We have developed a revolutionary new technique for the treatment of sludge, creating a sustainable approach to the management of waste.
How does it work?
The treatment and disposal of wastewater sludge presents a major challenge to society and to the water industry. Rising sludge production coupled with more demanding environmental standards place large demands on our treatment works.
Developed in-house at United Utilities by a team of scientists and engineers, High Rate Enzymic Hydrolysis makes wastewater sludge safer for use as a fertilizer and generates up to 40 per cent more renewable energy in the form of biogas.
In 2001 we built our first full-scale demonstration plant. This plant met all our expectations and also showed how Enzymic Hydrolysis could achieve significantly increased biogas production that could be used to generate electricity. The process has exceeded the design expectations and we've now built four plants in total.
By harnessing nature in this way, we have identified a solution that can readily be retro-fitted to enhance the performance of existing assets and not only meet, but significantly exceed, sludge quality obligations. The process is also over three times faster than conventional methods.
What's the impact?
We now have the capability to produce a high quality sludge which is better for farmers to spread on their land.
Ten plants have been delivered in the UK and we're dealing with enquiries to deliver more. A report by the Water Research Centre made a five-year market estimate of 25 plants in the UK and 25 in North America
Who's behind it?
Son Le, our Technology Development Manager, trained as a chemical engineer before completing a doctorate at Swansea University College of Wales, becoming a chartered engineer in 1985. He held various positions in engineering and manufacturing before joining us. The world's leading expert on acid phase anaerobic digestion processes, Son's current role involves developing new processes for sustainable wastewater treatment and sludge recycling