With ever-increasing standards demanded for the effluent produced at wastewater treatment works, we’re looking to trial a low carbon solution which lets nature do the work.
In one of the first projects of its kind in England, our wastewater treatment works at Staplefield will make use of a neighbouring field to create special areas of wetlands. The shallow water and water tolerant plants of the wetland provide a unique filtration system, so that effluent leaving the works can be fed through it, before going back into rivers and seas.
Making sure that our treated wastewater – or effluent - is clean enough to discharge into rivers and the sea is both challenging and costly. The methods we currently use to remove Phosphorus and other substances often require adding further treatment processes or using ferric dosing. We needed to come up with a natural low carbon solution, benefitting the environment and the community.
Before deciding on the project, we made an assessment using our new risk and value tool, where the natural and social capital benefits are measured while considering the risk and the cost. The result is an innovative, nature-based solution which is also low carbon.
Wetlands support about ten percent of all the species we have in the UK, so the benefits to biodiversity – and our community’s enjoyment of these types of wildlife – are clear. The wetlands project can also be used to help educate future generations about the use and benefits of wetlands, with school visits and information for the whole community.
“As a Process Scientist/Engineer working on lots of water and wastewater projects, I can see that using innovative and nature-based solutions like this one really is the future - and it’s the right thing to do.” – Cecile, Asset Strategy Lead Cecile, Asset Strategy Lead and project member