News from clients

Now in its third year, the European FOG Summit is set to take place in the UK for the first time, in Brighton, East Sussex, on 14 October 2021. The event will be hosted by technology company SwiftComply, trade association British Water and UK utility Southern Water.
 
Organisers will follow all government Covid-19 safety guidelines and will monitor the global situation closely, putting contingencies in place should any travel restrictions apply.
 
Every year, FOG-related sewer blockages and spills cost global water authorities billions to clear and can have devastating impacts on the environment. The European FOG Summit will gather renowned experts to examine the current status of the challenge and what the future might hold, with conversations focusing on proactive mitigation, technological solutions, international research and the role FOG can play in local authorities’ circular initiatives and sustainability goals.
 
Participants will also have an opportunity to join networking events on 13 October, the day before the summit. These will include a tour of Southern Water’s wastewater treatment works in nearby Peacehaven and a networking lunch and dinner. 
 
Laura Su, UK director, SwiftComply, said: “We are proud to be co-hosting the 2021 European FOG Summit in the coastal city of Brighton and look forward to welcoming experts from the UK and European water companies, the supply chain and governmental, environmental and circular economy groups.
 
“We are passionate about industry collaboration and using thought-leadership as a catalyst for change, which is why the summit will not only facilitate these conversations but encourage positive action.
 
“While we are very much looking forward to hosting a face-to-face event, we will of course be monitoring global travel restrictions closely to ensure it can be held safely and be inclusive to all who wish to join us.”
 
Mar Batista, head of programmes, British Water, said: “It is a great opportunity for us to be part of the 2021 European FOG Summit. British Water has hosted a FOG conference since 2015 and we are happy to now be partnering with SwiftComply and Southern Water in bringing the conversation to an even wider audience. Only by combining collaboration, education and innovation will we successfully fight the fatberg globally.”
 
Steve Williams, network protection officer, Southern Water, said: “Southern Water looks forward to jointly hosting the European FOG Summit in Brighton in 2021. Having spoken at both the 2019 and 2020 summits, I know how valuable the event is in bringing together international experts to share best practice and the latest developments in FOG management.  Viewing FOG as a resource for conversion to energy or fuel, thereby creating a circular economy, is a conversation that needs to be had globally.”
 
 Event details
 
The European FOG Summit will take place on 14 October 2021 at the Hilton Brighton Metropole, near Brighton Pier.  To book your place www.swiftcomply.co.uk/fogsummit

Supply interruptions and water losses from leaks on transmission pipes and trunk mains can be some of the most challenging water utilities face due the large diameter of the pipes and the materials of which they are made.  However, a revolutionary satellite leak detection technology is helping address this complex problem, making finding the leaks a lot easier.

Drinking water pipelines are one of the sector’s largest and most expensive capital assets and maintaining their integrity must be a key priority. In order to achieve this, the reduction of water losses is a strategic necessity.

In October 2019 a pioneering pilot project was carried out on more than 1,000km of transmission mains in the south of Africa using Utilis’ satellite-borne L-band synthetic-aperture radar (SAR) analytics. Points of interest on the vast trunk main network were narrowed down using the technology, then specialist acoustic leak detection equipment from Swiss water loss technology company Gutermann was used to verify them and pinpoint leaks.

While traditional leak detection techniques and instruments are less suitable for surveying large stretch of large-diameter pipes in rural terrain, Utilis’ technology is agnostic to pipe size or material, identifying leaks via soil moisture created by potable water mixing with the surrounding earth. The technology’s ability to pre-localise a leak, especially in such a difficult landscape, allows the surveying team to invest the time and equipment needed to pinpoint leaks, helping raise their efficiency and meet key performance indicators (KPIs).

Through random sampling, a total of 30 locations were identified for site investigation and verification in this project. This was followed by a leak validation exercise to mark the location and confirm the presence of a leak using Gutermann’s AQUASCAN TM2

trunk main leak correlator. This correlator is specialised in analysing the leak noise on large-diameter pipes and over distances of up to and sometimes even more than 1km distance. When the pipe distance and properties (material and diameter) are known, the correlator is able to pinpoint the leak extremely accurately.  

The leak detection teams were able to locate leaks at all 30 locations, exhibiting 100% accuracy for the SAR technology and evidencing a highly effective job carried out by the teams in the field.  

Wake-up call

The need to protect water supplies by finding and fixing leaks as quickly and robustly as possible has never been more urgent, and not just in Africa. According to the World Resources Institute, demand for water has increased by 600% worldwide over the past 100 years and water utilities face increasing challenges to due to aging infrastructure and vast networks spanning both urban and rural environments.

Utilis’ remote-sensing technology uses a sensor mounted on a satellite orbiting at 637km above earth, which means it can capture an entire network in one shot. It has the potential to capture thousands of leaks using a patented algorithm that identifies the unique signature of drinking water escaping into the ground.

The expansive satellite-analytics helps companies strategically identify hot spots to investigate further so that leaks can be targeted before surfacing, reducing potential damage to nearby infrastructure and the environment.

This is particularly useful in rural areas as it is traditionally much harder and more time-consuming detecting leaks in remote locations. In addition, the approach is non-invasive, can be frequently updated and is highly scalable.

“Fixing leaks is not just about stopping water-loss once we are already aware there is an issue, it is also vital to pre-empt problems and prevent further collateral damage to the infrastructure and environment,” said Uri Gutermann, chief executive of Gutermann. “There are solutions available to alleviate the pressure on water supplies and by harnessing technology and data to make intelligent, long-term decisions, utilities are better placed to tackle this growing problem.”

Cutting costs and water loss

Satellite leak detection offers utilities much lower operating costs, with no preparations or upfront investments required. Leaks can be located faster, resources can be managed more efficiently, and background losses reduced, all resulting in decreased water losses.

Since developing the technology in 2016, Utilis has worked on over 250 projects worldwide in countries including the US, UK, Italy, Chile, China and Africa, leading to more than 30,000 leaks verified and saving customers around 19,000 million litres (5,000 million gallons) a year.

Most countries are facing unprecedented pressure on water resources and with global population growth, estimates show with current practices the world will face a 40% shortfall between forecast demand and available supply of water by as early as 2030.

To strengthen water security against this backdrop of increasing demand and water scarcity, the sector needs to invest in institutional strengthening, information management, and infrastructure development.

In the coming years there is going to be a much higher demand for technology and data to solve these pressing issues. The world is digitising, and the water industry must continue to adapt quickly and use these advances in technology to their benefit.

The message for water companies trying to tackle leakage is while the current solutions that exist may not be enough in isolation, when used in combination, companies can tackle leakage in a more efficient, cost effective and environmentally sustainable manner.

Technology from wastewater treatment specialist WPL has been selected by Scottish Water to deliver enhanced ammonia removal at a village treatment works.
 
Tightening environmental consents and an increasing population has led the public utility to upgrade Ferniegair wastewater treatment works in South Lanarkshire.
 
The site has a tight footprint and is in close proximity to residential housing, both important factors considered early in the project design phase, which was carried out by WGM Engineering Ltd. The site serves a population equivalent (PE) of 2,000, including new housing.
 
WPL will provide one Hybrid-SAF™ (submerged aerated filter) treatment unit, housed in a steel above-ground container to deliver additional ammonia removal at the plant. To enable the WPL Hybrid-SAF to be gravity-fed, avoiding the need for costly and energy-intensive pumping, the unit will be positioned downstream of existing SAF units and upstream of the site’s final settlement tanks.
 
The patented WPL Hybrid SAF treatment process creates a unique recirculating flow pattern as wastewater passes through the submerged moving media bed. The high media fill rate of 90-95% and enhanced distribution mean a more open-structured, neutrally buoyant media can be used, which reduces both the risk of the media fouling and the energy required to maintain a constant scour. 
 
The modular nature of WPL Hybrid-SAF units also supports ease of installation where access and site footprint is constrained. This site had limited space for new equipment even with relocation of existing blowers factored in by project designers. 
 
Built off-site and with enclosed blowers, the technology is also low on noise and odour, which is essential in residential areas to reduce any risk of customer complaints.
 
The Ferniegair unit will be able to treat 6.4l/s flow and provide approximately 1,000 PE of additional ammonia removal capacity. This will ensure the site maintains the Scottish Environment Protection Agency’s (SEPA) ammonia effluent requirement of 20mg/l. The agency’s regulations state the site must meet these standards at least 95% of the time. 
 
WPL utility manager Andrew Haywood said: “As a framework supplier to Scottish Water, we are pleased to have been awarded this contract to help futureproof Ferniegair wastewater treatment works, enabling it to serve a growing population while maintaining environmental compliance.
 
“The design has been tailored to ensure all treatment processes are gravity-fed, with particular consideration given to the levels of pipework connecting the units.  In a location with little room for manoeuvre, getting these levels right is critical if flow into and out of the treatment tanks is to be maintained and we worked in close partnership with WGM Engineering Ltd in design to achieve this. We look forward to the installation phase of this project.”
 
WGM Engineering Ltd director of technical & design Jason Cramb said: “As a tier one partner to Scottish Water, we were pleased to once again collaborate with WPL in the design and installation of another innovative solution. Ferniegair’s location and topography presented a number of design challenges with respect to space, hydraulics and energy consumption.
 
“However, working closely with all stakeholders, a robust solution was developed that will provide the necessary treatment capacity for future expansion of the local area, whilst minimising disruption to residents.”
 
Scottish Water project manager Richard Morris said: “This is an important scheme which will deliver enhanced ammonia removal at our Ferniegair treatment works. WPL is a framework supplier whose technology will have a key role in the site maintaining compliance.”
 
WPL’s onsite installation work will be taking place in the spring of 2021. Under its framework agreement with Scottish Water, the company has recently undertaken projects on wastewater treatment works in areas Newtown St Boswells, Canonbie and Winchburgh, all due to be commissioned in 2021.

Research highlighted at the latest Water Action Platform webinar shows nearly half a million Covid-19 infections could have been prevented in the US alone if there had been a nationwide ban on water shutoffs. The global issue of water shutoffs and disconnections during the pandemic was brought into stark focus at the online event hosted by Isle chairman, Dr Piers Clark, which took place on 15 April.
 
In 2020, water utilities and municipalities around the world started holding back their plans to cut off non-payers amid concerns a lack of access to critical water and sanitation could escalate the rising pandemic. ​
 
The research carried out by Cornell University and Food & Water Watch found that states in the USA which suspended disconnections had significantly reduced growth rates of Covid-19. ​If similar policies had been adopted across the country, the study model estimates that almost 500,000 cases of Covid-19 would have been prevented.
 
“Before the pandemic, protections from water shutoffs were rare in the US,” said Clark, “but on 9 March 2020, Detroit became the first US city to pause water shutoffs and temporarily reconnect water services for all residents. This action sparked a wave of moratoria nationally, with more than 800 localities and states following Detroit’s lead.”
 
The Cornell researchers ran a regression model and concluded that water shutoff bans decreased the daily infection growth rate by 0.235% and the death growth rate by 0.135%. Modelling showed a similar moratorium on water shutoffs nationwide could have saved around 480,000 people from Covid-19 infection and almost 10,000 lives.
 
This research demonstrates the critical impact of access to water, especially during a public health crisis, and makes a clear case for national strategies to ensure water and sanitation services are accessible for low-income households.
 
Efficiency through innovation
 
Access to water is vitally important for health, businesses and communities. So how can the water sector can meet regulatory water efficiency targets, while delivering benefits for customers and the environment?
 
The Water Action Platform webinar also explored research and technologies that address water efficiency issues and shared learnings from utilities in the UK and Spain about tackling water efficiency during the pandemic and beyond.
 
Creative EC, a UK company, showcased a product called Waterfall – a smart meter which generates detailed insight into water usage by collecting water event and billing-grade consumption data from domestic and commercial customers. Waterfall applies the principles of the internet of things (IoT), cloud technology and machine learning to uncover and use powerful data on water usage events in individual properties for the first time.
 
“This rich data set provides incredibly detailed insights into the nature of water consumption, allowing water companies to encourage customer water efficiency using techniques like behavioural analytics, gamification and nudge theory,” said Clark.
 
​
Securing London’s water
 
With improvements of up to 40% required to reach the UK Government’s per capita consumption (PCC) targets, research shows reductions can be most effectively achieved through a combination of customer behaviour changes alongside utilities addressing leakage and unmetered flows. As the largest water provider in the UK, by population, the biggest challenge Thames Water faces is from population growth and development.
 
Andrew Tucker, Thames’ water efficiency manager, presented water efficiency data for London which has been generated through its ambitious smart meter programme rollout.
 
“Quite simply we do not have enough water for the future. We need new water resources to come in and we need to bring demand down,” explained Tucker. “The more knowledgeable we can be, the more detailed we can be able what is happening to our water, the better we will be able to manage this precious resource.”
 
As part of its drive to tackle this issue, Tucker provided an update on Thames Water’s ongoing smart meter programme rollout to every household and business in its region. Over 500,000 smart meters were installed to 21 March and Thames is now receiving millions of meter readings per day.
 
“With manual meter reads we were getting around one million a year. With smart meter reads we’ve leapt to 11 million a day. We have gone from a traditional water company to a big data company overnight. Our key focus now is using data, turning it into insight and putting it into action to drive demand reduction,” added Tucker.
 
Get involved
 
Hosted by global technology and business consultancy Isle, this marks the one-year anniversary of the Water Action Platform, a global initiative that brings water companies together to share knowledge and innovation across the world.
 
The next Water Action Platform webinar takes place on Thursday 20 May at 7.30am and 4.30pm BST. Click here to sign up to receive the invitation.
 
To register and find out more> https://www.wateractionplatform.com/contact

Pressure on industrial sites to meet strict trade effluent standards is mounting but with many companies lacking inhouse treatment expertise, onsite trials are becoming an increasingly appealing option says Adam Parmenter, business executive at wastewater specialist WPL
 
Increasing environmental scrutiny on water companies from government, regulators and customers is filtering down to their commercial and industrial customers, many of whom are feeling the pressure to improve their effluent treatment processes.
 
Trade effluent is liquid waste discharged into public sewers from a business or industrial process. Its contents are highly variable but may include substances such as chemicals and detergents that can be harmful to the environment if not treated correctly.
 
In giving consent for businesses to discharge trade effluent, water companies may require it to be treated to a specified standard before it enters the foul sewer and becomes the responsibility of the utility to manage. Breaching this agreement can result in fines or prosecution for the business and its owners. There are also reputational risks for companies that pollute. 
 
With regulations and targets for water companies tightening, and customer expectations growing, the sector must not fail in its duties to create a cleaner environment – and that includes stricter controls and monitoring of trade effluent. While most industrial businesses share the desire to minimise their environmental impact, my day-to-day conversations tell me that many have a knowledge gap when it comes to effluent treatment and compliance and their historical processes may not meet today’s highly regulated standards.
 
The long-term solution of installing new or upgrading existing technology can be daunting, particularly for smaller companies and, in most cases, will mean a significant capital investment. In the current climate of business uncertainty, many hoops may need to be jumped before capex budget holders commit to big spends.
 
Full-scale operational trials of technology are providing an effective solution, offering immediate enhancement to onsite effluent treatment, meaning compliance is achieved and businesses have breathing space to plan out a permanent fix. WPL launched its full-scale trial service three years ago and has seen a growing year-on-year appetite from industrial clients seeking temporary but urgent support.
 
While designed and set up quickly, trials should not take a one-size-fits-all approach. Advance lab testing of effluent ensures the correct technology and treatment processes are in place to ensure compliance based on parameters including levels of fat, oil and grease, chemical oxygen demand (COD) and suspended solids. Once the process is up and running, data can be analysed to help inform a permanent, custom solution – having evidence to prove the effectiveness of the equipment is valuable when putting forward the case for capital funds.
 
WPL works closely with water utilities on their own wastewater treatment projects. While they have incomparable knowledge of environmental care and regulatory compliance, time pressures mean useful information may not always be shared with their trade effluent customers, many of whom are anxious and unclear about how they can fulfil their obligations and avoid penalties.
 
Opting for a trial can relieve some of this pressure while permanent options are considered and help build valuable in-house knowledge, with the natural environment being the ultimate winner.