Led by: United Utilities
Partners: Southern Water, Thames Water, University of Portsmouth, Power & Water, Evergreen, Hydro Industries, Kolina
The water industry is heavily dependent on the use of metal based coagulants for the removal of phosphorus on rural wastewater treatment plants. The fragility of this approach has been highlighted as recently as September 2021 when the BBC reported on the need for the Environment Agency to allow reductions in chemical use to address lorry driver shortages. We need more sustainable solutions if we are to maintain water quality within our watercourses and reduce our carbon footprints. United Utilities will lead a project providing a holistic view of what can be achieved using alternative phosphorus removal approaches. The UK water industry spends in the region of £39M/year on metal coagulants. Finding a suitable alternative would reduce this and the carbon associated with the manufacture and delivery of these chemicals.
ALT-P is progressing successfully in line with the agreed plan. We have moved forward significantly over the past quarter having completed all site trials on work package 1 (Electrocoagulation, EC) and work package 2 (natural coagulants, NC) and moved into the site testing period with work package 3 (reactive media). We are now working through our dissemination plans. This includes presenting at the European Wastewater Management conference in Manchester in early July and making arrangements for ALT-P Day in September 2024. During the past quarter we have been able to host site sessions for water companies, outside of our immediate consortium, at both United Utilities (WP1 and 2) and Southern Water (WP3) sites. The site visits have received positive feedback and helped others understand how they will support the realisation of benefits from the ALT-P outcomes. Through discussions with water companies we understand that some are already going to full scale implementation with EC and are using our project to fully inform their approach to operation and maintenance. UU have also started working with the Environment Agency (EA) and Natural England (NE) to get approval for dosing NC at scale. Both the EA and NE are requesting additional verification information.
Our Alt-P programme is rapidly coming to an end. All site works have been completed and we are now focusing on writing up our findings. Over the next two months reports on all three work packages will be available along with our Ofwat final report. These will be made available via the Spring platform for all water companies to absorb and hopefully adopt. The Alt-P programme has seen a significant amount of interest in recent weeks which has included the gathering of 62 like minded individuals, from 19 different organization, at our Alt-P day on 17th September at the United utilities head Office. Video of the event will be made available via the Spring platform.
For more information on Alternative Approaches to Phosphorus Removal, take a look at the following resources:
