Big question

BQ11 - How do we embed and maximise a sustainable circular economy within the water sector by 2050?

Route
map
Case
Studies

 

We are currently working on the approach to answering this Big Question, and more information will be given here soon.

The areas that this Big Question covers includes:

  • Evaluate if we are contributing harmful plastics to the water cycle
  • Establish their source and effective control measures to remove them

Once we understand where the gaps are, we will produce a route map – this is a plan as to how we will answer our Big Question.

The route map will have a number of key elements. At the top will be our Big Question and then we will look to see what Outcomes we need from the research programme -if we can achieve all these outcomes we can answer the Big Question. This is the stage we are currently at for this Big Question.

The next stage will be to think about the key benefits we want the research projects to deliver to meet these outcomes.

Following this, we will plan the research projects to help deliver the benefits.

UKWIR – the UK and Irish water industry’s research body – has commissioned the first study of its kind in the UK to develop a robust approach to sampling and detection of microplastic particles in the treated water cycle. This included accurately measuring the presence of microplastic particles in potable (drinking) water, treated wastewater and in the solid residues (sludge) produced by both the water and wastewater treatment processes. Please click here to view more information.

RESEARCH Outcomes








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Projects


 

Response to National Bioresources Strategy - prioritisation of opportunities.

Project Status - Project Completed

Category - Sludge & Waste Management

The National Bioresources Strategy identifies key areas of R&D off the back of the strategy.

One key recommendation for R&D is the prioritisation of recovered resources and understanding the scalability and market requirements. 


 

What does a circular economy water industry look like? (BQ11 Pathfinder Project).

Project Status - Project Completed


 

Where is the greatest sustainable economic benefit for resource recovery in the water cycle?.

Project Status - Project Completed


 

Circular economy - water treatment sludges.

Project Status - Project Completed

Category - Sludge & Waste Management

As water treatment process intensify to meet new standards in the face of deteriorating raw water quality, including the need to install clarification process at existing works, the volume of waste sludge is likely to increase, and so is the demand for chemicals (such as coagulants).

This issue is compounded by diminishing outlet opportunity, with traditional routes such as land restoration at landfill sites reducing and recycling to agriculture becoming less reliable due to changes in regulations (WINEP / Farming Rules for Water). Alternative outlets, such as incineration, are increasingly unpalatable given the sectors Net Zero ambitions.

Given the likely increase in water sludges produced, the reducing opportunities to recycle, and the forecast increase in demand for chemicals such as coagulants there is a need to identify alternative uses / outlets for water treatment sludges. This needs to include external markets, but also resource recovery, either for direct re-use in the treatment assets or to reduce demand from other sectors.

Note - This project is limited in scope to the circularity of sludge reuse. A separate proposal has been drafted that investigates the possible impacts of contaminants (PFAS) in water sludges as to their likely future use and long-term viability of a circular economy of water sludges.



RESEARCH IMPACT - CASE STUDIES