Pretreatment of blackwater improves the use of membranes for water treatment

Membrane distillation is a potential technology for non-sewered sanitation to achieve a high standard of treated wastewater. However, there have previously been issues with membrane distillation’s potential when it comes to concentrated blackwater. 

Treating concentrated blackwater with ultrafiltration before using membrane distillation has been shown to improve many factors of membrane distillation as a wastewater treatment method. Ultrafiltration removed large particulates from the blackwater, meaning that the membrane distillation permeability was raised to similar levels to that of just urine. This increase makes the membrane distillation water quality to acceptable standards for discharge or reuse.  

These findings show that membrane distillation can provide a robust means for concentrated blackwater treatment. As the energy required for ultrafiltration is primarily heat, this treatment can be delivered to areas with more fragile power networks, making it more accessible to the communities in need of safe, non-sewered sanitation options. 

Full article: Ultrafiltration pretreatment enhances membrane distillation flux, resilience and permeate quality during water recovery from concentrated blackwater (urine/faeces), Farhad Kamranvand et al, Separation and Purification Technology

Characterising properties and energy content of FOG waste at different catchment points

It is a well-established fact that fats, oils, and greases (FOG) cause several issues for sewer systems. They accumulate at various points in the catchment and lead to oily wastewater, floating masses, and hard deposits. Despite the detrimental effects, FOG has a high calorific content making it an ideal feedstock for energy recovery processes. However, the overall volume of each type of waste and their properties in relation to their collection point have not been researched thoroughly. This knowledge is needed to create a viable solution for FOG collection and energy recovery.

STREAMer Thomas Collin collected FOG waste from households, food service establishments (FSEs),  sewage pumping stations, sewers, and sewage treatment works. These samples were compared to sewage sludge in regards to organic content and energy potentials. FOG recovered at source (household and FSEs) was ‘cleaner’ and had a higher energy content. Once mixed with wastewater, the composition changed and lost some energy per unit mass. 

The results showed that around 94,730 tonnes a year of these materials could be recovered from Thames Water utilities catchment, which is one of the most populated in the UK. This could translate to 222 GWh per year as biogas, close to double what is already produced with sewage sludge digestion and covering 19% of the company’s energy requirements. 

Even though there are 6 million households in the catchment area, most of the FOG waste was produced by 48,000 FSEs - an estimated average of 79,810 tonnes per year compared to 14,920 tonnes per year from private households. As recovery from FSEs will be cheaper and easier if companies implement a collection system, this difference is of significant interest. Whilst feasibility of a collection scheme must still be considered, this is a big step in the right direction. 

Full article: Characterisation and energy assessment of fats, oils and greases (FOG) waste at catchment level, Thomas Collin, Rachel Cunningham, Bruce Jefferson, Raffaella Villa, Waste Management

Developing an environmental flow framework to assess small scale impoundment

Many rivers have had some form of modification to their natural flow for services such as water supply and hydropower. This is typically done by impoundment, which is the term for any structure that raises water levels, such as dams or weirs. As the demands for water supply and hydropower increase, it is hard to prevent them from being implemented. However, it is agreed by most that typical modified flows do not sufficiently cater to the needs of downstream ecosystems. As such, more must be done to understand their impacts and mitigate any issues. 

Ian Hough, a STREAM researcher, developed a novel, transferable framework to assess a small scale impoundment in North West England, using linked hydro-ecological modelling. The model employed flow velocity measurements and macroinvertebrate sampling data. Predictions of habitat quality were created using established ecological principles, such as the importance of flow heterogeneity (being nonuniform and diverse). The results were then used to design environmental flow regimes, aiming to improve ecological metrics whilst considering the conflicting water demands.

Based on historical flow records, implementing designer flows over 12 months showed increased peak species habitat qualities by 23-26%.  Characteristics such as flow heterogeneity were more natural, and 22% water was released from the impoundment. If these outcomes are validated experimentally, there is a great potential for further development and application of this method. The method could also be used in other sites of similar magnitude and geography, so the transferability of the model makes it even more useful if validated experimentally. This could result in fewer negative effects happening due to impoundment. 

Full article: Designing an environmental flow framework for impounded river systems through modelling of invertebrate habitat quality, Ian Hough, Philip Warren, James Shucksmith, Ecological Indicators

Author links open overlay panel

Exploring how aquifer depletion could affect agriculture

Freshwater aquifers are one of our main sources of water. Aquifers are layers of rock that bear water underground, and fill up from rainwater and melting snow. Aquifers can flow out in streams, but more frequently have wells drilled into them to pull the water for drinking, as well as industrial and agricultural uses. Aquifers can dry up if we drain them faster than they are refilled.

Many major aquifers around the world are exploited unsustainably, even to the point of approaching environmentally unsafe drawdown limits in this century. Aquifer depletion tends to happen in regions that are important to crop production, so dried up aquifers pose a global food security threat.

STREAMer Sean Turner used the Global Change Assessment Model (GCAM) to investigate the response to severe constraints on global water resources, focusing on the land use and agriculture sectors. A scenario was created where many important aquifers became so depleted that further withdrawal was not possible. The results from that model were compared to a control model that had no constraints on water withdrawals. 

The results of this study show that groundwater depletion and the associated increase in water price increased two distinct responses from the agriculture sector: there was an expansion in rain fed agriculture, and irrigated crop production shifted towards regions with cheaper water resources. Water stressed regions with groundwater being depleted unsustainably were most affected by losses in crop production. Specifically, these places were northwest India, Pakistan, the Middle East, western United States, Mexico, and central Asia. 

These results highlighted substantial risks for the affected regional agricultural economies. However, the model also showed that modest changes in irrigation and location of crop growth could meet global food demands despite severe water constraints. Whilst this study simulated a world with frictionless trade, these ideas are important as world leaders must take water constraints into consideration, given how affected everyone will be if we deplete these natural resources. 

Full article: A pathway of global food supply adaptation in a world with increasingly constrained groundwater, Sean WD Turner, Mohamad Hejazi, Katherine Calvin, Page Kyle, Sonny Kim, Science of the Total Environment

Predicting the effect of climate change on THM formation

Climate change will change every aspect of our lives, including our water supply. Predicting what effects may occur is imperative, and quantitative data is necessary to understand the extent and how big adaptations will need to be.

STREAM researcher Maria Valdivia-Garcia investigated one such effect – that of carcinogenic trihalomethanes (THMs). THMs form when chlorine and other disinfectants used in water interact with naturally occurring organic and inorganic matter in water. THMs can cause many health issues, including cancer and reproductive issues, so higher levels would mean a higher health risk. 

Monitoring data was collected from five full-scale Scottish drinking water treatment plants. The data showed a significant correlation between THMs and water temperature, and a separate significant correlation between THMs and dissolved organic carbon concentration. These two correlations were clearly seasonal, which demonstrates that climate can influence THMs formation. 

Laboratory tests were done to quantify the sensitivity of THMs formation to water temperature and dissolved organic carbon concentration. The results of these experiments reproduced the real-world data from the treatment plants, which implies that the quantitative data from the laboratory tests was accurate to real-world conditions. These tests were then combined with existing information about future trends in mean summer temperatures and surface water dissolved organic carbon in the British Isles, so we can estimate global warming’s impact on THMs formation. 

An increase in mean summer temperature will likely increase THMs formation. The mid-range scenario had a 1.8°C temperature increase by 2050, and a 39% THMs formation increase. This escalation would have major implications to potable water around the world. THMs pose a real health risk, which means such an increase would require either accepting the higher risk to human health, or a rise in water treatment costs to maintain the current quality in the potable water supply. If water companies begin to prepare now, lower cost methods could be investigated and put into practice before it becomes a public health concern. 

Full article: Predicted Impact of Climate Change on Trihalomethanes Formation in Drinking Water Treatment, M Valdivia-Garcia, P Weir, DW Graham, D Werner, Scientific Reports

Impact of membrane fouling on separating water from urine

Membranes are used throughout the wastewater treatment industry, and they are suitable for many of the processes. They are often more desirable than the alternative treatments, as they rarely have by-products that require disposal, and do not require any input once in place. However, fouling over time tends to be a large issue and leads to frequent replacement of the membranes. 

What is membrane fouling? This is when the solution being treated is deposited on the surface or in the pores of the membrane, leading to degradation of the membrane’s performance. A degraded membrane is a problem for water treatment, as it will lower the quality of the final product and may prevent it from reaching safety standards. Fouling can be either reversible or irreversible. Reversible fouling can be undone by cleaning the membranes, whereas irreversible fouling means cleaning is not possible and replacement is unavoidable. Membrane fouling is one of the main obstacles when it comes to using this technology, and as a result, research is needed to find ways to slow fouling and clean the membranes.  

Membrane distillation was evaluated for non-sewered sanitation by STREAM researcher Farhad Kamranvand. Waste heat was used to enable the separation of clean water from urine, instead of pressure. 

Whilst membrane fouling did happen when urine was treated, wetting was not evident, and the water quality of the product met the proposed discharge standard despite the high concentration of urine in the experiment. The fouling was also reversible with physical cleaning, which agrees with past studies operating without pressure as the main force. There was a high chemical oxygen demand reduction following faecal contamination, but the mass transfer was impeded and wetting did occur when the quality was compromised. When the urine was contaminated with faecal matter, the mass transfer was delayed, and wetting did occur if the quality was compromised. This suggests faecal contamination should be reduced as much as possible before using this method to separate water and urine. 

Full article: Impact of fouling, cleaning and faecal contamination on the separation of water from urine using thermally driven membrane separation, Farhad Kamranvand et al, Separation Science and Technology

The cost of bacteria-caused drinking water failures

Disease-causing bacteria must be avoided in drinking water supplies, and as a result, investigating bacteria-based failures is essential. The water industry is expected to provide quality assurance and improvement on its current methods wherever possible. However, failures still happen and are found during routine water quality monitoring. These failures have a financial implication for the water companies, however there has been little investigation into what the cost of these failures are and how this impacts the company. 

STREAM researcher Kate Ellis sought to fill this knowledge gap with her research on the cost of bacterial failures. The study focused on failures due to coliform and e. coli being found during routine checks, across five different British water companies. In total, there were 737 failures of this type during the study period. The cost was calculated from the staff hours needed to deal with the failures, the collections of additional samples, transportation, and any additional activities necessary for the place where the sample was being collected. The cost of different types of failures were calculated as well; specifically customer tap failures, service reservoir failures, and water treatment works finished water failures. 

The average costs of the investigations were between £575 (for a customer tap failure) and £4,775 (for a water treatment works finished water failure). These numbers can provide these and other water companies the ability to budget in operational costs for dealing with these failures. Furthermore, the costs can be used to justify the need for increased funding for preventative strategies. Companies may have been reluctant to spend the money on research and implementation of new strategies before, however now the cost can be compared to the cost of the investigation of the failures as well as repairing the issue, and the total cost over time. The comparison of the cost of the two options is likely to make the funding for prevention appear more reasonable, allowing for fewer bacteria related failures in the future. 

Full article: Understanding the costs of investigating coliform and E. coli detections during routine drinking water quality monitoring, Kate Ellis et al., Urban Water Journal

Using sound to predict flow rate of leaks in pipes

It's not surprising that leakages in water distribution systems is a worldwide issue with many consequences. These include the money required to fix leaks, the potential for contaminants to enter the water distribution systems, and the environmental impact of wastewater pipe leaks. Leaks can be found through a method called leak noise correlation, where sensors are placed to record and analyse the sound emissions from the leak. This method is widely used to find locations of leaks already, but the sensors record data that could potentially be used to find out the leak’s flow rate. Being able to predict flow rate could help those managing these systems to prioritise repairs based on flow rate. However, no reliable method has been found to predict the flow rate of a leak in distribution pipes using sound emissions. 

Joseph Butterfield, a STREAM researcher, set out to find a way to predict leak flow rate using leak noise correlation. The study aimed to predict the leak flow rate in medium-density polyethylene pipes using sound emission signals. The novel method involved four circular holes of different sizes being tested at several leak flow rates. 

The study was able to accurately predict the leak flow rate, regardless of the area and with no prior knowledge of the area. This shows the potential of this technique being used to assess and prioritise leak repair. As this was the first study, there would need to be much more testing, but now there is a first base case in leak flow rate prediction through sound emissions.

There were also attempts to predict leak area using this model. When contaminants enter water distribution systems through leaks, the leak area influences the level of contamination, and therefore development of this method could prove useful in judging the risk of contamination and therefore the threat to public health. Even further development of the use of leak noise correlation could include using it for detecting locations, flow rate, and leak area simultaneously.

Full article: Prediction of leak flow rate in plastic water distribution pipes using vibro-acoustic measurements, JD Butterfield, V Meruane, RP Collins, G Meyers, SBM Beck, Structural Health Monitoring 17 (4), 959-970

Full-scale Metaldehyde removal via biodegradation

It is a well-established fact in the water treatment industry that polar, low molecular weight pesticides are very difficult to remove from water using conventional methods. One of the main examples of this is metaldehyde, used frequently in slug pellets. It often seeps into water supplies after rain, so contamination is hard to avoid. As a result, metaldehyde is responsible for most of the pesticide-related drinking water failures in the UK. Whilst biological treatment is often effective against micropollutants, only some operational biofilters have be able to remove metaldehyde. Due to the minor role of the other methods used, biodegradation is likely to be the main removal pathway for metaldehyde. 

STREAM researcher Catherine Rolph monitored and assessed the biodegradation in an operational slow sand filter. The long-term data showed that the degradation of metaldehyde did improve when the inlet concentrations increased. Active and inactive sand batch reactors were compared, and that showed that metaldehyde removal happened mainly through biodegradation. 

The removal rates were greater if the biofilm was acclimated through high metaldehyde concentrations – there was a 40% increase in metaldehyde removal in acclimated columns compared to non-acclimated. This suggested that metaldehyde removal was reliant on enrichment, which means the process could be engineered to decrease the treatment times from days to hours. It is also important to note that this increase was sustained for more than 40 days, with an average of 80% removal, reducing metaldehyde concentration to be compliant with the approved levels. The study also looked into the microbial makeup of the acclimated and non-acclimated biofilms, and the microbial communities were found to be slightly different. This implies that as biofilms become acclimated, the bacteria present changes to be more appropriate for breaking down metaldehyde. 

This study provides a new basis for faster, chemical free, low cost, biological treatment of metaldehyde, as well as other polar pollutants, in drinking water.  Whilst this is a first study into this method, the results imply that this is a promising option after further investigation, especially since it was done at full scale and for more than 40 days.

Full article: From full-scale biofilters to bioreactors: Engineering biological metaldehyde removal, C Rolph, R Villa, B Jefferson, A Brookes, A Choya, G Iceton, F Hassard, Science of the Total Environment

Case Study: Reuse at the Olympic Park

There are certain issues, such as ageing water infrastructure and population growth, that are found in all megacities. These issues are likely to make water supply deficits in London worse over time. Addressing this threat could be done using wastewater reclamation and non-potable reuse (NPR), which has the potential to close the supply-demand gap without an impact on environmental water bodies. An important factor in this is understanding the challenges the diverse stakeholders face with regards to the governance of NPR schemes, and how these challenges can be addressed in the context of a megacity such as London. 

A case study was carried out by STREAM researcher Daniel Goodwin to explore these challenges. The study was centred on a sewer mining scheme in London, where reclaimed non-potable water was used for irrigation and toilet flushing around the London 2012 Olympic Park. Qualitative analysis was done on interview and document data.

This case study shows that NPR is viable and can be used to help prevent water supply deficits in megacities such as London. Collaboration and learning opportunities were seen as necessary to improve the governance of such schemes. It also indicated that engagement activities – both formal and informal – that centred on risk management can help develop common understandings, build inter-stakeholder relationships, and help maintain trust. All these factors influence the fact that NPR can contribute to the resilience of megacities, due to the increased diversity of the infrastructure. However, its feasibility will depend on how willing stakeholders are to participate and continually negotiate new risk management practices. As more and more NPR schemes are introduced, the willingness to participate will likely rise, leading to similar schemes becoming more commonplace in megacities over time, which in turn will help reduce the water stress of these areas. 

Full article: Collaboration on risk management: The governance of a non-potable water reuse scheme in London, D Goodwin, M Raffin, P Jeffrey, HM Smith, Journal of Hydrology

The importance of SuDS implementation and the challenges involved: expert opinions

Drainage systems are an essential part of any city’s water management. In particular, sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) have become increasingly important in water sensitive cities, as they have the ability to store and attenuate surface water, and the capability to treat runoff. The implementation of SuDS requires multiple areas, including planning frameworks, engineering designs, construction practices, maintenance processes, community buy-in and ownership agreement, working cohesively and aligning. 

To understand this alignment, as well as building an evidence base on the implementation and management of UK SuDS, STREAMer Peter Melville-Shreeve created a questionnaire to 50,000 industry professionals, which was distributed by the Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management. The findings from this suggested that whilst SuDS are beginning to become the norm, the ‘harder’ solutions are still much more commonplace. On top of that, design and construction remain weakly regulated, and the legal framework of SuDS ownership and maintenance is lacking and unclear. The expert practitioners supported the need for a single method of adoption, which would be coordinated by the local authority. They also suggested that there should be policy changes making SuDS mandatory, as their benefits are clear and this would speed up the rate at which the change happens across the UK. 

If the results of this survey are taken into account and supported by policy makers, there is the possibility for SuDS to become the norm, and help water sensitive systems in their water management.

Full article: State of SuDS delivery in the United Kingdom, P Melville‐Shreeve, S Cotterill, L Grant, A Arahuetes, V Stovin, R Farmani, D Butler, Water and Environment Journal 32 (1), 9-16

Quantifying fat, oil and grease build up in drainage systems

Food service establishments (FSEs) are a major source of fat, oil and grease (FOG) getting into sewer systems. Build-up of FOG can cause major blockages in the systems, which cost the management companies a lot of money to clear, as well as problems for those whose drainage systems are backed up as a result. Therefore it is important to know how to manage FOG, and to do that we need to know how much is entering the system.

Unfortunately, current methods for quantifying FOG in FSE wastewater are unsuitable, due to the interference from other substances like surfactants (the chemicals in detergents and the like) and food residue, which interact with FOG and create a compound called an emulsion. 

Caroline Gurd (Cohort V) led research into a novel quantification method, based on the dairy industry Gerber method. This method negates the effect of surfactants, allowing for FOG to be quantified without interference, making it possible to quantify FOG in a realistic manner. On top of that, the method allows free oils and oils that are part of an emulsion to be quantified separately. This separation allows greater insight into FOG management. The method was tested in both synthetic and real FSE wastewater, which indicated that the novel method is more reliable than standard extractions in FOG-rich systems. 

If this method is implemented by sewer management companies, clearing the sewer systems will be easier and more efficient. This would lead to less money being spent clearing sewer systems, less drainage system blockages, and prevent FOG build up from becoming too big to manage effectively. 

Full article: Determination of fats, oils and greases in food service establishment wastewater using a modification of the Gerber method, C Gurd, B Jefferson, R Villa, C De Castro Rodriguez, Water and Environment Journal

Does media bias affect public opinions on water reuse?

Public opinions on water reuse have been and continue to be a barrier to the success of various schemes. The internet allows many to engage with information surrounding water reuse proposals when they may never have encountered the information otherwise. There are benefits to engaging the public online, but there are also challenges associated with media bias and online advocacy. 

A study was undertaken by STREAMer Daniel Goodwin, with Cranfield University and Thames Water to examine the public response to online news outlets reporting on an indirect potable reuse proposal for London. The researchers examined 1323 online comments on six different articles regarding this proposal. The articles were from a variety of news sources, all from the top ten national readership rankings (bar the BBC, which is the most read but is not ranked with the others). The sources were varied in political leanings and included tabloids and broadsheets. This ensured a wide variety of readers and therefore commenters, as well as different message framing. 

Every article did imply a sense of disgust, featuring the idea of “drinking sewage” and a dominant frame of ‘toilet to tap’. Overall, three of the articles were more balanced in using both positive and negative sentiments towards the proposal, whereas the other three were evaluated as somewhat more negatively biased. 

There was no evidence of the way the media framed the event influencing the public reactions, whether positively or negatively. The study shows that whilst countering long-term agendas will be difficult, there may be benefits to experimenting with the way water safety measures and shorter-term gains are framed. This information is vital to anyone wanting to promote and advocate for water reuse proposals online, leading to more effective communications, and hopefully a more informed public when it comes to water reuse. 

Full article: Evaluating media framing and public reactions in the context of a water reuse proposal, D Goodwin, M Raffin, P Jeffrey, HM Smith, International Journal of Water Resources Development 34 (6), 848-868

How different message framing can affect public opinions on water reuse

Water reuse is becoming more relevant, especially in water-stressed regions, yet it is still seen as a controversial option. Providing information on reuse options can have a positive impact of how acceptable people find the concept of reuse. As a result, there is growing interest in understanding the differing impacts from different ways of communicating these messages. 

This study, led by STREAM researcher Daniel Goodwin, aimed to evaluate the way different methods of framing messages about the safety of recycled water impacts attitudes. 689 participants from London, UK, were split into focus groups. Each group was shown an animation about water recycling safety, with a different framing of the message for each group. There were surveys before and after the animation was shown, allowing the researchers to see the impact on the attitudes depending on the framing of the message in each animation.

The results agree with existing knowledge on the impact of difference types of messaging on public attitudes, including important evidence on the positive impact of water safety communications framed in terms of the compliance with water quality requirements. However, there was not an evident positive impact for messages framed in terms of the technology to remove contaminants, nor in terms of the risks relative to other everyday risks. 

These findings help isolate the effects of specific frames and add to the research on how an increased understanding of risk can influence willingness to support water reuse schemes. These results are of great value to water resource planners in creating communication materials that help to improve public perceptions of water reuse, and this could lead to an even further improvement over a larger time frame. As the UK could soon run into problems with water scarcity, it’s important that we begin to change minds so we can avoid wasting such a precious resource.

Full article:
Informing public attitudes to non-potable water reuse–The impact of message framing, D Goodwin, M Raffin, P Jeffrey, HM Smith, Water research 145, 125-135

STREAM Student Receives Emerging Talent Award

Sarah Cotterill (Cohort IV) was awarded the prestigious Emerging Talent Award from Future Water Association last week! Here is some background on the Award and what Sarah has been up to lately. 

Future Water Association is a business support organisation for the water sector. They were founded in 1986 and focus on shaping the future of the sector, by increasing engagement, stimulating new thinking, generating business growth, and influencing stakeholders. Nominations for their Emerging Talent Award are open between December and March for water-focussed businesses to put forward “a young person (30 or younger) who is new to your company (within the last five years) that has: 

• achieved beyond expectations by bringing something new to you company 

• demonstrated leadership 

• an interest in water and the environment”

The award, this year, was sponsored by Arup. 

"I’ve recently been working as an Innovation Manager (a postdoctoral research position) at The Water Hub (www.thewaterhub.org.uk). TWH is a collaborative ERDF project between Durham University, Durham County Council, Environment Agency and Northumbrian Water. I’ve led projects on sustainable drainage (SuDS) and water efficiency. I’ve supported innovative small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) with technology development, access to real-world test and demonstration facilities, and helped them to apply for funding. I’ve also organised a number of events - including our annual networking event ‘RIPPLE’www.thewaterhub.org.uk/ripple 

I’ve just accepted a position at University College Dublin, and will begin as an Assistant Professor/Lecturer in Civil Engineering (specialising in Water) in August. "

Congratulations Sarah!

Metaldehyde removal using innovative biofilms

Metaldehyde is a widely used pesticide, used to protect plants from slugs and snails. You’ve probably even used some yourself if you’ve ever bought slug pellets. However, when it enters water, it is extremely difficult to remove, making it responsible for most of the pesticide related drinking water failures in the UK. It often seeps into water supplies when it rains, so it’s hard to prevent the contamination. Metaldehyde poisoning is often deadly in animals, and moderately toxic by ingestion in humans, causing stomach and intestinal irritation as well as kidney and liver damage. 

 As a result, it is important to find innovative ways to remove it from drinking water. However, creating additional by-products is undesirable, as these require safe disposal, and an energy-intensive method would lead to additional costs. STREAMer Catherine Rolph conducted research to see how effective a film, made from activated carbon and microbes, was in comparison to the standard sand media currently used. 
Introducing the biological activated carbon was found to remove 94% of metaldehyde, however this needs to be regenerated regularly to maintain that level of absorption and therefore is quite limited. Biofilms were found to be less effective with 41% removal, but would work well as a complementary method to current metaldehyde removal, which would not only increase the efficiency and avoid related public health concerns, but do so without raising the cost of treatment and therefore water bills for the consumers.

Full article: 
Metaldehyde removal from drinking water by adsorption onto filtration media: mechanisms and optimisation, CA Rolph, B Jefferson, F Hassard, R Villa, Environmental Science: Water Research & Technology 4 (10), 1543-1552

Fatbergs: the beasts beneath

On 13^th October 2018, STREAM researchers Natalia Jawiarczyk (Cohort IX) and Thomas Collin (Cohort VII) participated in the IF Science and Ideas Festival in Oxford to engage the public with their research relating to fatbergs. Their hands-on exhibit, entitled ‘Fatbergs: the beasts beneath' took the festival attendees on a fatberg journey, from how fatbergs form to what can be done to prevent them and how their research is solving the fatberg problem.

STREAM researchers at IF Science and Ideas Festival Oxford

What are fatbergs?

Fatberg deposit in sewer

Fatbergs are solid, fatty deposits that form in the sewers a result of fats, oils and greases (FOG) and non-biodegradable substances entering the sewage system. The worst culprits are cooking fats/oils, leftover food, supposedly ‘flushable’ toilet wipes and wet wipes. Fatbergs block sewage pipes and cause floods, resulting in huge problems for water companies and the public alike. A recent example of this is the infamous Whitechapel fatberg found in the London sewers. This fatberg weighed the equivalent of 11 double decker buses and was more than 250 metres long, a small sample of which Natalia and Thomas brought along to the festival to show members of the public. Currently, water companies deal with fatbergs by regular cleaning of the sewers and by monitoring water networks; however, fatbergs are able to build up quickly. Once they are found, water companies must spend a lot of time and effort digging the fatberg out, which is then disposed of in landfill. Fatbergs are an expensive problem for water companies and pose health concerns to the general public if they are not detected and removed quickly enough to prevent flooding.

How you can fight back

There are a number of things that everybody can do to help the UK’s growing fatberg problem. Here are a few key tips to help fight fatbergs:

·     Scrape leftover food into the bin rather than into the sink

·     Use strainers to collect any food waste in the sink and empty this into the bin

·     Collect cooking oils, fats and greases and dispose of in general waste – do not pour these down the sink

·     Wipe dishes with kitchen roll to keep oils and greases out of your dirty dishwater

·     Dispose of wet wipes, plasters, condoms, feminine hygiene items, face wipes, toilet wipes, cotton wool, nappies and kitchen roll in bins, even if the packaging says they are flushable

Tips to fight fatbergs

Fighting fatbergs through bio-augmentation

STREAM researcher Natalia Jawiarczyk, sponsored by Cranfield University and Severn Trent Water, is looking at the use of bio-augmentation to both prevent fatbergs from forming and break them down once they begin to form. Bio-augmentation is the addition of a bacteria culture to sewage pipes, which perform two processes: inhibition (preventing deposits from forming) and degradation (breaking down deposits). Natalia is working to improve the efficiency of these processes, by looking at both the composition of fatbergs and the sewer microclimate (e.g. temperature and pH) and how these affect the inhibition and degradation processes performed by bacterial cultures. She is looking at this first in the laboratory and then at a larger scale, using Cranfield University’s Pilot Hall. 

STREAM researcher Natalia Jawiarczyk's work 

Using fatbergs to produce energy

STREAM researcher Thomas Collin, sponsored by Cranfield University and Thames Water, is looking at using anaerobic co-digestion to use the fatbergs that are removed from our sewers to produce energy. This prevents them from entering landfill and adding to our growing waste problem, while providing an alternative source of energy and fuel. In anaerobic digestion, organic material, including sludge waste from wastewater treatment plants, is added to a digestion tank. In this digestion tank, the organic material is digested by bacteria in the absence of oxygen to produce biogas and co-products. The biogas can be used as fuel, electricity production and for heating, while co-products include compost, nutrients and fertiliser. Thomas is looking at adding fats, oils and greases to this process. So far, Thomas has found that fats, oils and greases have a high energy content: 1kg of fats, oils and greases has the same energy content as 14 cans of cola or 88 hamburgers. His research means that, in the future, we may be able to turn the fatberg problem into something more positive for society, while recovering value for water companies. 

 

STREAM researcher Thomas Collin's work

The public engagement experience

STREAM researchers engaging the public with their work

Aligned with the water industry insights blog, the STREAM IDC is committed to engaging the public in water industry issues and water research. Scientific research is not just for scientists as the aim of the work is to solve real-world problems, problems that are relevant to everyone.

Science and Technology Impact Officer at Cranfield University, Zoe Griffiths, says,

“engaging people in scientific research is critical. It ensures that research is relevant to public needs and ensures that people are at the forefront of scientific research. Science should not just be left to scientists; everyone can make a real difference”

The STREAM IDC encourages its researchers to get involved in public engagement and outreach to aid their professional and personal development. STREAM IDC Programme Director Paul Jeffrey says,

“Learning to communicate your work effectively and to different audiences is important to be successful in any career. By offering opportunities for our researchers to gain these vital communication skills, we are preparing them to be successful water professionals”

Further information on STREAM IDC outreach activities can be found here.

STREAM alumnus wins gold at IWA World Congress

The International Water Association (IWA) World Water Congress is, arguably, the biggest event in the water sector’s calendar. Attracting water professionals from over 100 countries, the event connects people working in the water sector from all over the world to share knowledge about the latest trends, innovative technologies and leading practices. A highlight of the programme is the biennial IWA Project Innovation Awards, which recognise and promote excellence and innovation in water management, research and technology. The 2018 IWA Project Innovation Award winners, announced on 17^thSeptember, included Severn Trent Water, who received a gold award for their Smart Abstraction Management under the innovation category of Smart Systems and the Digital Water Economy. This award-winning work is based on the research of STREAM alumnus (and current Severn Trent employee) Alemayehu Shitaye Asfaw’s, whose EngD project developed a real-time surface water abstraction management tool. 

Severn Trent Water winning Gold Award for Smart Systems and the Digital Water Economy at  the IWA World Congress

The project

The focus of Alemayehu’s EngD project was to develop new approaches to inform and aid the management of surface water abstraction, with a specific focus on tackling the management challenges associated with increasing demand and diffuse pollution. The project combined the development of a real-time water resources management model with the development of a pollutant prediction model. The project was undertaken at the University of Sheffield, sponsored by Severn Trent Water. 

Abstraction management: water resources

Variability in the distribution of water spatially and over time poses challenges when supplying drinking water to meet rising demands while protecting the environment. These challenges are particularly potent in the face of a rapidly increasing population and climate change. Surface water is the primary source of drinking water in the UK, supplying two-thirds of the drinking water in England and Wales, which puts these water resources under pressure. UK environmental regulators are working with the water industry to implement environmental improvement schemes to ensure that UK water courses meet national and European targets. Therefore, the careful management of these water resources is necessary to enable their efficient and sustainable utilisation. Current abstraction management tools and decision-making processes are not supported by real-time data on river flow levels, which affect the daily availability of water, and so opportunities to abstract more water are missed. The use of real-time river flow data will also reduce the need to trigger drought management actions, improving the resilience of water resource production systems.

Abstraction management: diffuse pollution

Pesticide use in agriculture

Diffuse pollutants, such as pesticides from farming, are a significant threat to the quality of water resources, with ever increasing levels being found in raw water sources. The cost of water pollution is estimated at £700million to £1.3 billion per year. Water pollution increases the industry’s carbon footprint due to the need to further treat water to meet drinking water standards. Metaldehyde, a pesticide used globally in agriculture, is a pollutant of particular concern due to recently observed high levels. Therefore, a model capable of predicting short-term fluctuations in metaldehyde concentrations in surface waters will enable informed decision-making to improve water quality.

Outcomes

Alemayehu’s work integrated these two aspects through a combined modelling approach. The project was able to show that an integrated modelling framework can be used to develop a flow forecast model that is suitable for surface water abstraction management purposes. Such schemes can play a significant role in recharging reservoir levels during dry periods, which increases the resilience of drinking water supplies. The pollutant model was effective in predicting variability in pollutant concentrations for operational decision-making purposes. Importantly, the predictive model allows abstraction to be suspended up to 48 hours in advance of high metaldehyde concentrations occurring. 

Winning the IWA Smart Systems and Digital Water Economy Gold Award highlights the incredible potential of Alemayehu’s STREAM project for solving water industry issues through environmentally friendly methods. The implementation of his EngD work is ongoing, showing how a STREAM EngD can really make a difference in practice.

Addressing the increasing pressures on water resources in England

The Environment Agency has recently released a report on “The State of the Environment: Water Resources” highlighting the unsustainable levels of water abstraction and the significant volume of water that is lost through leakage. This first major report on the state of water resources in England has warned that the country will face water supply shortages by 2050 unless rapid action is taken. In this water industry insight post, we take a look at the important findings of the report, the main issues for the water industry relating to these findings and how STREAM research is helping to alleviate these issues.

The Environment Agency Report – key findings

The Environment Agency report on water resources in England looked closely at the current state of water resources nationwide and projected how this may look in the future. In 2016, 9500 billion litres of freshwater were taken from rivers, lakes, reservoirs and underground sources, with the biggest abstracter being public water companies (55% of all water abstraction). The report evidenced the impact of current pressures on water resources; in 2017, abstraction was unsustainable for 28% of groundwater bodies and up to 18% of surface waters, preventing 6-15% of river water bodies meeting good ecological status.

Figure 1: Water abstraction from Ladybower Reservoir, Derbyshire

Pressure on water resources is expected to greatly increase as a result of a growing population, climate change and changes in land use, resulting in huge water shortages in England by 2050. The report suggests that, currently, 3 billion litres of water is wasted per day through leakage alone. This is the equivalent to the daily water needs of 20 million people. Further water is lost through wastage in homes and losses in water treatment processes.
The problem is far-reaching and a multifaceted approach is needed to tackle the issues raised. The Environment Agency has suggested three key measures:

1. Public attitude change towards water use
2. Industry innovation and behavioural change to reduce water use and water wastage
3. Water company investment in infrastructure to address leakage issues rather than a reliance on offsetting leakage with water abstraction from the environment

STREAM research tackling these measures

Figure 2: Water leakage from piping

The STREAM Industrial Doctoral Centre is delivering a number of research projects that are already contributing to tackling the issues raised by the Environment Agency report. Especially aligned to water shortage issues is the STREAM work on leakages and improved management of water distribution networks. Previous Industry Insights posts have focussed on STREAM researcher Joseph Butterfield’s work on leakage detection using acoustic modelling (sponsored by University of Sheffield and Northumbrian Water) and STREAM researcher Lucy Irons’ work on data mapping to detect leakages (sponsored by University of Sheffield and Anglian Water). Other STREAM researchers are also working on the detection of leakages in distribution networks, including the detection of leakage hotspots, real-time monitoring of distribution systems and real-time prediction and detection of blockages.

A number of other STREAM projects are also tackling water shortage problems. There is much work on water infrastructure resilience with a long-term outlook on water abstraction rates and aquifer storage and recovery as an alternative to water abstraction from reservoirs. Finally, STREAM researchers have also focussed on water reuse, a process that reduces water abstraction from the environment by treating wastewater and reusing it for a beneficial purpose. Research has included the governance of water reuse and public perception of water reuse for non-potable use, a current barrier to its uptake.



Overall, the Environment Agency report highlights a number of problem areas that, at current rates, will result in water shortages in the not so distant future. STREAM research, in collaboration with water companies, is already working to alleviate some of the issues raised. In light of the report, there is now further motivation to focus on fixing these issues.

For further information, the full Environment Agency report is available for download, and further information on STREAM projects, past, present and future, are available at the STREAM website.


Environment Agency report: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/state-of-the-environment

STREAM website: http://www.stream-idc.net/index.php