Opportunities for recovering valuable resources from water treatment sludges
The opportunities for recovering valuable resources from water treatment sludges have been detailed in UK Water Industry Research’s (UKWIR) pathfinder project: What does a circular economy water industry look like?
In particular, potable water treatment sludge has garnered attention across the globe as one possible waste stream which could have reuse or recovery benefits.
The potential benefits include enhancing nutrient removal in wastewater treatment, use within building materials, use as a soil amendment to slow the leaching of pollutants off agricultural fields and the recovery of metal salts, providing a reusable commodity.
UKWIR’s latest circular economy project, Circular economy – water treatment sludges (24/SL/09/02), reviews existing and emerging applications and markets for water treatment sludges; outlines the volume and composition of sludges; reviews current outlets for sludges; and includes a high-level economic analysis to determine best routes forward for the UK and Irish water industry.
Isle Utilities Ltd were the lead contractor, working with Allied Waters from The Netherlands.
The Programme Lead was Donna Rawlinson from Northumbrian Water, and UKWIR’s Project Manager was Ken Shapland. The Project Steering Group was comprised of members from the majority of UK and Ireland water utilities.
The report can be downloaded from the UKWIR website.
