the company’s clients whilst generating a renewable source of power from a waste product and reducing energy costs for Scottish Water and a triple win.

The AD process also produces a nutrient rich by-product which can be used as a fertiliser to improve the nutritional content of Scotland’s soil resources and will help to replace the use of inorganic fertiliser, the manufacture of which has a significant environmental impact.

“One of the key objectives of this project is to enhance Scottish Water Horizons’ reputation”, says Robert Coyle, Project Manager for the CHP engine project. “It also helps us to improve efficiency, contribute to renewable energy targets, protect the environment and keep costs low for customers. The new CHP engines will help us to increase our contribution of electricity to the national grid and deliver low carbon, environmentally friendly systems, which can benefit the wider community across Scotland.”

Scottish Water is a publicly owned company, answerable to the Scottish Parliament and the people of Scotland. It provides around 1.34 billion litres of drinking water and treats 847 million litres of waste water each day. Scottish Water Horizons is a wholly owned commercial subsidiary of the utility, maximising the use of Scottish Water assets for the benefit of

“We engaged 2G Energy to provide us with a turnkey solution from design to installation of the two new CHP units. This worked really well, we had both mechanical & electrical works included in the one package, of which the programme of works was 16 weeks long, allowing us to meet our short notice heat on date.”

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The future is now Journey towards ‘full systems thinking’ is helping United Utilities harness the benefits of innovation in its business.

Better outcomes from optimised performance

With around 100 water treatment works, 170 reservoirs and 42,000km of water pipes, not to mention many more hundreds of wastewater sites and 76,000km of sewers, understanding the way assets interact makes it easier to optimise overall system performance and drive better customer and environmental outcomes.

Smart networks, big data and disruptive technology are concepts more usually associated with Silicon Valley than the UK water industry.

But for United Utilities, which delivers clean water to seven million people in the North West of England, they’re already delivering savings and improving services, and there’s more to come.

It’s a journey the company has been on since 2012 when, following a forensic look at other industries, managers latched onto the idea of improving performance by focussing on the way assets work together rather than as a set of individual elements. A production line, in other words.

The benefits of the approach have been such that systems thinking is now a central tenet of United Utilities’ strategy for the next regulatory asset management plan (AMP) period and beyond.

“A water company has many thousands of assets, and traditional thinking tends to

focus on individual asset elements - lists of critical assets are created, underperforming assets are prioritised, and work scheduled to maintain individual elements. All of this is important but it can obscure visibility of how well combinations of assets are performing together,” explained Central Operations Director Simon Chadwick.

“The quality and efficiency of the service provided to customers depends on multiple assets working effectively together as an end-to-end system. Systems thinking takes this concept and expands it to consider how this asset system interacts with other systems in the North West, such as catchment management, so that we better understand cause and effect and, crucially, how it might affect the service delivered to customers.”

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Another important factor is the ability to take advantage of emerging and disruptive technologies using big data, which have transformed the customer experience in other sectors and turned companies like Amazon, Google and Uber into household names.

Within two years of adopting the production line ethos, United Utilities built the concept into its business model under the idea of Future Concept of Operations (FCO).

Under this model, services like delivering clean water are viewed as products that are delivered to customers through a continuous manufacturing process.

The centralised Integrated Control Centre

Fast forward to 2018, and United Utilities’ recently-opened Integrated Control Centre (ICC) now monitors and controls all network operations using an array of sophisticated

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monitoring, sensors and controls which gather and analyse data. The insight this gives into United Utilities’ system and assets allows managers to make informed centralised decisions which optimise services to customers, minimise the impact of any interventions and can be continually refined as circumstances change.

Out in the field, the focus of operatives has also changed towards making sure assets are available to meet the centralised plan. A new asset resource scheduling system assigns tasks at any of 425,000+ centrally-managed assets to 1,200 field staff using mobile work dispatch via a smartphone app.

In practice during the freeze thaw

The visibility from the ICC of how the system is performing hugely improves resilience as well, as demonstrated during last winter’s freeze thaw. Live granular data gathered from best-in-class data storage, accessibility, reporting and analytics was marshalled within the ICC and available to the centre and field teams.

By forecasting the impact of potential scenarios, United Utilities was able to take pro-active actions like suspending works, deploying customer support staff, securing extra repair teams and increasing the availability of tankers and bottled water.

Customer contact rates remained relatively low and were mostly resolved within 6 hours, earning the company plaudits for its preparedness.

The company is now working collaboratively with leading UK universities in an on-going R&D programme on the use of advanced data analytics to further improve asset performance and customer service. The Event Recognition for Water Networks (ERWAN) system, developed with the University of Exeter, was the first such project and uses machine learning, a branch of artificial intelligence (AI), to understand normal behaviour in the

Full systems thinking forms the cornerstone strategy of United Utilities’ PR19 submission and is a truly multi-AMP approach through AMP7, 8 and beyond, accelerating our journey and pushing the industry frontier forward at pace.

water distribution network and then recognise abnormal behaviour such as leaks and bursts.

Benefits for customers

Initiatives like these are credited with helping United Utilities deliver significant benefits for customers. In its clean water operations alone, the number of serious events dropped by almost a third and FCO has contributed to reductions in leakage, customer contacts and pollution incidents.

But despite its success, there is still a long way for the company to go before it reaches the holy grail of having systems that truly think and act for themselves, and the next part of the journey to adopt ‘full systems thinking’ is now being put in place. The aim is to take advantage of advances in digital technologies to automate even more decision-making and interventions and provide an ever more consistent, efficient and resilient service.

David Ogden, United Utilities’ Wholesale Technology Manager, said this would involve adopting further advances in sensors, data science and advanced analytics to apply even greater insight and situational awareness to bring a fuller systems view.

“This will help us understand and minimise our impact on the complete customer experience, whether this is the direct service and bills they receive from us, or the disruption to their daily lives and the environment they live in.

“Full systems thinking forms the cornerstone strategy of United Utilities’ PR19 submission and is a truly multi-AMP approach through AMP7, 8 and beyond, accelerating our journey and pushing the industry frontier forward at pace.

“Global cross sector digital research, undertaken in 2016, has enabled us to target emerging technology areas which will be needed to deliver our strategy and

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in turn change our approach to technology from traditional silos to a true collaborative approach.”

Breaking down barriers for new tech suppliers To break down common barriers to new ideas and encourage healthy digital disruption, earlier this year the company ran an ‘Innovation Lab’ targeted at 1,500 fledgling, small and large businesses who might not previously have considered the water sector, or even the UK, as a potential market for their ideas.

United Utilities received 80 strong applications in five key areas: smart home devices and the internet of things; updating customers proactively as delivery companies do; new, non-invasive ways to understand how assets are performing without having to dig them up or switch them of; safer working; and, future concepts.

Seven successful finalists earned themselves a safe, supportive environment with access to United Utilities’ data, systems, senior people and legal and financial know-how.

Added Simon: “Using vast amounts of data in an intelligent way to make the right decisions at the right time is the obvious way for us deliver improved customer service at a lower cost and it’s what our customers and regulators expect.

“The advantages of advanced digital technologies such as AI and automation is ultimately one of the ways we can meet the challenge. Some of the ideas from the Innovation Lab may not make it off the ground, but others have already led to a commercial agreement with United Utilities. Hopefully, this is one of the ways we can maintain our industry-leading edge and seize the benefits of new and emerging technologies which may not even been conceived yet.”

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The role of automation in the management of extreme weather 2018 is a year that will be long remembered in the Water Industry. From ‘The Beast of the East’ where much of the UK experienced extreme winter weather, to an exceedingly dry summer, conditions have presented the toughest stress test for the Water Industry..

Ofwat has recently published a report on how water utilities reacted to the adverse weather conditions, with one of the conclusions in the ‘Out in the Cold’ report being that companies with the capacity to manage real-time information were able to mitigate the impact on the service they provide to their customers.

Unsurprising.

or when consumption is out of the norm, allows human operators to take a different role during an emergency: to consider the bigger picture of staff wellbeing, customer care and future planning, and is perhaps one of the secrets to why some water companies have fared better than others in the management of 2018’s erratic weather patterns.

Solutions to optimise and automate the control of water distribution are becoming more prevalent, with the potential for software to decide on the best course of action more effectively and efficiently than humans. The need for holistic decision making – where the effect of decisions on all aspects of a network can be considered – are almost a must in today’s reality of variable and severe climate.

The ability for a system to monitor, react and adjust automatically when burst mains occur,

The emerging importance of optimisation in crisis management introduces a very interesting angle, as supported by SUEZ, one such provider of network optimisation tools: “Generally speaking, our solutions have traditionally been judged exclusively based on the level of savings achieved - usually a 10 to 15% energy bill reduction -. However, we have noticed how companies are now looking at the broader picture and factoring other aspects into their business case and, obviously,

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resilience is for many just as important as the savings “, says Francesc Cabrespina, Smart Solutions Manager for SUEZ UK. Back in 2013, the first system-wide optimisation project in the UK took place at Northumbrian Water, one of the water companies that demonstrated system resilience in the recent ‘Out in the Cold’ report. Looking at the case study that SUEZ offer on their website, there is a quote from Mick Baker, Asset Sponsor Manager at Northumbrian, that says: “I think the energy cost savings from AQUADVANCED® Energy tend to be highlighted because these savings can be quantified and at a Board level, drive acceptance of the business case…

But it is about a lot more than just energy optimisation. The other less tangible benefits of AQUADVANCED® Energy — such as better

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water quality and more consistent operational control — are making a major impact.”

At the heart of the additional benefits that true, real-time optimisation and distribution automation can bring, there is an essential difference in comparison to other solutions on the market: instead of looking at subsets of assets and then trying to combine local solutions, only a few solutions look at the system as a whole and profoundly understand the behaviour of the system. Taking into account all the sources, production, storage and distribution factors the best systems can create efficiencies and generate benefits to each one, with the ultimate goal of maintaining continuous service to the customers. “Energy savings will of course remain at the top of the list, but the ability to manage exceptional events and operate the best possible way at any moment has demonstrated to be even more beneficial, even when it is a controversial item to be factored into a business case.” Adds Francesc.

Some voices in the industry have defined SUEZ’s own solution, AQUADVANCED® Energy as the Rolls-Royce of optimisers, Francesc laughs when hearing this comparison: “I appreciate that comparison but can’t really agree as it could lead one to believe that what we offer primarily has to do with cost,

Energy, with others in the industry looking to follow suit. At SUEZ, they believe there are two essential reasons for the success they are seeing, firstly the broad range of benefits across the business and, secondly, the relationship that SUEZ develops with the customer. “Not only is it a well-proven and low risk implementation project but once the solution is in place, we provide operational support to the operators on the day to day, and that is highly appreciated by the operators who can embrace the solution and ease the cultural transformation that comes with it”.

however, AQUADVANCED® generally presents a very well-rounded and attractive business case! If someone said that it is the “Google” of the optimisers, I could agree with that in the sense that it is the one that “created” the market and has kept lengths ahead of other solutions thanks to unbeatable algorithms that remain unparalleled in the current market.”

SUEZ made a strategic decision to invest in technology and leverage on their water expertise to provide technological excellence to the market. As a result of that, the AQUADVANCED® suite provides a solution that strengthens the overall water management cycle, offering specific modules for leakage management, water quality, process optimisation and asset management. On the waste water side, AQUADVANCED® offers wet event management to reduce flooding, as well as providing a high definition solution to manage the water discharges and coastal water quality.

Bristol Water and Welsh Water are the latest water companies to adopt AQUADVANCED®

For more information on AQUADVANCED®, visit our website: www.suezwater.co.uk

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Deeper insights are gained by combining the best of data science and engineering know-how

Data-driven insights to manage asset health We are in a data-rich world; businesses in all sectors are embracing the opportunities to uncover previously hidden insights by analysing their data in new ways, made possible through advances in computing power.

It is the aspect of blending domain knowledge – be it engineering, scientific or sociological – together with data science that is now enabling companies to develop data-led asset health strategies. These new approaches help us provide greater clarity on the relationships between asset condition, asset health and system resilience. In so doing, we uncover deeper insights into possible root causes of asset failure, sense-checked with engineering principles to ensure that we are not investing in our assets ‘blind’ – or worse, trusting poor quality data to do so.

And that’s the rub: despite massive advances in data engineering and science, the old adage

of ‘garbage in, garbage out’ still holds true.

As datasets grow in size, and the number of datasets that need to be linked grows, data acceptance and quality assessment becomes more important, and potentially more unwieldy. Unfortunately this data wrangling and acceptance phase is not glamorous to those outside data engineering, least of all time-pressed and budget-constrained asset managers who just need an answer – and preferably a definitive one – to their questions.

We’re all human: we like to be wowed and impressed and we’re not always entirely logical in our reasoning. If we go out to buy a television, we like to see the picture quality and compare it to others before we buy – one might be better on paper, but you prefer the look of another. Likewise, if I am planning to procure a way to become a more proactive asset manager, I need to know with some certainty what I can expect to be delivered and to see how that will work for me, before I invest. And this is where the rise of the hackathon in the water sector has become so powerful. The process typically involves giving a group of like-minded individuals from allied disciplines access to enough data and challenging them to come up with new insights which can be readily visualised by the client, in a matter of a few hours or days.

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Perhaps the greatest visible adoption of new data science techniques in our sector is in the data-rich area of water infrastructure.

The act of monitoring water networks is no longer just about looking at SCADA screens or retrospective night-flow analysis, but about seeking patterns of data behaviour and digital signatures in complex hybrid datasets from multiple sources, in a bid to understand, and pre-empt, undesirable asset health states.

The problem with the purist data science approach is that you may have to reduce the available data to work at the lowest common spatio-temporal resolution, and in so doing, be forced to set aside other valuable data.

One way through this compromise is to try hybrid modelling methods such as Bayesian Belief Networks which can add real value in situations where digital data quality is partly compromised: combining machine learning techniques with encoded expert engineering knowledge can transcend the problem of variable data quality.

One example of how these methods are evolving internationally is in a commission for a major utility manager in Italy in which WRc is helping to define optimal water loss control strategies and forecast asset maintenance by newer methods of analysis, processing and management of data. Like much work

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Measuring asset health is key to managing our asset base for future generations in this field, it started with a experimental data sample, and has now grown to support a fuller data quality review of our clientâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s extensive range of data sources, databases, GIS information and data processing activities.

Whilst the work revealed a number of areas where our client is able to readily implement new modelling and move towards predictive asset management, the principal immediate benefit for our client has been in the thirdparty validation of key weaknesses in their existing data processes.

By implementing a robust data acceptance procedure that tests not only individual datasets, but also their readiness for integration with wider data sources and systems, quick wins for maximizing value were identified. The process also revealed where two versions of the truth are stored in separate locations, where different systems require updating with the same data, and where data links are broken or need to be created. Importantly, this stage of work has provided confidence to both client and

contractor that it is feasible and worthwhile progressing to more advanced predictive models of their asset base, even though the current view of asset health is imperfect.

The latest approaches to infrastructure asset health modelling typically include a geospatial representation of extrinsic factors such as soil corrosivity and traffic loading as well as factors intrinsic to the asset. Indicator variables such as surface type, soil type and road class can be useful proxies to improve the predictive ability of the model. At WRc, we use a combination of spatial and statistical modelling combined with engineering know-how to enable assessment of failure probability and deterioration for each pipe cohort. Cohorts of assets are formed through grouping by material, diameter, era laid and soil class, for example. Characteristics found to have a significant impact upon repair rates are used to define these groupings for each asset class.

By way of example, WRc has supported one UK water company at each of the last four water

price controls by developing and refining asset failure models for their infrastructure assets to inform alternative mains renewal strategies for the following AMP. Our approach combines pipeline cohort modelling with hotspot analysis and Bayesian regression in a single modelling framework which allows us to model the failure probability of a given pipeline with greater predictive ability than with cohort modelling alone. This approach has proven to be readily scalable as we have demonstrated its use in both limited and larger-scale networks.

Of course, with any modelling of this type, the sound application of data science principles is essential. With new techniques that allow for better integration of non-linear relationships such as regression tree-based approaches, it is very easy to produce an over-fitted or poorly validated model that has limited predictive power. The fine tuning of such models must give end-users the confidence that important historical features have been well-captured that the engineering or scientific principles can explain the relationships seen and, crucially, that the model is well validated against observations.

In conclusion, we still have some way to go as a sector to implement fully our data-driven asset health strategies. It is clear that better leading indicators to quantify and manage asset health for the longer term are needed as well as a better understanding of the role of regular asset inspection in the measurement and modelling of asset health. If we can successfully draw upon all of these indicators and data sources, we will improve our knowledge of both asset health and system resilience and have greater confidence in future investment strategies to provide a safe, reliable supply of water to customers.

Carmen Snowdon & Mark Kowalski, Principal Consultants, Asset Management Solutions, WRc

Data streams must be considered in combination in order to provide the best deep insights for network planning and operations

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Changing times for the supply of chemicals Ellen Rossiter of Water Industry Journal met with Richard Ward, Commercial Vice President of Brenntag UK & Ireland, to discuss how the industry – and the world’s largest chemical distributor – are rising to meet the challenges of the water industry.

Richard, you have been working in the chemical distribution industry for a number of years. Do you feel the industry’s profile changed in any way?

There are many aspects to the UK Chemical industry that would recommend it as a prosperous economy generator. Industry sources report on sales of £40 billion and it is responsible for around half a million direct and indirect jobs. Furthermore, it is one of the country’s largest manufacturing exporters.

The industry spends significantly on investment and in research and development to ensure it has a future and can continue to compete globally.

It is important that the UK industry continues to develop and innovate, as over recent decades there has been a signifcant change in the ownership and geographical manufacturing location of the leading chemical companies.

The “baby boomer” generation of chemical workers in the UK will have joined the industry when the Global Top 10 companies were predominantly European or US owned, whilst the “Generation X” members will have seen the first Asian companies enter the Top 10.

“Millennials” joining the industry will see the most change and emerge into a career that could, by 2030, have over two thirds of all product produced in Asia. This provides both an opportunity and a threat for the chemical distributor and a challenge for the chemical user, not least to secure products of quality with a supply that is both efficient and sustainable for the long term.

What impact are these opportunities and challenges likely have on the market dynamics?

The European chemical distribution market is fragmented with over 2,000 chemical distributors generating revenue of €47.5 billion in 2015 and supplying over one million customers. This represents 25 % of the overall chemical market. A figure that continues to grow as customers see the benefits a distributor brings through the simplification of the supply chain and reduction in suppliers combined with the chemical manufacturers who increasingly focus on their production capability and use distributors to reach customers more effectively.

However, not all distributors are equal as the top ten European chemical distributors have total sales in Europe in the order of €13 billion Euros, representing some 27 per cent of the total sector, with Brenntag being by far the largest. In the next segment, there are 90 mid-sized distributors with revenues of around €40million, which account for almost a third of the chemical distribution market. The final segment shows that more

than 1,900 of the remaining 2,000 European distributors, approximately 95 % of the total, serve the remaining 40 % of the market.

These companies are smaller with average revenues of €10 million and consequently more financially constrained than the leading players. They are more vulnerable to economic shocks, downturns, extreme currency fluctuations and an increasing regulatory burden. Brenntag has the resource and capability to work with regulators to understand the implications on the market and pass our knowledge to our customers.

The agility of our reach and strength of our relationships with suppliers allow us to quickly react to current challenges and assist our customers How does Brenntag address such challenging market dynamics?

Brenntag’s strategy for meeting the challenges presented by the steady migration of manufacturing to Asia has been to invest in our people, infrastructure and acquisitions.

Firstly, in the creation of Brenntag Global Sourcing Organisation. Based in Asia and staffed by local experts, Brenntag GSO is challenged with the task of seeking new suppliers and validating them to ensure the needs of customers in Europe are met. Secondly, there have been significant investments in inbound logistics with sea fed tank facilities in the Netherlands and in the UK with tanks on the East coast of England and in Belfast capable of accepting ship loads of caustic soda, sulphuric and hydrochloric acid that are products used either directly or indirectly by the UK water industry. These investments represent long term commitments to the market to ensure continuity of supply of critical products.

Brenntag sees the demand for chemicals in the regulated water sector growing, primarily to meet rising standards for environmental protection with a high demand anticipated in coagulants for phosphate removal and sodium hypochlorite to meet the needs of water disinfection as customers migrate away from chlorine to safer, and easier to handle alternatives .

What steps could water industry undertake to mitigate these challenges?

Brenntag has been a major supplier of chemicals to the regulated water and power companies in the UK and Ireland for many years. Whilst we have seen real improvements we feel the water industry players need to fully understand their chemical supply chain, its strength, resilience and ability to supply product during the planning periods of AMP7 and onwards. Can the purchasing organisations plot the supply routes, understand the manufacturing capacities and constraints

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Richard Ward as well as storage and vehicle capacity? This applies not only to the product used but also the raw material or feedstock needed to make it. It could also be beneficial to understand the contractual commitment between the various parties such as manufacturer and distributor that could offer protection to supply in the event of shortages.

Are buying professionals in regulated water companies aware of recent events such as low water levels in the Rhine reducing barge carrying capacities to 25% thus creating supply difficulties in raw materials needed in the production of finished products used by the industry? Or the closure of 80,000 chemical plants in China on environmental grounds?

Many will know of the shortage of HGV drivers in the UK but may not be aware of the disruption in the supply of some chemicals from USA due to a shortage of drivers qualified to get products to the docks for loading onto European bound ships. The distributor’s ability to cope with these increasingly fast changes in the market is imperative and this often requires financial depth and commercial agility.

Should the emphasis in the decision making process designed to purchase chemicals be more balanced between so called ‘Commercial’ factors which is mainly price and supply chain security?

The anticipated UK demand by regulated water companies for ferric and ferrous salts needed for phosphate removal in waste water is expected to grow significantly in the next five to ten years and could exceed the current levels of UK production. Such an increase in demand would test European supply of equivalent product types, not withstanding the pressure this puts on already stretched plants and raw materials. There is a strong case for a more strategic approach between customer and supplier as neither producer or distributor is minded to invest in additional capacity to meet demand without some contractual assurance.

It would seem advisable for water companies to consider reviewing their purchasing practice for chemicals. Whilst those used may be described as commodities, the reduction in sources, low investment and challenging supply chain conditions that could be further exasperated by Brexit present a challenge to ensure supply. Decisions based primarily on price and leverage are in the long term unlikely to deliver the required outcomes.

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