A WASTEWATER project in Petersfield has been awarded part of an £8m prize in Ofwat’s Water Breakthrough Challenge.
It hasn’t been announced yet how much the United Utilities-led project has been awarded, but it’s thought to be a six-figure sum.
The scheme will see scientists and experts from Portsmouth University, United Utilities, Southern Water, Thames Water, Power & Water, Hydro Industries and others develop more sustainable and resilient methods for improving river quality.
The team will work at Petersfield Sewage Treatment Plant in fields at the end of Durford Road, and focus on reducing the use of metal-based chemicals to remove phosphorus from wastewater.
Phosphorus is a harmful chemical that has negative impacts on marine life in sea areas like the Solent.
United Utilities chief engineer Lisa Mansell said: “Securing funding for this project is a great achievement.
“It will significantly advance alternative options for phosphorus removal from wastewaters, that aim to reduce the cost of delivering environmental improvements.
“This could drive down customer bills and significantly reduce our carbon footprint.”
Since 2001 the university has rented part of the sewage treatment plant from Southern Water, and a disused operational building has been converted into laboratories, offices and other facilities.
Outside there are test bed areas and large-scale pilot trials can be run there, supplemented by other facilities at the university’s main campus.
The university uses it to work on a range of innovative projects with a few industrial collaborators; it is an ideal facility for this latest project.
Southern Water infrastructure plan manager Garry Waterhouse said: “We’re very excited to begin working with our partners to deliver on this project.
“It will significantly advance the adoption of alternative methods for phosphorus removal from wastewater.
“Environmental sustainability is at the heart of everything we do.
“And adopting these new methods will help us make more cost-effective improvements to the environment which could reduce customers’ bills and reduce our carbon footprint.”
The Water Breakthrough Challenge saw £36m divided up between the nine winning entries, and another round of the challenge is to be launched before Christmas.