CASE STUDY
MULTI-SECTOR COLLABORATION OFFERS CIRCULAR ECONOMY OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE WATER TREATMENT INDUSTRY An innovative £6.1million project will explore opportunities to recover biopolymers from wastewater for reuse in various industrial processes.
United Utilities are one of several water treatment companies to have earned a share of the £38million Water Breakthrough Challenge funding pot. The third round of the Ofwat-run challenge provides grants for environmentally friendly initiatives that provide benefits for customers, society and the environment. Combining government funding and industry ingenuity, there is the opportunity to create economic and ecological benefits. United Utilities believes its scheme has the potential to develop new markets and create jobs, while the more sustainable products could reduce carbon footprint and drive progress towards net zero. These sorts of initiatives and interventions are needed to help the water industry on its quest for change. Fossil-derived PLFs, such as polyacrylamide, are currently commonly used in both clean water treatment and wastewater treatment and may be used as a flocculant or thickening agent to help bind particulate impurities. Given the volumes of
water treated, PLFs are a major contributor to the sector’s carbon footprint. The lack of research into and availability of biobased alternatives means there is a problem facing the water treatment industry. It is expected that solutions might be years away but there is an appetite to reach carbon neutrality. The sector is heavily regulated, which poses another issue as all alternatives will need to be thoroughly tested and approved before wider implementation. Supply security and resilience are both also important factors to consider. However, through multi-sector collaborations, such as with Ofwat’s challenge, and investing in innovation as United Utilities is doing, there is optimism for the future. United Utilities’ project is being delivered in collaboration with RHDHV, Cellvation, Severn Trent Water, South West Water, Glasgow Caledonian University, Aquaminerals, Cranfield University and Yara.
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