Treatment process evaluation, optimisation and regulatory compliance
New challenges continually emerge in water and wastewater treatment processes
These challenges include emerging contaminants, such as PFAS and microplastics, deteriorating raw water quality and an increased focus on carbon emissions. New technologies are being proffered, with water companies often having little previous exposure to them or knowledge of how well they may work under the company’s set of conditions. Meanwhile, established contaminants, whether biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), odours, lead or disinfection byproducts, remain present.
Against a backdrop of environmental change, a growing population and ageing assets, the water sector is being asked to maintain or improve performance while cutting costs and treating emerging contaminants reliably and cost-effectively. Often little allowance is made for new technologies being brought into reliable service and operators being trained to work with them.
WRc
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Treatment process evaluation, optimisation and regulatory compliance support
Our dedicated team can provide expert knowledge of treatment fundamentals to assess how new processes may work with your current conditions and assess how to improve performance for contaminants and site problems.
We can also:
- maximise output from current design and operations while lowering carbon footprint
- improve process technology and market feasibility via our independent evaluation services
- implement industry best practice to maximise water quality and quantity
- support and review services for operations and maintenance
- carry out risk assessments and support with regulatory compliance.
Investigating the root cause of microbiological failures
We visited a UK water treatment plant experiencing a series of microbiological compliance failures.
We discussed possible causes, including ingress and shielding, and reviewed the robustness of treatment and disinfection steps. We recommended potential interventions to achieve improved regulatory compliance.
Disinfection Forum
Now entering its 15th year, the Disinfection Forum is a constructive space for water companies to learn of the latest technologies and research findings and share best practice.
Forum members have access to WRc’s renowned Ct Toolbox, which supports improved affordability by providing the capability to avoid regulatory penalties, optimise disinfection processes and determine the most cost-effective set of treatment processes for capital projects.
PFAS control strategies
We have worked with multiple water utilities to evaluate the efficacy of differing strategies for controlling PFAS in finished drinking water. These include catchment management approaches, blending of water supplies and treatment processes, including activated carbon adsorption.
Our recommendations have supported clients to comply with regulatory limits for PFAS.
Operator training tool
We developed a training tool, with both drinking water and wastewater versions, to assist operators in using SCADA information to diagnose and resolve operational problems.
This has been used to reinforce traditional learning or to provide competency assessments as part of quality systems certification.
Process level design
We have produced process level designs for wastewater treatment plants around the world, for detailed design teams to take further to completion.
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